Name: The Origins of Ska Music by Alpha Boys' School
Duration: 9 min 6 s
Description: Featuring Alpha past student and trumpet player Eddie 'Tan Tan' Thornton.

Steph - Eyi - Just Smile

Feluke - Past Tense 
Written by: Bianca Welds and Denver Smith
Produced by : Clive Hunt and Denver Smith
Music Label: DenverDMusic
Year: 2014

FELUKÉ - Past Tense

Featuring Alpha past student and trumpet player Eddie 'Tan Tan' Thornton.

The Origins of Ska Music

The Alpha Institute (formerly Alpha Boys School), was founded in 1880 by Jamaican philanthropist, Jessie Ripoll. Ms. Ripoll’s dream was to minister to the hopes and aspirations of young Jamaicans at the bottom of the social ladder. As such, Alpha has long been a beacon of light and hope for Jamaican society.  Since 1880, and in addition to providing a general education and training in trades such as agriculture, printing, tailoring and woodworking, Alpha’s music program has produced some of the world’s most respected and skilled musicians. Jazz men like Dizzy Reece and Jo Jo Harriot as well as ska pioneers Don Drummond, Lester Sterling, Tommy McCook and Cedric Brooks (founding members of the Skatalites) and reggae stalwarts Leroy Smart and Leroy 'Horsemouth' Wallace, among many others, have all called Alpha home. The music program continues to be a trusted source for touring and session bands as well as for hotels and cruise ships. Today there are 130 students who study at Alpha and are working hard to be the next generation of Jamaican success stories.

The Origins of Ska Music

Alpha Boys' School

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