Play It Loud! How Toronto Got Soul documents the tremendous impact immigrants from Jamaica had on the Canadian music scene in the ’60s and ’70s, and the barriers many of the musicians faced.
Play It Loud! How Toronto Got Soul is screening at Hot Docs Cinema March 1
Talia Ricci · CBC News
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New documentary celebrates the legacy of Jamaican music in Canada
A new documentary aims to highlight how Jamaican music became a pivotal and unexpected part of Canadian culture. Play It Loud! How Toronto Got Soul documents the impact immigrants from Jamaica had on the Canadian music scene in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and the barriers many of the musicians faced. CBC’s Talia Ricci has more.
A new documentary is highlighting how Jamaican music became a pivotal and unexpected part of Canadian culture.
Play It Loud! How Toronto Got Soul documents the tremendous impact immigrants from Jamaica had on the Canadian music scene in the ’60s and ’70s, and the barriers many of the musicians faced.
The documentary follows the story of Jamaican Canadian singer Jay Douglas — who has been performing for six decades. Douglas is now recognized globally despite initially going largely unnoticed in the Toronto music scene.
The film exposes some of those struggles, but Douglas is most excited about sharing the history with young people.
“Thank God we’re starting to document in Canada and Toronto, because in the early years we didn’t do enough,” Douglas told CBC Toronto.
“Working together, we’re sharing all the great artists that came from Jamaica and helped Toronto get soul and I’m so grateful for this.”
Everton “Pablo” Paul worked alongside Douglas as a drummer and founded the band The Cougars.
He says many of the artists who came to Toronto from Jamaica in the ’60s and ’70s paved the way for today’s Black Canadian music stars.
“The history of Jamaican artists in Toronto wasn’t appreciated. Let’s put it that way,” he said.
“We had a hard time getting recording deals, but we persevered.”
Play It Loud! How Toronto Got Soul is now streaming on TVO and is also playing March 1 at Hot Docs Cinema.
For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Talia Ricci is a TV, radio and web reporter at CBC Toronto. She enjoys covering offbeat human interest stories and exposing social justice issues. Talia is also an avid traveller and photographer. Her photography has appeared in various publications and exhibits. She lives in Toronto’s west end where she enjoys reading and going on long walks to discover the beauty in the city.
