Gordon Robinson | Afternoon delight

Two Fridays ago, JPS gifted my community a three hour power cut during the worst of the summer heat.

While collecting my sweat in a bucket so The Old Ball and Chain could water her precious orchids, I retrieved my old transistor radio for entertainment. Sifting through nowadays Friday afternoon radio noise, I ended up at a small station called Bess Radio. The DJ called herself Susie Q and informed listeners her real surname (“my Daddy’s name”) was Rose. Since that’s Old BC’s middle name I decided to stay.

Susie was hosting what she called “Throwback Friday” so the music was palatable. Susie was going along fine, plugging her more than 20 years stint on New York radio, when she delivered the following:

“Barry G. is the G.O.A.T.”

That’s when it dawned on me “more than 20 years” didn’t necessarily begin before Y2K so maybe I should excuse her inexperience.

Barry “The Boogieman” Gordon ruled afternoon radio during the mid-1980s as host of JBC’s Two-to-Six Super Mix. He had a perfect baritone radio voice; spoke intelligently; emphasized his Jamaican roots; used popular gimmicks; and played plenty reggae music when radio was still somewhat ambivalent about the local product.

After his time at JBC, he station hopped while suffering a prolonged slump. He enjoyed a revival of sorts at Mello FM in 2010 until retirement in 2021.

Barry G. was very good. He was the epitome of youthful exuberance. Was he the G.O.A.T.?

Nah! Not even curried. Before going there we should understand the history of JBC/RJR rivalry and the afternoon slot’s importance to that contest. JBC was created from Norman Manley’s vision for a Government subsidised radio station to balance the output of RJR, owned by a British conglomerate with stations all over the Empire.

Local music and artistic product generally didn’t feature much on RJR. Its output was mainly British or American. So NW countered with JBC.

Yet, although the vision was to produce a national culture and character, it was from Canada, not Jamaica, that JBC drew talent to create the station and produce its product.

A Canadian, Peter Aylen, was JBC’s first General Manager. He patterned JBC off Canada’s CBC that enjoyed government subvention but also sold advertisements. Among early staffers was another Canadian, William Strange, who produced and presented some seminal programs, including Great Wide World, Argosy and Beautiful Jamaica. Strange’s on-air persona exuded calm and companionship, which is radio’s primary purpose. He was amazing at a time long before shouting and loud interjections while music was playing became a thing.

From late 1960s until its acquisition by RJR, JBC and its indigenous sound ruled afternoon radio. Remember Winston Barnes, one of my all time favourites, whose mantra was “less talk; more music!”? He introduced Bunny Ruggs to radio audiences and was a big fan of the late, great Bobbv Womack. Remember Jeff Dixon/Free I, who was Barry G. long before Barry G? Not only did he rule the 1970s roost on JBC’s afternoon show but he recorded a hit duet with Marcia Griffiths ( Words). Jeff Dixon had the voice; personality; ability to connect with listeners that Barry G. later emulated.

Who can forget Errol (E.T.) Thompson who, when he transitioned to Saturday morning radio with his sidekick “Squeaky” became a constant companion? Then there was Winston Williams, a.k.a. The Whip (with the solid Kick)! His fierce rivalry with Don “El Numero Uno” Toppin (RJR) was the talk of the time. Winston wasn’t a Ring Master. He was a Rhyme Master.

Afternoon radio was sublime. Starland Vocal Band (1976) could’ve been singing about it:

Skyrockets in flight

Afternoon delight!

But the Doyen of them all was a Canadian who came to Jamaica in 1959. He worked exclusively for RJR and caused their Afternoon programme to be (super) supreme. His name was Charlie Babcock. He called himself “The Cool Fool with the Live Jive.” Charlie’s mission, and he chose to accept it, was to repel JBC’s challenge.

Charlie Babcock was joined by other Canadians like Al Brooks, George Antaya and Hal Burns who were determined to change the station’s style to a high octane delivery. Gimmicks were introduced; and George Antaya created a new sound for the call signal with a rolling “AAAAAR-JAY-AAAAAR!”

RJR took off but Charlie was the star. He wasn’t just a radio host. He created a character that was unadulterated superstar. He once rode a horse to work. He drove a red sports car. He was often seen at night spots enjoying his favourite cane juice. Gene Autry and I once encountered him around the bar at Cloud Nine, Half-Way-Tree road, on one of our late night pizza runs.

Charlie Babcock transformed Jamaican afternoon radio. He set the standard. One of Charlie’s greatest gifts to Jamaica was his introduction to radio of a talented young lady named Marie Garth who became Jamaica’s beloved broadcaster and friend. Charlie Babcock was afternoon radio’s G.O.A.T.

Peace and Love.

Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com