Augustus Pablo & Fay

When dub music developed in the late sixties from reggae B-sides to become music in it's own right, Horace Swaby was still at school. He was already learning the piano, and his favourite hobby was to sneak into the church and mess with the organ. But Augustus Pablo (as he was later called), was to become famous for the most unlikely of instruments, the melodica. The instrument was used for teaching music at school and his first melodica was lent to him by a girl in his class.
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Pablo's first recording came in 1971, when he was invited by producer Herman Chin Loy to work on some sessions. His most famous track from this period was "East Of The River Nile" which set the mould for his 'Far Eastern' sound. His signature is a combination of minor keys and modern melodies, and influences on his music ranged from ska trombonist Don Drummond to Studio One organist Jackie Mittoo.