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DENNIS ALCAPONE

Dennis Alcapone

Guns Don't Argue

    Cementing his reputation as the star toaster with the small but popular El Paso sound system, based in the Waltham Park area, Dennis Alcapone was one of the first deejays to rise to prominence following U Roy’s breakthrough in the late 1960s. Born Dennis Smith in the rural district of Culloden, he became immersed in sound system culture after settling in western Kingston. Once El Paso became big on the sound system circuit, dental technician-turned-producer Keith Hudson brought him into the studio for his debut recordings, which led to a debut album for Studio One and hit material for Duke Reid, some cut in concert with his deejay sparring partner, Lizzy. Alcapone’s longstanding links with Bunny Lee yielded the excellent "Guns Don’t Argue" album, first issued in 1972, on which the toaster raps with style over some of Lee’s all-time greatest rhythms, including Delroy Wilson’s "Better Must Come", John Holt’s "Left With A Broken Heart" and Slim Smith’s rendition of the Temptations’ soul classic "Ain’t Too Proud To Beg."

    TRACK LISTING

    1 Alcapone Guns Don't Argue
    2 It Must Come
    3 Too Proud To Beg
    4 Everybody Needs Love
    5 If It Don't Work Out
    6 Teacher Teacher
    7 Left With A Broken Heart
    8 You Got What It Takes
    9 World Wide Love
    10 Someone Dancing With My Girl

    Dennis Alcapone

    Yeah Yeah Yeah - Mash Up The Dance

      Dennis Alcapone, initially inspired by DJ U Roy, was soon to challenge his crown in the early part of the 70s releasing over 100 hit tunes. He could weave his vocal magic over any tune / rhythm that came his way and take it to another place. Alcapone began DJing (toasting) for the El Paso Hi–Fi Sound System around 1969. His first releases resulted from working with producer Keith Hudson, a succession of hits followed. Dennis moved camp to work with producer Duke Reid reworking some fresh ideas over classic Treasure Isle rhythms. He then went on to work with many top producers between 1970 - 1973, including Coxonne Dodd, Lee Perry, Sir JJ, Winston Riley, Joe Gibbs, Prince Buster all provided an outlet for his musical endeavours.

      Another great relationship was his work for producer Bunny Lee, again scoring some big hits including, ‘Guns Don’t Argue’ and ‘Ripe Cherry’ the later adding a twist to Bunny’s massive hit of the time ‘Cherry Oh Baby’. Kingston Sounds have looked to this period in Dennis’s career where there is a wealth of great music.‘Go Deh’ (on Leroy Smart's ‘How Long’), ‘Eternal Life’ (Johnny Clarke’s version of Peter Tosh’s ‘Legalise It’) 'Steve Austin' (The Six Million Dollar Man tale over Leroy Smart’s ‘Pride and Ambition’), 'Wise Man From The East' (Johnny Clarke’s ‘You Have Caught Me Baby’), It Must Come (Delroy Wilson’s ‘Better Must Come’), 'Blessed Are The Meek' (Slim Smith’s ‘Blessed Are The Meek’) to name but a few. Dennis left Jamaica in 1973 just after being awarded the Cup for Best DJ by Swing magazine. With his signature shout of "Yeah Yeah Yeah!" you knew he was going to mash up the dance wherever his musical talents led him.



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