John Masouri

Many thanks to Jamz Supernova for being the perfect host on her Radio 6 Music show, broadcast on 18 February 2026.

This is the official launch of the Steppin' Razor Remaster edition, where I shall joined by Don Letts and host DJ Danniella Dee at SJQ in Dalston, London N16.

On 12 March I'll be at the Con Club in Lewes, East Sussex celebrating the life and times of Jamaica's most controversial reggae starr, Peter Tosh, and the launch of a revised edition of my Peter Tosh biography Steppin' Razor. It'll be an evening of music, film and lively discussion, hosted by Brighton Radio Reverb presenter Mark Johnson, and featuring stories galore about the charismatic Bush Doctor.

Echoes celebrates its 50th anniversary this year and this is the first issue of 2026. The reggae content includes an obituary of Third World guitarist Cat Coore centred around tales of he and the band's early years; a trip round the UK reggae scene circa 1976; the story of Randys (forerunner of VP Records) and the usual pages of singles and album reviews. As well all the essential soul and jazz happenings of course...

I've always enjoyed writing for the German publication Riddim, which has long led the field of specialist publications across Europe. My contribution to this issue was a lengthy feature on Jamaican artist Keznamdi, currently celebrating his latest album Bl**d & Fyah.

This month's Echoes, the last of the year, has my tribute to the late, great Jimmy Cliff; a feature on Naya Rockers and a Round-Up Of The Year looking back on the highs and lows of 2025. It was a tumultous year for the music in so many ways, culminating in the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa and the sterling efforts to raise funds for the island's reconstruction.

"All of the songs on the Sweet And Dandy  LP were originals except for ‘We Shall Overcome’, and every hit mentioned above was included except for ‘Do The Reggay’. Also present was the gospel-powered R&B number ‘I Shall Be Free’, the lively dance tracks ‘Bla, Bla, Bla’ and ‘Alidina’, a slow ballad called ‘I Need Your Love’ and the rousing ‘Oh Yeah’, on which they call for a reconciliation. It’s been more than half a century since these tracks were first recorded, and this viny

"The Gay Lads were described as “the greatest singing group in the West Indies” after recording this 1970 album for Beverley’s. That was some accolade considering the competition, and especially since Bob Marley and the Wailers were also part of Leslie Kong’s stable at the time. The Gaylads, led by Harris “BB” Seaton, had established themselves as regular hitmakers at Studio One, and were at their peak when walking through the doors of the Beverley’s Record Den in Kingston wh

"‘007 (Shanty Town)’ had kickstarted his run of hits in the UK two years earlier, but it was ‘Israelites’ that propelled him to international fame. Both singles originally appeared on the Beverley’s label owned by Leslie Kong, who was the most successful Jamaican record producer of the early reggae era. The Kingston born Dekker made his debut for Beverley’s in 1963 and remained loyal to Kong thereafter. Both men were then rewarded handsomely when ‘Israelites’   became the fir

"Millie Small’s ‘My Boy Lollipop’ was the first international hit by a Jamaican artist, but in truth it was a cover of an American song recorded in London and released on a UK label. British pop fans didn’t get a taste of the real Jamaican sound until three years later when first Prince Buster, then Desmond Dekker, broke into the UK Top 20 with ‘Al Capone’ and ‘007 (Shanty Town)’ respectively. Whilst Millie and Buster soon fell by the wayside where British chart success was c