Mash Down Birmingham: The Musical Youth Story

history, music, society, culture · EN

Musical Youth will forever be remembered for their worldwide 1982 hit Pass The Dutchie. In fact, the story of the reggae group made of five schoolchildren from Birmingham in the UK is one that starts long before that – as far back as Kingston Jamaica in the mid-1960s. Prior to forming Musical Youth, the father of Patrick Waite (bass) and Junior Waite (drums) was a member of rocksteady stars The Techniques. Relocated to Birmingham in the 1970s, he and local producer/promoter Toney Owens set about creating a group that would help pass on the torch of Jamaican music into a new era. What followed exceeded their wildest imaginings. Within two years of Pass The Dutchie's release, Musical Youth were mixing with global superstars such as Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Donna Summer. Hosted by music journalist, broadcaster and author Pete Paphides and featuring new interviews with Owens and Musical Youth guitarist/vocalist Kelvin Grant, Mash Down Babylon is a two part account of the group's