Count Ossie

about

Count Ossie, born Oswald Williams, (1926, St. Thomas, Jamaica-18 October 1976) was a Jamaican Rastafari movement drummer and band leader. As a young boy he grew in a rasta community were he learned techniques of vocal chanting and hand drumming. In the late 1950s, he (with other percussionists) formed the Count Ossie Group. His first sound recordings were made after meeting Prince Buster. One of those was a song "Oh Carolina," is regarded by some music historians as the first-ever ska record. During this period Count Ossie also recorded for Harry Mudie. He formed a group called "Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari," and during his life issused two albums that he recorded with them. His masterpiece was "Grounation" (Ashanti 1973), 3 LP set, which includes songs as "Oh Carolina", "So Long", and "Grounation" (the latter title with over 30 minutes running time). Two years later "Tales Of Mozambique" (Dynamic 1975) was issued, continuing the legacy of the first album. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

top songs

albums

Tales of Mozambique

Grounation

Man from higher heights

Remembering Count Ossie (A Rasta Reggae Legend)

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Groundation / Ethiopian Serenade

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Trojan Nyahbinghi Box Set

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Mirror To The Soul: Caribbean Jump-Up, Mambo and Calypso Beat 1954-77

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Soul Jazz Records presents Rastafari: The Dreads Enter Babylon 1955-83 - From Nyabinghi, Burro and Grounation to Roots and Revelation

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MRC-81 | Dark Summer: Ultimate Summer Fun Mix #4

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A Rasta Reggae Legend

Way Back Home

Remembering Count Ossie

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