Jahmark Tafari revives the Spirit of Ska

Based in Southern California, he never forgot those jubilant days when Jamaicans prepared for independence day on August 6 by listening to songs celebrating the occasion. Jahmark wanted to recapture that mood with ‘No Sorry fi Maga Dog’, a ska song he did with his band, The Soulshakers.

The uptempo track is produced by Mike Irwin of Roughsounds Studio in Redondo Beach, California who has collaborated with the group for many years.

“The song is based on that ol’ time Jamaican proverb that every Jamaican know ‘bout. “‘if yuh sorry fi maga dog him a guh tun round bite you’,” said Jahmark Tafari. “Being in America, we hear the word MAGA nuff and every time I hear it, my mind goes straight to that maga dog proverb made even more popular in the ‘60s and ‘70s by brother Peter Tosh.”

Roots-reggae has been Jahmark and The Soulshakers’ signature sound since forming in Jamaica during the 1980s. They were based briefly in Japan before settling in Los Angeles in the early 1990s.

Their biggest commercial success came with ‘Happiness’, a song produced by Irwin. Thanks to strong rotation on college radio, it was a bonafide hit in 2019.

Southern California has one of the largest reggae audiences in the United States. It is also home to a receptive ska base, mainly white bands that blend rock with traditional ska.

This is Jahmark and The Soulshakers’ latest ska song. ‘No Sorry fi Maga Dog’ was preceded by ‘Life’, ‘Ain’t No Dogs’ and ‘Baby Don’t You Worry’, all produced by Irwin.

They carry the energy and feel of The Skatalites and other pioneers Jahmark listened to in his youth.

“All that early music have a special place inna mi heart and soul from that time to this time. So many of the artistes who became huge reggae icons started off as ska artistes in the ‘60s, from Bob (Marley) and Peter, to Toots, Desmond Dekker, and Jimmy Cliff,” he stated. “I listened to all that early music as a yute, so it’s just one of the many Jamaican genres that just natural inna mi!”

(Photo contributed)