“In 1985 G.T. Hi Fi muscled in on the Jamaican sound system scene challenging sounds like Stereo One, Black Star, Destiny and the ruling Killamanjaro. Pre 1985 it seems they were originally a sound from New York City. But by ‘84 G.T.’s owner, Altimond the “Don”, was setting his sights higher and he had acquired an impressive arsenal of specials to take on the Ja sounds. With that in mind they relocated to Jamaica, with a strong possibility their home base was in Browns Town in St Ann.
Looking at the line ups on most of our sessions it becomes clear that there must have been a very close connection with the Black Scorpio sound as their deejays Sassafrass, General Trees, Shukashine and Colour Chin all often featured together on G.T.’s sessions. Other G.T. regulars were albino deejay Purpleman, Johnny “Hulk” Ashley and singers King Kong and Woody Noble. The duty of selecting all those custom made specials fell to Little “Kid” Screw and Arthur Dread with Purpleman doubling up on the mixer. Their best known clash is perhaps the dust up with Killamanjaro held at the NCC Club in May 1985 in which they put up a very strong showing against the then current dancehall champions.”
G.T. Hi Fi @ Harlem, New York, 1984
Featuring: Sassafrass
Selector – Deh Deh
“Recorded when G.T. were operating out of New York, this tape, taking place in Harlem, has the senior horseman deejay Sassafrass in full control. And he’s as good as ever following up the many specials, including some wicked Little John plates, with skilful microphone work. He embraces the fast style talk on “Worries Again” and shows clever spell rhyming on “G.T Badda Dan Dem”. As Sassa says “G.T. A Play Different”.
Many thanks to Daddy White Squall for this one..............
G.T. Hi Fi @ Browns Town, St Ann 1985
Featuring: Little Twitch, Johnny Ashley, Bananaman, Josey Wales, King Kong
Selector – Little Screw
“Josey Wales is the special “midnight attraction” as G.T. nice up the lawn in Browns Town. He chants “One Josey Wales In Jamaica” and “Raggamuffin Cowboy” and generally controls the dance expertly. In one of the strangest requests heard at a dance, Josey has a message from the owner of the yard asking the dance-goers not to “distress the flowers!” Little Screw draws some specials from King Kong and the man himself is on hand to voice them out live. This is also notable for a very early appearance of Bananaman with a singular soundbwoy tune “Knockshot, G.T. A Knockshot.”
G.T. Hi Fi @ Browns Town, St Ann 1985
Featuring: General Trees, Sassafrass, Woody Noble, King Kong, Shukashine,
Selector – Little Screw
“A next different session in Browns Town, only 30 minutes long unfortunately, sees the “3 horseman brothers” Sassafrass, Trees and Shukashine working in tandem. On the “Sleng Teng” teacher Sassa and his “prento” Trees claim they “Don’t Know Much About Fast Talking” but the duo more than cope with the style. Shukashine, Trees’ “prento”, is no slouch either on “Rider Man”, voiced on the dub to a Simple Simon special “A Wa Do Dem So”. A short but entertaining helping of the G.T. sound. Does anyone have the rest of it?”
G.T. International @ Porus, Manchester, circa August 1985
Featuring: Michigan, King Kong, Sgt. Rock, Purpleman, Martin Luther, Double Ugly, Colour Chin, Woody Noble
Selector – Arthur Dread
“Another exclusive, straight from the master tape crystal clear session from the vaults of White Squall, and this time Altimond’s G.T. sound is in Porus. The star of this show is Michigan who, even without Smiley by his side, can still control a dance nice. He showcases “Vex, Vex, Vex”, a forthcoming single, “Can’t Cross The Border” and “Sugar Daddy”. Purpleman and Colour Chin dish out good advice in “Learn Fe Share” and “Watch Yu Head” respectively. David Knight aka Double Ugly shows his style well with “One Frock Gal” delivered over the dub to Barrington Levy’s “Murderer”. To top it all selector Arthur Dread has some excellent music to call upon. Essential G.T.”
Massive thanks to Daddy squall for this one....
G.T. Hi Fi v Killamanjaro @ NCC Sports Club, Half Way Tree Road, Kingston 5, 5th May 1985
Featuring: Professor Nuts, Sister Katy, Yellowman, General Trees, Major Manzie, Echo Minott, Ringo, Shukashine,
Nitty Gritty, Tenor Saw, Woody Noble, Sister Iyah, John Wayne, Pompido, Barry Bak, Chakademus
Selector – Little Screw
“This is G.T.’s answer to Killamanjaro’s questions, and every bit as good and more. This recording is two tapes combined together to give an extra long version of this classic dance. G.T. were armed to the teeth with custom made specials. Killer tunes flow from Little John, Pad Anthony, Woody Noble and especially Nitty Gritty, showing they were not a sound to be messed with. Deejay-wise General Trees carried the flag for G.T. with razor sharp chat on “Live Stock”, “Kill Dem All” and “All The People Were Singing” fired straight to Jaro’s head. With Tenor Saw, Professor Nuts and Yellowman also turning out for G.T., the general consensus is that they took this big clash. Their Little John special, “Worries & Problems Ina N.C.C.”, summed up this mighty clash.”
Thanks to Samspade for the extra 18 minutes....
G.T. Hi Fi @ Ashanti Junction, Windward Road, Kingston 2, July 1985
Featuring: General Trees, Papa Biggy, Sergeant Rock, Professor Nuts, Shukashine, Martin Luther
Crew – Little Screw & Arthur Dread
“This dance was held at the Ashanti Junction venue in the Rockfort area of East Kingston. The crowd are treated to some excellent deejay work from the likes of dancehall comic Professor Nuts, who takes them on a tour of the towns of Kingston. The self-styled “biggest deejay in the world” Courtney Porteous aka Papa Biggy has always been undervalued and on this tape he shows his great ability, tackling serious matters such as “Drug Taking”, “Gunman Origination” and “Policeman Get Bad.”
G.T. Hi Fi @ Waltham Park, Kingston, 7th December 1985
Featuring: Colour Chin, Double Ugly, Major Lloyd, Woody Noble, Tipper Lee, Skengae Uno, King Kong, Tenor Saw, Johnny Ashley, Sadoo, Purpleman
Selector – Arthur Dread
“There’s a good line up of singers and deejays queuing up round the control tower for this recording in the Waltham Park area of Kingston. It’s always good to hear lesser known artists getting a chance and deejays like Double Ugly, with “Run The Country, and Colour Chin chanting “Worries, Trouble and Problem” take their turn well. Tipper Lee is always worth a listen, deejaying with confidence on passages such as “Worldwide Warfare” and “Aids Out A Road”. This tape is most notable for the meeting of singers King Kong and Tenor Saw, with the latter claiming originality in no uncertain terms. As if to prove a point Saw runs through some of his big dancehall anthems like “Ring The Alarm” and “Jah Guide & Protect Me.”
G.T. Hi Fi @ Browns Town, St Ann, December 1985
Featuring: Purpleman, Double Ugly, Woody Noble, General Trees, Sassafrass, Shukashine, King Kong
Crew – Little Screw, Arthur Dread & Papa Smurf
“Another December date for G.T. and they are back in the parish of St Ann. Very much a Black Scorpio affair with the three generations of horseman deejays in attendance. The youngest of them is Shukashine, the “Prophet”, who shows great talent on “Deejay Addict” and “Robot Move” while Sassafrass, the eldest, just about manages to saddle the “Sleng Teng” as it speeds along at 78rpm for “Stevie Wonder”. Purpleman leaves his mixing duties for a while to detail the hardship of “Living In The Ghetto”. Great musical selection on show here, mixing specials with new music and singer Woody Noble adds to the variation with some incisive sound bwoy lyrics.”
G.T. Hi Fi v Stereo One @ Savanna La Mar, Westmoreland, circa April 1986
Featuring: Welton Irie, Colour Chin, Chakademus, Audie Murphy, Anthony Redrose, Super Palmer
Crew – Little Screw
“This clash with Stereo One gives G.T. another chance to air their ever growing repertoire of wicked specials. Exclusive plates from singers like Pad Anthony, King Kong and Nitty Gritty are fired directly across Stereo One’s bows. The live artists take no prisoners either, with Chakademus leading the way with “G.T. Kill A Sound” and Audie Murphy on the attack on “Don’t Trouble G.T.”. Singer of the moment Anthony Redrose showcases a couple of his recent Firehouse singles “Can’t Knock Me” and “Me No Want No Boops”. In a soundclash, you can’t knock G.T. at all!”
Stereo One v G.T. Hi Fi @ Savanna La Mar, Westmoreland, circa April 1986
Featuring: Lt. Stitchie, Wolfman, Little John, Admiral Bailey, King Kong, Bendy Lou, Hornsman, Daddy Blue, Lushy Banton,
Courtney Melody
Crew – Mikey Dreadlocks
“This is the Stereo One answer to the G.T.’s performance at this clash in Westmoreland. Stereo one as usual are spearheaded by Stitchie and Jonathon “Animal” Wolfman and assisted by special guests Admiral Bailey and Little John. Mikey Dreadlocks flings back some Little John and King Kong specials and the latter, not worrying about sound system loyalty, delivers “Can’t Stand Me”. There are wild roars as Stitchie and Bailey saddle up on a Calypso riddim run on both 45rpm and 78rpm. Little John gets a mass “forward” from the crowd as he too delivers some crucial sound lyrics in “Stereo One You Rule” as the sound keeps up the pressure on G.T.”
