Play It Loud! How Toronto Got Soul

Play It Loud! How Toronto Got Soul

2024
1h 24min

In early 1960s Toronto, a white, Anglo-centric city, an underground music scene emerged from the Jamaican diaspora, led by newcomers like Jackie Mittoo, Wayne McGhie, and a young Jay Douglas. Battling racism and indifference, they left a lasting but underrecognized mark on Canadian music and culture. Nearly 60 years later, Jay Douglas still champions Jamaican music and is finally receiving long-overdue recognition. Play It Loud is a feature documentary that tells the little-known story of how Jamaican music became a vital, unlikely part of Canadian culture. It traces a cultural migration that made Canada a global hub for Jamaican music - celebrated abroad but overlooked at home. Told through the life and music of beloved singer Jay Douglas, born Clive Pinnock in rural Jamaica, the film follows his journey from teen performer to enduring icon.

Play It Loud! How Toronto Got Soul

Storyline

In early 1960s Toronto, a white, Anglo-centric city, an underground music scene emerged from the Jamaican diaspora, led by newcomers like Jackie Mittoo, Wayne McGhie, and a young Jay Douglas. Battling racism and indifference, they left a lasting but underrecognized mark on Canadian music and culture. Nearly 60 years later, Jay Douglas still champions Jamaican music and is finally receiving long-overdue recognition. Play It Loud is a feature documentary that tells the little-known story of how Jamaican music became a vital, unlikely part of Canadian culture. It traces a cultural migration that made Canada a global hub for Jamaican music - celebrated abroad but overlooked at home. Told through the life and music of beloved singer Jay Douglas, born Clive Pinnock in rural Jamaica, the film follows his journey from teen performer to enduring icon.
    Released
    December 2024
    Runtime
    1h 24min
    Director
    Budget
    $656,000
    Genre
    Status
    Released
    Language
    English
    Production
    Ultramagnetic Productions, TVO, Knowledge Network, Bonfire Originals
Cast
Jay Douglas
Jay Douglas
Jackie Richardson
Jackie Richardson
Jackie Richardson
Lowell 'Sly' Dunbar
Lowell 'Sly' Dunbar
Lowell 'Sly' Dunbar
Rollie "Cadence Weapon" Pemberton
Rollie "Cadence Weapon" Pemberton
Lillian Allen
Lillian Allen
Klive Walker
Klive Walker
Nicholas Jennings
Nicholas Jennings
Carlene Davis
Carlene Davis
Grub Cooper
Grub Cooper
Supreme La Rock
Supreme La Rock
Michael Williams
Michael Williams
Eddie Bullen
Eddie Bullen
Henry Marks
Henry Marks
Everton Pablo Paul
Everton Pablo Paul
Adrian Miller
Adrian Miller
Matt Sullivan
Matt Sullivan
Shahi Teruko
Noreen / Beverly Kelso of The Wailers / Cissy Houston
Jephthe Beljour
Jay Douglas
Gabriel Gherutchi
Mr. Bulucan / Matt Sullivan
Eon Sinclair
Band Member
Dana Carrabon
Coxsone Dodd / band member
Ethan Henderson
young Jay Douglas
Barry Malcolm
Barry Malcolm
Kehinde Akanbi
Buddas
Demi Pinnock
Demi Pinnock
Empress Harmony
Jackie Richardson
Stan Pinnock
Stan Pinnock
Cameron Greene
Everton Pablo Paul
Ian Dawkins
Ian Dawkins
Ricky Cambia
DJ Supreme La Rock