Asher’s Story

It all began………………..

One morning in late May 94, I realised when arising at that point in time I knew that I would be hosting a Cup Competition for 3 months but what kind of event was it going to be. I was inspired. Fully awake now that I became aware that it had to be a Cup Dance involving Sound Systems, playing Roots & Culture (Vocals & Dub).

My first mission was to find the Cup.  To begin with I went to Finsbury Park to seek out the Trophy Shop opposite the Train Station.  Nothing I saw “called to me”, however the assistant told me about the Crystal Trophy Shop in Holloway (towards Archway). I came straight out, caught the 29 Bus and found the shop. It took no more than 2 seconds to see the cup I wanted, instantly I told Frank to put the Cup aside for me.

I came out of that shop thinking “OK, that’s sorted. Now how am I going to fund £140 to pay for this Cup?”  You see at this point in my life, as I was the main carer for my 3yrs old Son and 4yrs old Daughter (now 17yrs & 18yrs old) they had to be my main focus. So I just needed to figure out how I was going to raise the capital to get this Cup. What would you do? Well I spoke to my Dad and those closest to me about what I wanted to do, and believe it people – they where there for me and within 4 weeks (24^th June 1994 to be exact) I had paid for and took the Cup home with me.

Little did I comprehend what IMPACT that this Works was going to cause.

Mission One accomplished.

“What do I know about putting on Cup Dances?”

Now I had the cup, I started to QUESTION myself “…what is the purpose of this Cup Competition and what do I know about Cup Dances??..” Good questions I asked myself looking at the Cup which cost me £140 (& the Cup looking at me…)

However……………

This is what I do know; at the age of 5 yrs, I was lucky that I went to lots of house parties from the late `60’s & 70’s with my Mum & Dad. I loved to dance like my Dad at these parties.  By the age of 10yrs when in Jamaica I bought “I Shot the Sheriff” by His Honourable Robert Nesta Marley. I was on Bob’s side a rebel in the making, I loved reggae music and about these times it started evolving and changing and the beats and rhythms got to me!!.

At the age of 14, my Cousin took me to my first Sound System dance in Tottenham (North London -  near where I lived) at Broad Lane called the Trojan Youth Club (well in 2005, the Club is no more, flats now occupy that space – oh sweet memories). Anyway two Sound Systems called Silver Surfer and Sopherno B were playing; I was standing on the stage looking down on Sopherno B amazed at the sight before me. EVERY tune they (Sopherno B) played bust dance and all of them were DUB PLATES.  Silver Surfer did not stand a chance. People booed until they signed off…STANDARD….. or they would get bottled off, it happened a lot! It was fierce enough between the Sounds but when a crowd turned on a Sound it’s wasn’t funny. There were early sessions, with the local sounds we knew from 7pm to 11pm every week on a Friday; I was hooked there was no stopping me now.

During them times it was really bad with the NF (National Front a.k.a British National Party-BNP).  Those of you who went to the New River Sports Centre in Wood Green would overstand; remember the running street battles with them and the Police escorts for us then Teenagers (Professor Natty – Jah Tubbys, was with me too!)

“ROOTS on TV”

On the other hand, when the showing of ROOTS first came on TV, it brought a change; an awareness you could even say of what was to be BLACK in them times.

“……who this Jah Shaka?”

Just before my 15^th birthday Me and Kenneth (Bassy Asher Nomadix Studios) went to Enchanter Sound (Kevin Robinson Raspect!) they were playing Black Eagle Sound and the Revolutionaries Sound (Briggy, Trevor, Oliver, Michael, Carlie, Jackman, Terry and all) - Raspect), after the dance done at 11pm a friend named Danny told us about a dance in Stoke Newington that finished at 6am.

We had to ask him who was playing there. “Jah Shaka Sound” Danny replied. “Who’s this Jah Shaka then?” We responded – oh un-informed Youth, that we were!  Our lives were transformed that night.  Of Course I was in trouble the following morning when I got home at 7am – WELL RED! I’m fifteen now and growing locks to identify myself. My Dad was a country boy from Jamaica amongst the Rasses in the Hills.

I said to my Dad “..this might seem strange but I feel at peace and safe in Shaka’s Dances…you now where I am if you need me” My Dad use to listen to Shaka when he used to play in House parties. But he also worked with Fatman at a factory back in the day. So my Dad could see where I was coming from.

PHEBES was now my Church on Friday nights. RASPECT Goes out to Danny who owned PHEBES.

Tiny, Barry, Ranking Dread; I listened to what you said, just never had the chance to tell you. Raspect for that.

Also the original Jah Shaka Sound Crew back in the days, Joseph you have not aged! How do you do it! RASPECT Jah Shaka.

The Age of the Cup Dances

I’m Sixteen and now Cup Dances are rife and local Sounds Systems are making a name for themselves. Young Lion seven (7) times Cup Holders – To determine who wins the cup the crowd are asked to make noise when the names of the Sounds called. The Sound that got the most noise wins crowd participation. Saxon Sound were coming up strong too, soon to be be known as the World Cup Holders.

Scrap Iron Sound deadly when they where around, Yamas!, Shakespere Raspect. Dubsetter Hi-Fi , Roots Hi- Fi, I-Spy Sound (S. London), Frontline (S.London), Unity Hi-Fi, Sir Biggs, Tottenham Tipper, Black Chalice (Errol Miller – we’ll not forget you rest in peace), Black Arena (Professor Natty – Jah Tubbys today), Seven Seals (Ruben Seals – rest in peace my bredren), FineStyle Sound, Intrepid Rebel (from JA – aka Gemi Magic), Channel One (Mikey Dread, Linda P, Trevor & Ras Kyleb raspect), King Tubbys, Jah Tubbys, King David, Moa Ambassa, Earthquake Sound (Birmingham), Upsetter Sound, Quaker City (Birmingham), Heavyweight Sound, Jah Trinity (Gloucester), Tipper Tone, Mafia Tone, Jah Whitey, Jah Warrior (Big Foot – Station FM & Daddy Ernie – Choice FM big up), Jah Observer (Hail Austin & Sooty), Phase One Sound (only sound ‘til 1995 with white speaker boxes, raspect Ryan & Roland), Sir Dee’s Sound, Java Hi-Power, Sovereign Sound, Sir Lloyd, Jah Man Sound, Black Dragon, King Original, Coxsone, Sir George, Chicken Sound, Entebbe Sound (I first heard them when I was Seventeen years old. They were my number one sound who I supported as well as Jah Shaka.

“……….Robbery!!!............”

Well people, there came a night when you had know sounds Three Sound Systems competing in a Cup Dance. It was held down in Acton Town Hall with Fatman Sound, Coxsone, Soferno B and Jah Shaka. On that night when the Cup was awarded to Coxsone, it was a national outcry, They Robbed Jah Shaka of the Cup! Nevertheless, the People (us in the dance and yes I know you remember) we crowned Jah Shaka the King of Sounds Systems that day and He did and still deserved it. Then Cup Dances had played a very big part in the circuit for Sound Systems.

So what do I know about putting on a Cup Dance. Well I had not a blessed Idea how to put on a Dance much less a Cup Dance; Simple as that. Back in the days of the late 70’s early 80’s, we as people Black & White, Male & Female, Comb-head & Rasta, listened to the same REGGAE and we loved it, but this was all soon to change. What do I know about putting on Cup Dances? I ask myself, simply nothing, nothing at all. I say it again I had not a clue about how to put on a Dance much less a Cup Dance. PERIOD.

Coming Next Mission Two:- How to….?