OF the countless sound systems Jamaica has produced, few match the achievements of Stone Love, which celebrates its 44th anniversary
this year.
Winston ‘Wee Pow’ Powell, the man who started Stone Love in the Molynes Road area of Kingston in 1972, will receive the Order of Distinction during the National Honours and Awards ceremony at King’s House on October 20.
In a 2002 interview with the Observer marking Stone Love’s 30th anniversary, Powell spoke about
its origins and its rise as a
dancehall powerhouse.
“Stone Love is an enterprise now…In 1972 it was a baby soun’,” he said. “The majority a people start know ’bout Stone Love from ’83 when wi start play inna the ghetto.”
Born in Manchester , Powell’s little-engine-that-could roared in the late-1980s when its audience expanded to include ‘uptowners’ and corporate Jamaica . When dancehall music and culture took off in the 1990s, Stone Love’s popularity soared from Kingston to Brooklyn, London
and Tokyo .
Music producer Paul Lowe-Chin credits Powell’s attention to detail for Stone Love’s endurance.
“Him have a ear for the thing dat no other sound’ man have. He’s a perfectionist, him neva stop till him get things right,” said Lowe-Chin.
Like many sound systems that emerged in the 1970s, Stone Love was a ‘soul set’ which played house parties and the occasional big dance. According to Powell, he was inspired by the approach of Gemini, another Molynes Road sound system that ruled the roost up to the late-1980s.
Stone Love was the ‘soun’ to follow by the 1990s, with its fans including top artistes and the flamboyant Black Roses Crew. Some of its selectors, including Rory Gilligan, became celebrities.
The jump in acclaim influenced Powell to start the Stone Love label which was just as successful. It released hit songs by Sanchez (Falling in Love), Tony Curtis (Love Should Have Brought you Home) and Hands in The Air by
Spragga Benz.
Singer Marcia Griffiths, musicians Bobby Ellis, Dwight Pinkney and Phil Chen, Carl Brady (a founding member of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires), sculptor Laura Facey and theatre stalwart Douglas Bennett have also been recognised in this year’s list
of honourees.
Wow, neva know seh ah suh long dem deh bout. Stone love ah di best! Large up yuhself Wee Pow and Rory…ah unno seh sound system.
Str8! hi mummy :peluk
Hey Yeppy :peluk
Stone Stands Alone
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Congratulations Wee Pow! One of the nicest, humblest men I had the privilege of meeting.
And very sexy too ( yes, I have a thing for older n’ more mature men )…yes Quena, he is so very humble..real big man…Quena, mi wa faas and ask yuh ah question…I’ve noticed that you’re always m.i.a on the Sunday sex topics?..why is that ma’am?
:hammer
Metty, did mi sed something to cause the hammering of the head? :ngakak
:ngakak :ngakak Yeppy please tuh go on your lunch break :ngakak
Mi jus done nyaam, thank you very much! :nerd
Mi caan manage yuh eno :ngakak
Yawdy, mi might wear hi glawses, but nutten…and i mean NUTTEN…nuh miss demya 4 yeyes..I sees and notices everythang!!! :hammer
:ngakak
:ngakak
Yeppie Sundays are usually time spent with the family for the most part, I do peek however since most here believe Latina’s utilize every hole, I prefer to stay ‘lo.
ok mummy :hammer
Congrats to Stone love crew. Thursday night a Tropics used to tun up.
Yep! Bwahahahahahahahaha!!!!
Simplicity bawk de desert eagle fi Stone Love. Hats off to them…
nite mumsy :peluk :peluk :peluk
ENID ANGLIN CENTRE, TROPICS, THURSDAY NIGHTS AT HOUSE OF LEO AND SUNDAYS ON HELLSHIRE BEACH NOT TO MENTION STONE LOVE ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT THE STONE LOVE HEAD QUARTERS, OFF SLIPE PENN ROAD. BIG UP USELF WEEPOW STONE LOVE ALAWAYS AND FOREVER.. STRAIGHT FROM ENGLAND.