Karl 'Keith' Walker

Karl Walker

The Toaster From Lamoka

Most people think that Jamaica Music started talking/deejaying in the late sixties - early seventies. It's an easy mistake to make. The huge impact of U Roy and Dennis Alcapone

Put the works of people like King Stitt, Count Matchuki and Sir Lord Comic into the shade.

Jamaica wasn't ready for the deejays then - it was in love with the singers and players of instruments. Week after week - during the sixties - all the greats were making amazing music. If it wasn't Alton Ellis, it was Delroy Wilson, if it wasn't John Holt it was Bob Andy - its a long long long list of great artists.

No one would have believed then that a small group of Deejays would revolutionize reggae music.

And even fewer people will believe now that the revolution did not start in the late sixties. Step forward Karl Walker the self styled 'Toaster From Lamoka'. It started here in 1962

With this....

Karl Walker - But Officer - Theo Beckford - King Pioneer - 1962

An old R&B hit updated in a Ska style by the late great Karl Walker - the Toaster From Lamoka!!! This man is probably the first Deejay - if he played out on a sound or not - does not make much difference - he was the first to be heard on record. And it didn't stop there for Karl/Keith Walker - he quickly started up his own label 'Soft Touch' and released even more wild tunes like this one for produced by Theo Beckford. Two pioneers on one record!!!

Over the next decade he worked with some of the best people in the business 'DJ Race' released on Soft Touch in 1971 features King Tubby and Andy Capp!!! All of Karl's tunes

Just over 20 are great works. With just the right amount of madness - that was to take DJ's like U Roy And Dennis Alcapone into the reggae charts and the hearts of reggae lovers worldwide.

Karl sadly died a few years ago it seems - his grandson on Facebook said he also loved painting and sculpture - it would be nice to see a photo of a man - and ever better - an album CD/LP with all of his music. Jamaica should be proud of him! Nuff respect to Roger Dalke, Charlie Morgan and Brian Keyo - all fans of the man!

Karl Walker - Riding With The Crown - Theo Beckford - King Pioneer - 1962

Well unless Theo Beckford was in the business of giving an artist a label namecheck for nothing, the only conclusion on this release is that Karl Walker is not only the first Deejay - and a producer. He also plays an instrument!!! And listening to this tune - its either got to be a trumpet or guitar. And if this is the case - he's a very talented musician. According to Dr Buster - Theo Beckford actually had a whole tape box of Karl Walker tunes. It might be just the four tunes he released with him, then again it might not!!!