Young took a chance on youngsters

Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Carl Young, chairman of Irie FM, Jamaica's first all-reggae radio station, died on Thursday in Chicago, Illinois, his long-time friend Bob Clarke told The Sunday Gleaner.

Clarke said Young had been ill for some time but did not give the cause of death. He said he was in his early 80s.

It was Clarke who encouraged the Lucea, Hanover-born Young to start a radio station in the late 1980s but recalled that he was not sold on the idea.

"He wasn't supportive, said he knew nothing about radio," said Clarke.

"Even when we got the broadcasting licence we had to keep pumping him."

Irie FM went on air in July 1990 but was not supposed to have an all-reggae format. The station's first general manager, Clyde McKenzie, remembered encou-raging Young to take the plunge by playing reggae mainstream radio was rejecting.

Once Young gave him the go-ahead, McKenzie began recruiting newsroom staff, many of whom were unknown.

"I think that was one of Carl's strong points, he took a chance on youngsters and it paid off," McKenzie told The Sunday Gleaner.

Among Irie's youthful staff were Dennis Howard, who served as programmes director, and disc jockeys Kathy Owen and Ainsworth 'Big A' Higgins.

Clarke held the popular oldies slot on Sundays.

Organiser

Clarke said he first met Young in the 1960s while he (Clarke) was in high school in St Mary. He went on to work for Young who organised several live events in Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, including the Reggae Lobster Party and the Cornwall Reggae Party.

Clarke was lead singer in Young's band, Rockers International. Young also operated the Strand sound system.

Irie FM turned out to be Young's major achievement, as the station quickly became a hit with reggae performers struggling to get airplay on mainstream radio. It helped break new-wave dancehall acts like Jigsy King, Garnet Silk, Tony Rebel and Mad Cobra.

McKenzie, who went on to have a successful career with Shocking Vibes Productions, described Young as a hands-on manager.

"He was the kind of guy who believed the buck stopped with him," McKenzie said.