Rio Record Label

Rita and Benny King with the success of their R&B label began a new label called Rio. Graeme Goodall, the Australian sound engineer was on hand to help. It was 1963 and they chose yellow as the label colour.

An early artist on the label was Laural Aitken who went on to have more than a dozen singles issued, and one LP Ska With Laural in 1965. Laural Aiken was born in Cuba in 1927 his family then settled in Jamaica. His 1958 single "Boogie in My Bones" produced by Island's Chris Blackwell went on to be the first Jamaican popular music record to be released in the United Kingdom. He moved to Brixton, London in 1960 and most of his Ska records were issued on the Blue Beat label. Later, his Reggae records were mainly issued on the Nu-Beat record label. His position as one of ska's leading artists and earned him the nickname The Godfather of Ska. He died from a heart attack in 2005.

Charlie Organaire had a single Little Village issued in 1964 having been previously put out on the R&B label. He was an harmonica player and on Little Village he sings the lead vocal. He played harmonica as a session musician on many recordings during the Ska and Rock Steady years. Born Charles Cameron in Kingston, Jamaica in 1942. He formed a band with Laural Aitken's brother Bobby Aitken called the Carib Beats. In later years he moved to Chicago in the USA and formed his own band called The Charles Cameron & Sunshine Festival.

Rita Marley had two single issued the first was Pied Piper in 1966. Born Alpharita Constantia Anderson in Cuba in 1947. Her family moved to Kingston, Jamaica and she was brought up by her Aunt. In the 1960's she met Bob Marley and she later joined the group called the Soulettes, Bob Marley became the groups manager. Later known as the I Threes. other members were Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt , they gained recognition as the backing vocalists for Bob Marley and the Wailers. Pied Piper was on the 60's LP Club Ska 67' on Island Records.

Jackie Mittoo the organist had one single Got My Bogaloo in 1967. Know for his organ instrumentals, on this record he sings lead vocals one of only a handful of such tracks. Born Donat Roy Mittoo in 1948 at Brown's Town, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica. It is said that he started playing the piano at three years old. Was a founder member of the Skatalites at the start of Ska period in the mid 60's. Played on many tracks at Studio One. Went on to play with the Soul Brothers, Soul Vendors and Sound Dimension. Moved to Toronto, Canada in 1969/70. Continued to record several albums into the late 70's, some with the producer Bunny Lee. He died in 1990 he was just 42 years old.

Many of the records on Rio are very collectable, in particular the instrumentals - Edwards All Stars - Kingston 11 / Northcoast, The Vietnam All Stars - Toughest, Roland Alphonso - Jazz Ska, Tommy McCook and The Supersonics - Riverton City, Soul Brothers - TNT . Others include - Ronald Wilson - Lonely Man, Roy Panton - You Don't Know Me, Dawn Penn - Long Days Short Nights, Jackie Mitttoo - Got My Boogaloo, Primo And Hopeton - Your Safe Keep, These records now sell for many hundreds of pounds.

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