Solid Foundation

FOREWORD BY JACQUELINE CROOKS

Solid Foundation is the definitive history of Jamaica's holy music: reggae in all its forms, from the earliest ska and rock steady pioneers to the dancehall and reggae revival stars of the twenty-first century. Woven together into an engrossing narrative, this is an extensive history charting the progression and development of the music, with all the glorious highlights and the controversies and feuds in between. First published in 2003 and including interviews with over 200 of the genre's key artists, Solid Foundation has been revised and updated with abundant new material and an introduction by award-nominated novelist, Jacqueline Crooks, reissued as part of White Rabbit's Deep Cuts series.

'The definitive history of reggae told through exclusive interviews with the genre's greatest innovators.' - Sunday Herald

'Solid Foundation goes the extra yard to become a defining text, with Katz interviewing virtually every survivor from the island's 60s and 70s music scenes...it is a necessary work.' - The Wire

'Solid Foundation is a welcome addition to the narrow shelf of books that move beyond simplistic views of reggae.' - Record Collector

A cracking read Mojo
How did the music of a small island in the Caribbean have such a tremendous influence on today's pop? It might not be such a bad idea to ask the people who made it happen; and that's exactly what Katz has done Guardian
The definitive history of reggae told through exclusive interviews with the genre's greatest innovators Sunday Herald
Solid Foundation goes the extra yard to become a defining text, with Katz interviewing virtually every survivor from the island's 60s and 70s music scenes...it is a necessary work The Wire
Punctuated by gunshots, the reggae beat throbs through this assiduous oral history...revealing the harsh background from which this vital music emerged, Katz's transcriptions bring reggae giants like Big Youth, King Tubby and Prince Buster vividly to life Independent
Solid Foundation is a welcome addition to the narrow shelf of books that move beyond simplistic views of reggae Record Collector

DAVID KATZ has written about the sounds and culture of Jamaica since 1984. His work has appeared in the Guardian, Newsweek, Mojo, Q, Wax Poetics, and The Wire, and in various music books. He has produced documentaries for radio, contributed to documentaries and feature films, and remains active as a vinyl DJ. Originally from San Francisco, he currently lives in London.

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