Augustus Pablo

Tracks played

1. King Tubby Meets The Rockers Uptown played 2 times, last on 2026-07-31
   • - Augustus Pablo, born Horace Swaby, got his stage name from a keyboard he played called the "Pablo" organ. It was a cheap, bright orange, toy-like instrument, but he made it sound iconic. - This track is a dub version of Jacob Miller's "Baby I Love You So". The "Rockers Uptown" in the title refers to Miller's band, Inner Circle, who were also known as The Rockers. - King Tubby, the legendary dub producer, reputedly created the version heard here by stripping down Miller's original track, adding effects, and emphasising the rhythm section, effectively inventing a new song.
   • - Augustus Pablo reputedly got his start in music playing melodica in a church. Not just any church, mind you, but one where his father was a pastor. - The "King Tubby" in the track title refers to Osbourne Ruddock, a pioneering sound engineer who helped shape the sound of dub music. He was known for his innovative use of mixing desk effects, turning the studio into an instrument itself. - The track is an instrumental version of Jacob Miller's "Baby I Love You So", which Augustus Pablo also produced. It is a prime example of the "versioning" common in reggae, where producers would create multiple instrumental and vocal tracks from the same rhythm.
   • - Augustus Pablo's real name was Horace Swaby. He adopted the "Augustus Pablo" moniker after being given a Hohner Melodica, an instrument he would become synonymous with. Reputedly, he originally wanted to be called "King Tubby" but decided against it. - This track is a dub version of Jacob Miller's "Baby I Love You So", which Augustus Pablo also produced. King Tubby, the pioneering dub engineer, then remixed Pablo's production, giving us this iconic instrumental. - The "Rockers Uptown" in the title refers to Augustus Pablo's Rockers International label and sound system, which was a significant force in Jamaican music during the 1970s.
2. Cassava Piece ('79 Style) played 2 times, last on 2026-08-02
   • - Augustus Pablo was a devout Rastafarian. He reportedly refused to fly in aeroplanes, preferring to travel by boat for international tours. - He was a pioneer of the melodica in reggae music. Previously, the instrument was mostly associated with children's music or educational settings. - The "79 Style" in the track title refers to the year 1979, a prolific period for Pablo and a key year in the development of dub music.
3. King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown played 2 times, last on 2026-09-13 by The Morning After Mix
   • - Augustus Pablo was born Horace Swaby, but adopted his more famous moniker after a Kingston record producer suggested it. The producer, Herman Chin-Loy, had previously used the name 'Augustus Pablo' for a couple of his own organ-led instrumental tracks. - Pablo was a Rasta and a Nazarite, meaning he abstained from cutting his hair, drinking alcohol, and eating meat. He reportedly also had a particular fondness for apples, which he carried everywhere. - The melodica, the instrument Pablo was most famous for, was originally designed as a teaching aid for children. He almost single-handedly elevated it to a serious instrument in reggae music.
   • - Augustus Pablo was born Horace Swaby, but adopted his more famous moniker after a record producer reportedly dreamt the name. - He was a devout Rastafarian and a vegetarian. On tour, he would apparently travel with his own cooking equipment and ingredients to ensure his dietary requirements were met. - The melodica, the instrument Pablo is most famous for, was originally marketed as a children's toy. He almost single-handedly elevated it to a serious instrument in reggae music.
4. East Of The River Nile played 1 time, last on 2026-05-10
5. Pablo Meets Mr Bassie played 1 time, last on 2026-06-21 by Jarvis Cocker's Someday Service
   • - Augustus Pablo's real name was Horace Swaby. The "Pablo" came from a keyboard he played, a Farfisa organ, which had a "Bassie" sound setting. He liked the sound so much he adopted it as his surname. - Pablo was a devout Rastafarian. He believed that the melodica, his signature instrument, was a spiritual tool that could be used to connect with the divine. - He was known for his minimalist approach to production, often using just a few instruments and a simple drum beat. This stripped-back style helped to define the sound of dub music.
   • - Augustus Pablo was born Horace Swaby. He adopted the name 'Augustus Pablo' after a studio owner reportedly told him he looked like a Roman emperor. - He was a devout Rastafarian. He often played melodica, an instrument he helped popularise in reggae music, because he believed it had spiritual qualities. - Pablo reputedly carried his melodica everywhere, even to bed. He believed its sound was directly connected to his soul.
6. Pablo Meets Mr. Bassie played 1 time, last on 2026-08-01
   • - Augustus Pablo's real name was Horace Swaby. He adopted the "Augustus Pablo" moniker after being given a Hohner Melodica, an instrument that would become his signature sound. - Pablo was a Rasta, and his music often reflected his spiritual beliefs. He frequently incorporated Nyabinghi drumming, a traditional Rastafarian drumming style, into his productions. - His studio, called Rockers International, was located in his Kingston home. It was a humble setup, but it became a hub for many of reggae's most influential artists.
   • - Augustus Pablo's real name was Horace Swaby. He adopted "Augustus Pablo" for his recording career, reputedly because a record producer thought he looked like a Roman emperor. - He was a devout Rastafarian and a vegetarian. On tour, he was known for bringing his own food and cooking equipment, preferring to prepare his meals himself rather than rely on catering. - Pablo was a pioneer of the melodica in reggae music. Before him, it was primarily seen as a child's toy. He elevated it to a serious instrument, giving it a distinctive, melancholic sound.
7. Pablo In Moonlight City played 1 time, last on 2026-10-03 by Don Letts' Culture Clash Radio
   • - The track is a prime example of Pablo's signature "far east" sound, built around the melodica: an instrument generally relegated to primary school music lessons that he managed to turn into an engine of brooding, mystical dub. - Born Horace Swaby, he plucked the moniker Augustus Pablo entirely at random from a Kingston record store owner who used it as a collective pseudonym for various uncredited session keyboardists. - The original 1974 instrumental proved so hypnotic that legendary producer Bunny Lee recycled the underlying rhythm track across Kingston, passing it on to singers like Cornell Campbell to voice entirely different songs over the top.