Alpha Boys School

Alpha Cottage School (often referred to as Alpha Boys School) is a school on South Camp Road in Kingston, Jamaica, run by Roman Catholic nuns. Established in 1880 as a "school for wayward boys", it became renowned for both the discipline it instilled in its pupils and the outstanding musical tuition they received.Barrow, Steve and Dalton, Peter: "Reggae: The Rough Guide", Rough Guides, 1997, ISBN 1-85828-247-0] The school has had its own band since 1892, originally a drum and fife corps [http://www.alphaoldboysassociation.com/history.html History of Alpha Boys' School] ] and later a brass band after the gift of brass instruments from the Roman Catholic Bishop of Jamaica, and has been credited with influencing the development of reggae. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/01/12/bmalpha12.xml&sSheet=/arts/2006/01/12/ixartleft.html Nun who nurtured reggae] "The Daily Telegraph", 12/01/2006 ]

Noted music instructors included:
*Lennie Hibbert
*Eric Deans, as well as
*Sister Mary Ignatius Davis.

Noted alumni include Desmond Dekker, four founder members of the Skatalites: Tommy McCook, Johnny "Dizzy" Moore, Lester Sterling and Don Drummond, [ [http://uk.music.yahoo.com/ar-264797-bio--The-Skatalites The Skatalites Biography] ] Cedric Brooks, Rico Rodriguez, Yellowman, Vin Gordon. saxophonist and flautist Harold McNair [http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/html/20060610t210000-0500_106603_obs_jazz___what_s_jamaica_got_to_do_with_it__part_ii_.asp Jamaica Observer - Jazz: What's Jamaica Got To Do With It?] ] , saxophonist Joe Harriott, "Deadly" Headley Bennett, [ [http://www.skysaw.org/onu/artists/deadlyheadley.html Steve Barker on Headley Bennett's only solo album to date] ] and singer Leroy Smart. [Liner notes from the "Impressions of Leroy Smart" CD]

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/alphaboysschool Alpha Boys School on MySpace with potted biographies of Alpha old boys, more in-depth articles in the blog and details of forthcoming fund-raisers]
* [http://www.alphaoldboysassociation.com/ Alpha Old Boys Association]
* [http://www.alphaboysschool.com/ Alpha Boys School page where you can donate to the school or buy their music-related products]
* [http://www.mercymall.com/alpha_boys.htm Mercy Mall - products of the Alpha boys School wooodwork department for sale]
* [http://alphahome0.tripod.com/ Alpha Boys School page apparently set up by the nuns at the school themselves]
* [http://www.alphaboysschool.co.uk/ Alpha Boys association for Poor and Disadvantaged Children - A UK-based charity raising funds for the Alpha Boys School and providing a social network for old boys]

ee also

*List of schools in Jamaica

References