This is the seventh in a 10-part series looking at Jamaicans excelling on the South Florida entertainment/lifestyle scene.
MIAMI Vice and Don Johnson were the biggest game in South Florida (and the United States) when Danny Breakenridge moved there in 1985. However, for someone who had been involved in music since the late 1960s, he saw little action in terms of reggae.
"When I came here only three stations were playing reggae, two on Saturdays and one at night. Now, we have a 24-hour Caribbean station (WAVS 1170) and a number of other stations with reggae programming," Breakenridge told the Jamaica Observer. "There are lots of other small venues that feature live reggae. That scene is vibrant," he added.
Breakenridge is the head of Upstairs Records, an independent record company that has produced songs and albums by veteran artistes including Bob Andy, Ken Boothe and Carl Dawkins. The label has also worked with several emerging acts.
South Florida is home to a number of reggae artistes and companies like producer Willie Lindo's Heavy Beat Records. Yet, Breakenridge says it is not easy to break artistes from the region.
"Tarrus Riley, who grew up in South Florida, break from Jamaica. Inner Circle, who has been living in Miami from how long, broke in Europe before hitting it big in the US and around the world," he pointed out. "I think the song is the main factor in breaking an artiste although a lot of great artistes get stifled."
Now in his early 60s, Breakenridge grew up in the Central Kingston community of Allman Town. He grew up around singers such as Horace Andy and BB Seaton, leader of The Gaylads, whom he credits with teaching him the ropes of the music business.
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