Phyllis Dillon "Don't Stay Away" on 13thStreetPromotions.com #Jamaica #Reggae #Ska #Rocksteady #Music #13thStreetPromotions #PhyllisDillon #DontStayAway #1967 #DukeReid #TreasureIsleRecords #TommyMcCookandTheSupersonics #OldSchool #Oldies #OldiesSunday #Caribbean

OLDIES SUNDAY: Phyllis Dillon – Don’t Stay Away (1967)


Oldies Sunday” was made for those who grew up around the Radio, who grew up with Vinyl Records, Cassettes, CDs, MP3 Players, 8 Track, and Music Streaming platforms. In other words, for those who appreciate the music before our time, and those who lived in the time of these tunes. Today’s selection comes from one of Jamaica’s greatest Songbirds. Her name is Phyllis Dillon, and we’re checking out, “Don’t Stay Away“.

Produced by Duke Reid with backing by Tommy McCook and The Supersonics and released through his Treasure Isle Records in 1967, it’s all about a love that has strong hold on someone in Phyllis Dillon’s “Don’t Stay Away”. Dillon shares that if the Man she’s interested knew the extent of her love, he wouldn’t have considered other Women. While there may be other Women who she claims are more beautiful than her and would try to treat him nice, she believes she would do a better job, and he wouldn’t need another. “Don’t Stay Away” was a hit for Phyllis Dillon, was considered “the finest female performance in Jamaican Music“, and was her first Record with Duke Reid. “Don’t Stay Away” was also sampled by Kes The Band for the track, “Tuesday On The Rocks” in 2012 Dillon went on to voice even more music with Duke Reid, acquiring more success along the way.

Since the release of “Don’t Stay Away”, Phyllis Dillon migrated to the United States, and released more music including her debut album, “One Life To Live” while having a career in the Banking sector. She ended her career as a Recording Artist in 1971, but thanks to an invitation to perform in Jamaica in the early 1990s, she developed a renewed interest in recording and performing. By the mid-1990s, a resurgence of Ska music in the United States lead her back into the Studio, and she remained active touring, performing, and recording until her passing on April 15, 2004 after a battle with Cancer. “Don’t Stay Away” remains one of Dillon’s biggest singles, and is still celebrated around the world.

Thank You Phyllis Dillon For This Classic!

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The Paragons "Wear You To The Ball" on 13thStreetPromotions.com #Jamaica #Caribbean #TheParagons #WearYouToTheBall #1967 #HappyNewYear #TreasureIsle #DukeReid #TommyMcCook #Rocksteady

OLDIES SUNDAY: The Paragons – Wear You To The Ball (1967)


It’s New Year’s Eve, and many are out and about, preparing to ring in 2024. Some will be staying home, some will be going to Night Church, and others will be partying it up. For today’s final Oldies Sunday of 2023, we highlight a classic that has found its way in sets of many DJs at the NYE party. We check out The Paragons’Wear You To The Ball“.

Produced by Duke Reid and backed by Tommy McCook & The Supersonics, The Paragons’ “Wear You To The Ball” was released in 1967 through the Treasure Isle label. The single was a blend of great harmonies and powerful Instrumentation as the Singers Bob Andy, John Holt, Howard Barrett, and Garth “Tyrone” Evans sang about taking their lady to the Ball. Ballroom events usually bring out the stars, the song suggests that the lucky lady will be a standout all night. “Wear You To The Ball” quickly became a hit for the quartet, and is recognized as one of their most successful ones. The single was covered by the likes of UB40, Horace Andy, Johnny Clarke, and sampled by Anthony Malvo.

As 2023 comes to an end in a few hours, we hope 2024 brings more good than bad. Many of us faced some of our worst times this year, may the new year bring something positive. Here’s to more wins.

Thanks for being a part 13th Street Promotions in 2023.

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Death In Paradise for 13thStreetPromotions.com #Jamaica #BBC #DeathInParadise #UK #TV #JimmyCliff #TheParagons

Music From @JimmyCliff & The Paragons Featured In @DeathInParadise Christmas Special!


Many of your favourite TV shows and Films joined in on the holiday season and premiered special episodes and versions of their respective creations. One of those was the Island-inspired series “Death In Paradise” which is featured on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The crime drama series features Jamaican Actress Shantol Jackson who joins a cast who solves mysteries on the fictional Island of Saint Marie. During their holiday special, a few familiar tracks could be heard throughout.

The season 12 holiday version of “Death In Paradise” featured classic tracks from Jamaican Icons Jimmy Cliff and The Paragons, and US-based Reggae Musician/Producer Roger Rivas along with The Brothers Of Reggae. Jimmy Cliff’s “Come Into My Life” secured a spot, and it was co-produced with Leslie Kong, and released through Island Records in 1970. “Come Into My Life” was featured on the 1969 album “Wonderful World, Beautiful People“. The Paragons’ “Only A Smile” also made the cut, and it was arranged by Tommy McCook & The Supersonics, and released through Treasure Isle Records in 1967. Closing off the list of soundtrack appearances is Roger Rivas’ “Jingle Bells“, which was done alongside The Brothers Of Reggae, and released in 2015 through Jump Up! Records. “Death In Paradise” previously featured a host of Reggae acts in the series including John Holt, U-Roy, The Heptones, Baba Brooks, and Byron Lee & The Dragonaires.

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OLDIES SUNDAY: Baba Brooks And His Band – Guns Fever (1965)


One of the key elements to a good song is its production. While lyrics can do so much, the rhythm channels them to those who can hear. Today on Oldies Sunday, we want you to move to the rhythm. Going back in time, we check out legendary Trumpet Player Baba Brooks and his Band’sGuns Fever“.

Arranged by Baba Brooks and released through Treasure Isle and Island Records in 1965, this Ska number was purely instrumental sprinkled with bits of scatting and gunshot sound effects. Baba signature Trumpet could be heard throughout the high tempo track that you can’t help but dance to. No words, just vibes. “Guns Fever” went on to become one of Baba’s well known releases, and Baba and his Band went on to work with the likes of The Skatalites, Derrick Morgan, Stranger Cole, Alton Ellis, and many more. The 60s was filled with beautiful instrumentals, and Baba Brooks had a hand in plenty of them.

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Jamaica, Soul Music, Rocksteady, R&B, Music, Blog, 13thStreetPromotions, 13thStreetPromo, The Techniques, Pat Kelly, Curtis Mayfield, The Impressions, Duke Reid, Treasure Isle Production, Queen Majesty, Minstrel and Queen, Oldies, Oldies Sunday, Old School, 1966, 1967, Yanah, Kone, KoneLives, Think Again, Sample, Caribbean,

OLDIES SUNDAY: Pat Kelly – Queen Majesty (1966)


Earlier today, we premiered Recording Artist Yanah’s new single, “Think Again, now we’re gonna feature its sample. On today’s Oldies Sunday, we look back at Pat Kelly’s classic, “Queen Majesty“! Produced by Duke Reid, the song was recorded by Pat Kelly while he was a member of the Rocksteady group, The Techniques (hence why many releases used The Techniques’ name). It was released through Reid’s Treasure Isle Production in 1967, but was featured on The Techniques’ 1966 album, “Little Did You Know“. The song was a cover of the Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions’ single, “Minstrel and Queen (Queen Majesty)” which was released in 1963.

The story was Pat Kelly and his friends were huge fans of the original track, so much so that they’d stay up at night to hear it at various times on Miami Radio station WINZ. This was so because the signal from Miami to Jamaica was very weak, so they struggled at times. Pat showed interest in covering it, but had no means to get the Record. After hearing it multiple times, he finally caught all the lyrics to the track and made a Reggae version. The single was released various times since 1967, and was remixed by King Jammy’s in the mid 1980s.

Though Pat Kelly parted ways with The Techniques years ago, he is still an active Recording Artist having released numerous singles, and even handled recording sessions as an Audio Engineer for the likes of the late Gregory Isaacs and Johnny Clarke.

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