UBC Press King Alpha’s Song in a Strange Land: The Roots and Routes of Canadian Reggae

When Jackie Mittoo and Leroy Sibbles migrated from Jamaica to Toronto in the early 1970s, the musicians brought reggae with them, sparking the flames of one of Canada’s most vibrant music scenes. Professional reggae musician and scholar Jason Wilson tells the story of how reggae brought black and white youth together, opening up a cultural dialogue between Jamaican migrants and Canadians along the city’s ethnic frontlines. This underground subculture rebelled against the status quo, broke through the bonds of race, eased the acculturation process, and made bands such as Messenjah and the Sattalites household names for a brief but important time. Review ...maybe the most comprehensive focus on reggae and Jamaican culture in Canada's most populous city. -- Howard Campbell ― Jamaica Observer About the Author Jason Wilson is a bestselling author, two-time Juno Award nominee, and winner of a Canadian Reggae Music Award. He is the author of The Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club: Official Centennial Publication, 1917–2017 and Soldiers of Song: The Dumbells and Other Canadian Concert Parties of the First World War. The latter was turned into a play that toured across Canada. Wilson’s life story has been featured in documentaries on CBC’s The National and BBC Radio. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Guelph.