Whenever Jahmark hears a ska song, it takes him back to his youth in Jamaica. It was the 1960s and that sound was everywhere — in the dancehalls, clubs and on the radio.
As the Independence period in Jamaica approached last August, he and his band The Soulshakers recorded ‘No Sorry fi Maga Dog’, a ska track produced by Mike Irwin. It has a classic ska sound which recaptures what the roots singer considers Jamaica’s golden age of music.
“I knew the tune would be released around Jamaica’s Festival time, so I wanted to partake in the festiveness! I have been working with Mike for a minute and recorded a total of three albums with him,” said Jahmark.
‘No Sorry fi Maga Dog’ is the veteran band’s first song for 2025. In October, Jahmark released two songs — ‘Golden Days’ with Ras Dave, and ‘My Revolutionary Friend’, which he did with Jeff Harris.
Jahmark and The Soulshakers have been a fixture on the Southern California reggae scene for over 30 years. They play mainly clubs and festivals, and are known for their relationship with Irwin, the principal of Roughsounds Studio in Redondo Beach, California.
Irwin has produced three albums — ‘Life’, ‘Book Of Redemption’ and ‘Happiness’ — by the band. The latter’s title song, released in 2019, is Jahmark and The Soulshakers’ biggest hit.
WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL