Simmer Down Sound
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Simmer Down Sound (SDS) is a Chicago-based movement honoring the extraordinary musical culture and legacy of Jamaica. Strictly Vinyl... Always Royal!!!!
SDS was founded by Cosmos Ray in 2011 as a monthly event at the Double Door. Many reggae nights in Chicago are focused on a single style of reggae, and are attended by only one group of fans. SDS set out to create a night that covers as much territory as possible of the steeped fifty year history of reggae music. We include every genre and warmly welcome people from all backgrounds. We feature res
13/12/2021
Chicago massive! We are excited to be a part of album release show this Friday 12/17 alongside at ! SDS selectaz and will be juggling only the best Jamaican anthems on wax and will host! Link up!
08/11/2021
Chicago massive! We are elated to be supporting the illustrious for their album release show this Saturday 11/13 at ! and on the 1s and 2s selecting the finest Jamaican wax, while sds impresario holds down hosting duties. nices up the stage before LDB! LINK UP!!!
10/07/2021
Chicago massive! We’re one week away from another extravaganza! Saturday July 17th we’ll be live and direct for an outdoor show with at to celebrate their first birthday! Live reggae vibes and strictly vinyl selections of the best Jamaican anthems!
29/12/2020
Connections...
From libation pouring to patois infusions; this is how the Igbo people of Nigeria influenced Jamaica - Face2Face Africa The continental African presence in Jamaica largely stems from the Akan people in Ghana, underlined by cultural correlations, names, meals and assimilation. ‘Mumu’ derives from both the Ewe and Akan languages. Just like in Jamaican Patois, it is used to describe a dumb or a foolish person. Dokun...
01/11/2020
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presents: Lecturer Style features one of Jamaica’s veteran deejays Ranking Joe from ! Grab your copy at the link in our bio!
’s “Jah Jah Hold Them” speaks to the karmic cycle of wrongdoing. Jah will hold them accountable for the works they’ve done.
Reggae DJ Ranking Joe was born Joseph Jackson in Kingston on June 1, 1959. Launching his recording career right around the time that the reggae/dub movement began sweeping the world during the mid-'70s, renowned producer Coxsone Dodd took Joe under his wing as he landed a DJ spot with a soundsystem called El Paso Hi-Fi. With Dodd overseeing Joe's early sessions, a debut single was issued in 1975 (under the name of Little Joe), "Gun Court." From there, Joe branched out and worked with a variety of other reggae producers (including Bunny Lee, Watty Burnett, and Derrick Howard), which resulted in forming a new soundsystem which included U-Roy, and a name change to Ranking Joe. It was also during this time that Joe developed his trademark: a vocal style that showcased his talent for reeling off speedy tongue twisters. Beginning in the late '70s, Joe recorded hits for other artists (including Sonia Pottinger's "Shine Eye Gal"), in addition to issuing his own albums (Weakheart Fade Away, Dub It in a Dance, Saturday Night Jamdown Syle, Round the World).
The dawn of the '80s saw Joe join in with one of the era's most acclaimed soundsystems, Ray Symbolic Hi-Fi (with Jah Screw), whose popularity spread far outside of Jamaica, resulting in a sold-out tour of the U.K. in 1980. Despite showing great promise, the soundsystem broke up a year later, which resulted in both Joe and DJ Screw teaming up and working as a production team for other artists (including being one of the last producers to work at King Tubby's infamous old studio, Dangerous Dub). After relocating to New York City (the Bronx, to be exact), Joe continued to produce recordings for other reggae artists, including Frankie Paul, Black Uhuru, Dennis Brown, Glen Washington, Glen Brown, The Meditations, King Tubby, Shinehead, and Papa San.