Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Jay Douglas Kicks Out the Jams: Toronto Mike'd #1295

Episode Date: July 21, 2023

In this 1295th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike catches up with FOTM Jay Douglas remembering Tony Bennett before Jay plays and discusses his 10 favourite songs of all-time. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, The Moment Lab, Ridley Funeral Home and Electronic Products Recycling Association.

who's that ill vibe local rapper producer ill vibe that's nice was it hip-hop strictly hip-hop yeah now he's doing more like lyric videos. But yeah, he was a big hip hop star. But let me tell everybody listening. Welcome to episode 1295 of Toronto Mic'd. Proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery. A fiercely independent craft brewery who believes in supporting communities, good times and brewing amazing beer. Order online for free local home delivery in the GTA.

Palma Pasta. Enjoy the taste of fresh, homemade Italian pasta and entrees from Palma Pasta in Mississauga and Oakville. RecycleMyElectronics.ca. Committing to our planet's future means properly recycling our electronics of the past. Getting hip to the hip an evening for the downy wenjack fund on september 1st the moment lab brand marketing and strategy pr advertising and production you need the moment lab and Ridley Funeral Home, pillars of the community since 1921. Today, returning to Toronto Mic'd to kick out the jams is Jay Douglas. Welcome back, Jay. Greetings, my brother, and to all the beautiful fans out there in radio land, TV land. It's good to be back here.

Well, it's good to have you back. You are one of my favorite guests of all time. I loved your visit in September 2020. We had it in the backyard. Do you remember that? That's right. With nature, organic. There was a bird song in the mix.

That's right. So if people want to hear the A to Z of Jay Douglas' amazing career, I'm going to just order them to go to episode 717 of Toronto Mic'd. Here's what I wrote at the time. Mike chats with Jay Douglas about his amazing career in music, singing with the Cougars, making Rob Ford dance,

and the history of reggae music. We chatted for over an hour, my friend, and I'm glad to have you back. It's nice to be back. The vibration of the music keeps us going all the time, man. Well, you just flew in. Where did you fly in from? Seattle, Washington. And what were you doing in Seattle?

You should have stuck around. The Blue Jays are there now. You know what? I went by T-Mobile Stadium. I looked now i did there do you know what i went by t-mobile stadium i looked took some pictures and you know and and i was next door to where the seattle kraken the kraken yeah the kraken yeah that was right there at the arena man you know uh i went to uh oh by the way they're doing a documentary of my life story who um uh tvos involved and steve pakin gonna narrate this i don't maybe some of it you know and um andre manga from the same people who did

buffy saint marie that was great yeah they're the same you know you deserve it man i feel like people you're kind of hiding in plain sight. Like this living legend walks amongst us. And in our chat a few years ago, I'm like, this is one cool guy who's done some, can I swear? Do you mind if I just say a little swear word? Oh, go ahead, bro. This guy's done some cool shit, okay?

I said people need to be aware of the great Jay Douglas, walks amongst us. Thank you. I said people need to be aware of the great Jay Douglas, Walks Amongst Us. Thank you. You're right on because many years ago, there was a young man who called me from Seattle, from Light in the Attic. And they were looking for Wayne McGee, who's from Toronto, and he did the Sounds of Joy album.

And there was a track in it that was done by my drummer from the Cougars, Everton Pablo Paul. In those years with the Cougars, we didn't know we were making hip-hop beat. Right. So these kids out there, these rappers out in the West Coast, their album, there was a few albums made here and one got out there and they wanted to sample Dirty Funk.

That's the name of the track. And so they couldn't find the guy who did it originally and he's from Montego Bay, myself, Wayne McGee. So they tried to find him for a couple of years and then they couldn't.

So they told me, you better get in touch with jay douglas and it so happened that i knew wayne mcgee from montego bay we started out in the business yeah so i had to find him because i didn't i haven't heard from him a long time so i happened with some help i found him in an apartment in east york wow Not in the business anymore, mental issues. And so I called the young man, Matt Sullivan from Lightning. And they had to go and see how they said I found him. They go, are you serious, Mr. Douglas? I said, no.

You know, I gave them the sister of Wayne McGee. And they flew right. I said, well, I said, you all better come on right now. And they came to Toronto. And would you believe the worst winter storm. I was so impressed. That's not on you, man. But they rented an SUV and mops and they found their way around.

Okay, East York. Yeah, and I introduced them to all the early reggae artists to the present, you know, Jojo Bennett from Satellites, Bob and Wisdom, all the artists. And they found material here that was taken for granted for years. Just like getting dusted off. Yeah, I was going to say. Dusted off. They didn't put any politics in it.

They dusted off, they didn't put any politics in it, went back and the album, they reissued the Sounds of Joy album with Dirty Funk, the hip hop track, and then followed after that the Jamaica to Toronto album. Yeah. With the Cougars, all these artists from Toronto. Dusted off. Yeah. Set it off. Yeah, and it's one of the biggest project. It was so large when I went to London, England, and I told them I'm with the guys in Lightning Attic, Jamaica to Toronto. Yeah.

HMV, they treated me royally. And you know what they said? They said, you guys in Canada are lucky you had the opportunity to have a CD release. He said, if we had it here in London, we would have put it in Wembley Stadium. You guys are so lucky and blessed you don't even know. Well, I'm honored you're even here, my friend. We've got a lot of ground to cover because as we play your songs, and spoiler alert, we've got 11.

People are used to the 10 songs, but we've got 11 people are used to the 10 songs but we got 11 because j douglas is worth it so 11 songs and we're going to hear you talk about the music and this is going to be a true treat for me but i'm going to start with a song that's not on your 11 so let's listen to this and then i want to ask you about this gentleman The loveliness of Paris Seems somehow sadly gay This is from the Ed Sullivan show. That's Mrs. Tony Bennett. You can't mistake that voice.

No. This is like his signature song, but we got the sad news this morning. Tony passed away today. No. Really? 96 years old, yeah. I would not joke about that. Bless his soul.

But you guys are cut from the same cloth. That's why I wanted to talk to you. But I'm sorry for having to drop that news on you. Last time I dropped news on a legendary musician about the death of a hero. It didn't go well, but I'm sorry, my friend. Wow.

He rests in power, man. That's a singer's singer. Well, tell me a little bit, because you're a band leader, and I feel like you and Tony Bennett cut from the same cloth. I appreciate you just saying that in the same breath. This is, we in the business, we call these one of the godfather of the industry. The way on and off the stage, how we appreciate the gift from the most high, the supreme being. Because we are messengers of peace and love.

What we do, we appreciate it. We're blessed to deliver the message. We don't put ego in politics and this kind of blessings that are bestowed upon us. And when we listen to him, we listen to the Godfather. We learn how to sing properly diction and the the magic

oh man I hit you with a big one there I'm sorry this news just broke you know a couple hours ago but this is Tony Bennett on

Ed Sullivan show singing I left my heart in San Francisco. That's a signature. That's a signature song. And he would come to Tron over the years at the Imperial Room at the Royal Yard. Because he had that relationship with Gino Empry. And Mr. Janetta.

And. Patty Janetta's father. Okay. Yeah. And you were there, man. It's like people don't realize the connection. Tony, before his massive comeback, okay? Because Tony had a big comeback.

But there was a period of time when Tony was not as hot. And in that period, there's a lot of Toronto activity. That's right. For Tony Bennett. That's right. At the Imperial Room. Those days, from Monday night to Saturday night. Wow.

Yeah. So let Tony play us out here. I want to hear a bit more Tony, and then we're going to start with your first jam. Oh, respect. So buckle up, Jay. You're going to enjoy this. Wow.

Listen to that diction. Let's see if the puzzle fits so fine. That's when I'll discover. Can I say something? Of course, of course. Can I say something? Of course, of course. When you listen to Maestro,

you listen how the band, the musicians, they give him room to breathe. This is how they did it, you know? Listen how they don't get in the way of the voice. He's breathing, you know? I hear that. When I come home to you San Francisco Your golden sun

Will shine for me All right. Now, J. Douglas, one more question before we get to the next song. Are you ready to kick out the jams? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Thank you. Good Lord.

Yeah. Oh, yeah. Brother Louie. Now, these are your songs. You're welcome to talk over them. I'm going to play and then I would bring it down anyway. But talk to me. Now, this gentleman here, bless his soul.

As a young man in Jamaica, not many of us could afford radio. But bless those who had it. If the neighbors had radio, we would listen still. Like, it's our radio. But then the sound system, you know, they have Sound Clash today? Yes. Those sound systems, they were like jukeboxes.

So these records would come in by the ship from New Orleans to Jamaica, the port. And the sound system guys, they would compete to get these shots so they can beat up on each other. And Mr. Jordan, his band in the early years entertained the troops, the U.S. troops abroad too. And he was also an actor. So here's what, James Brown, Little Richard, Prince,

Michael Jackson, Usher, and the young man today now he won so many awards the other day I'll tell you his name they're all coming from Louis Jordan Vines

yeah they're all you see them they dance they're lively they're all the you see them? They dance. They're lively. They're all the same. Little Richard, all of them. Otis Redding.

They're coming from this foundation. Bill Sturt's here. Yeah. Wow. Yeah. Oh, yes. Let the good times roll. Do you remember the first time you heard this song? Oh, as a let the good times roll. Do you remember the first time you heard this song?

Oh, as a kid, listening to the sound system. Because in Jamaica, you didn't have no noise-controlled police. So when the sound system with the horns, those horns in the trees, the whole town would light up. Wow. So it stays with us, stayed whole town. Wow. So he stays with us, stayed with me until I came to Canada. I could afford to collect these vinyls. Right.

Bruno Mars too. That's who I was thinking. Bruno Mars. Okay. Yeah, he's up the same vein. Yeah. Louis Jordan. I knew it would come to you. I didn't.

I'm not even going to help you out. I said it's going to come to him. It's going to come to him. Yeah. We're off to a great start. And again, that's like I consider that like a bonus jam. We still have 10 to you. I didn't, I'm not even going to help you out. And I said, it's going to come to him. It's going to come to him. Yeah. We're off to a great start. And again, that's like, I consider that like a bonus jam.

We still have 10 to go. Okay. You ready for this second jam? Let's kick it. Oh, Oh Lord. There she goes. Mm.

My baby don't care for the show. Ooh, get ready. My baby don't care for the shows Ooh, get ready My baby don't care for the shows Miss Nina Simone And as a kid My baby just cared for me They came to the Caribbean, Jamaica And they were big stars even before they

My baby don't care for North America Listen to that And racist Listen My baby don't care for North America. Listen to that. Listen. Listen. Liz Taylor. Wow.

You hear that downbeat? Atlanta Turner smile Something he can't see You hear that downbeat? My baby don't care Who knows My baby just cares The melody from that acoustic bass. Listen. The sweetness.

Hear that? And it put magic in your feet. You had to move. So, one of the great sounds and labor in Jamaica, studio-wide. That's the downbeat. Wow. I'm just pinching myself. I got Jay Douglas in my basement

talking to me about the songs he loves. This is fantastic. Those are foundations, man. Oh. And you're like the conductor you can have it you can bring it up you can bring it down

I'm watching you I'm feeding off you I love the way you make it breathe you know but it's it's the vibration into the soul

you know what it says you know be happy groove what it says, you know. Be happy. Groove. Have you ever met somebody, Jay, who doesn't love music and wondered what's wrong with them? Like there are certain people

who are like, I don't care for music. And you're like, okay, that's a red flag. Right? Well, hardly, man. Because even if they didn't love the music, when they hear music, especially like Nina and others, it's the only international language of joy. So wake up.

You know? Stay there is love. Sing it, man. Sing it. No. Even liver I change my heart. You hear that voice? And they didn't have no melody. I wonder what's wrong with me

You hear that voice? And they didn't have no metal or equipment to... True. This is pure, pure, pure and natural. You know? You got it. Maybe this is chaos for me Oh yeah.

Pure and natural. Yeah. All right, we're rolling right along here. Okay. Now, the influence of the American blues or music that came into Jamaica, especially in the North Coast where I came from,

Montego Bay, that in the North Coast where I came from, Montego Bay. That's the Blues Busters, our very own from Montego Bay. They helped me. They taught me harmonies, how to deliver yourself and stage. So when they left Montego Bay to Kingston to record it with the great Byron Lee and the Dragoneers, this was their first hit. Okay.

And we all as young singers or artists, everybody wanted to be the Blues Busters. And this is Great Blues Busters. Great harmonies. Because when I started out singing,

I sang with another friend of mine from school, Arrow, you know, Buddha's in class. That's what they call us. So we start learning harmonies from an early time as young boys growing up. Listen to that. Lloyd Campbell and Philip James. So when Sam Cooke would come to Jamaica to do a show,

he chose these guys to be his opening act, the Blues Busters. And they moved to the United States, and unfortunately they didn't get nowhere because they ran into Sam and Dave. They wished they had gone to England. Right. Yeah. Sam and Dave was

hitting hard. They couldn't. No way. There wasn't room for another? No. No. Wow. Do you think England would have appreciated the more as well they sent for the producers in England sent for them asked them to come to England they chose the United States you know because

they thought they had a better chance making it in the United States. It didn't work. I'll have you to be, to be my bride. Come a little closer. I just want you, I want you to be right by my side. Yeah, we're proud of the Blues Busters, Jamaican Grown, like T-Band. Great Byron Lee and the Dragoneers. And I love how your songs are all connected

because you just dropped this name, so let's get to jam number four. Yeah. Oh. Oh. Oh. Now we're talking about a singer. The great Sam Cooke. He was a visionary.

One of the first artists, black artists to have owned his own label. Production. He was amazing. I got to throw something in You listen to this song here Yeah There's a harmony going on I should tell you

That's Lou Rawls Get out of here Harmonizing with Sam Cooke Bring it on home to me Listen to Lou Rawls There you go Hey That's Lou Rawls

Yeah That's Lou Raw Yeah Big hit Listen to that voice on Sam It's unbelievable Pure Cause she started out singing gospel With the soul stirrers And then he changed

Right What a voice. And he added the E on cook. That's right. That's right. So he would come to Jamaica and he had the Blues Busters opening for him

and he wrote a song for the Blues Busters. There's Always Sunshine. Yeah. The more you listen, you can hear Lou Ross. Now that's all I hear. Let me hear it. There it is. This was recorded in Chicago. Till I'm buried

Buried in my grave Whoa Bring it to me Bring your sweet loving Bring it all to me And if I may say, God bless these great artists, man, because when these songs hit the charts,

we start singing them like we own them. And it gave us a chance to do so many things, you know. Traveling, performing. So, now you know why I'm not afraid or ashamed to say, God bless America. This beautiful

side of America, what they gave us. The glitz, the showbiz, the artists, dressing properly, being accountable, that's what we got from these foundation cats. Well, listen, we're talking here. We have many more jams to go, but we're talking on July 21st, 2023.

I'm hoping people will hear this episode for, you know, centuries to come, right? So I've got to timestamp it because you're at, Jay Douglas, you're at the Beaches Jazz Festival tomorrow, right? Performing Jump Blues, Chicago Big Band Blue, Soulful Ballads, New Orleans Rhythm and Blues. It's all.

And Reggae. Reggae, of course. All that you can hear on your latest album, Confession. So that's exciting. That's tomorrow. That's right. Okay. You're going to rest up.

What time tomorrow? Do you know what time you're performing? Yeah. 9 p.m. You know, tomorrow night. That's a good slot, man. A good slot. I'm grateful.

You deserve it. You deserve it. Thank you. Thank you. So if you're listening to this, because I'm going topm you know tomorrow night that's a good slot man a good slot I'm grateful you deserve it you deserve it thank you so if you're listening to this because I'm going to drop this right away because I need people to hear it before July 22 but yeah

Beaches Jazz Festival July 22 you can catch Jay Douglas here but let's get to that next jam jam. The great oldest.

Oh, man. Another voice, eh? I remember when the Cougars, we were in Montreal. Expo. 67. Yeah, and because we had to leave Toronto and go, we were in Montreal Expo 67 yeah and cause we had to leave Toronto

and go there wasn't much happening so Cougars myself every time Pablo Paul Dizzy Bar called these kids

we went to Montreal man and he was he was supposed to be coming for Expo but whatever reason

didn't happen but and they said he's coming to Toronto but he didn't make it to Toronto so I miss that you know

didn't get a chance to see the great oldest rhythm man unbelievable unbelievable man this song okay this song was released posthumously

so we lose him way young yes way young. Yes. Way young. I want to say maybe 23 years? I don't know, man. Early. A little later than that.

Okay, maybe 25, 26. Okay, but this is the first ever posthumous release to go to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. That's right. That's right. Not only that, before he became famous as an entertainer, he was a cab driver. Yeah, he drove a dude to Stacks

that afternoon to do some recording. So he got in there, dropped the guy because he's supposed to be waiting for the guy who was doing the session. So he met Booker T. Yeah, in the MGs there.

Yeah, of course. He talked to him. He said, hey, man, I'm a cab driver, but I can sing. You got to get me. And he talked. So after the session, it was Booker T, the drummer. He said to Cropper, he says, listen, man, this guy going to kill me. He said he can sing, he says, listen, man, this guy going to kill me. He said he can sing and he just kept on talking.

So I told him after the session, we'll get you. And so please, man, because he's been waiting. Give him a chance. And they gave him a chance to sing a song to you. And he did. These arms of mine. And the rest is history. The rest is history, man.

Otis Redding. What a voice. And it's is history. The rest is history, man. Otis Redding. What a voice. And it's the whistle. But you know what? More Otis after we hear your next song. Because like I said, everything's connected here. Everything's connected. So let's get to this one.

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh yeah My favorite singer Of all singers Male and female This is the mama Number one

Oh my goodness I saw her at Anterior Place Saw her in Montreal God bless Aretha, man. Those days, she could take your own original and make your number one hit. Well, I mean, everybody knows, but let's not bury the lead here. This is, of course, an Otis Redding song, but let's face it.

Now, it's Aretha Franklin's song. That's right. That's right. Look what she did With Bridge Over Tribble Those days you pray and hope That Aretha would touch your stuff Oh

Wow You should hear her sing opera All that stuff She sang it all Another pure voice Yeah Oh The day she passed away

Molly Johnson dropped by. Really? Yeah, speaking of jazz grades. Oh, she played a mean piano. Yeah. And at the time, her music director was King Curtis. Yeah, the great King Curtis. Wow.

There he is. Can you feel the groove? She's unbelievable. And this is one of maybe the greatest cover of all time. But now I'm thinking of another great singer who took a song and made it hers. Tina Turner took Proud Mary from a song and made it hers Tina Turner took Proud Mary from CCR

and made it hers that's right that's another great she just passed away oh yeah oh yeah I saw her at Club 888

which is the concert hall Davenport Neo yeah saw Tina live there with Ike they're bringing that venue back

have you heard this I was told that I just read that the other day which is because Davenport Neo. Yeah. It's on example. They're bringing that venue back. Have you heard of this? I was told that. I just read that the other day. It should. Because, and I say every time we talk about the concert hall, I point out, shout out to FOTM DJ Ron Nelson. Yes. He's on CKLN.

He's got a show called Fantastic Voyage. He's the first guy playing Mishimi, Maestro Fresh West. He's the Dream Warriors. And he's bringing those first guy playing mishimi maestro fresh west he's uh the dream warriors and he's bringing those first hip-hop bands the american hip-hop bands to toronto he's the guy who would bring you know uh public enemy uh so many big daddy kane so many of the uh the hip-hop pioneers he would bring them and they would they would play often at the uh the concert hall there well i'd like to tell you this i. I just did two tracks with him. That's a cool cat.

Ronnell. Oh, he's amazing. Love that guy. I've been in the business a lot. Yeah, because he turned into a reggae now. It's all reggae for DJ Ronnell. Two beautiful tracks. And I've been in the business a long time, but I learned some stuff from him that day,

which I'm so proud of him. He's a great guy. When did the documentary come out? I skipped over it a little quickly there, but the TVO is making like a doc about you. Do you know when that night? With those other people who made the documentary. Sorry.

On Buffy St. Mary's. Something Plains they're called. Okay. But Andrew Munger, he's the producer and Graham Matheson is the film director. And this is like, is this a 2024 thing? Yes.

Okay. Yes, yes. All right, no, I'm going to keep my eye out. And Matt Sullivan from Light in the Attic, whom I went to interview with in Seattle, they're involved too. Okay. It's in good hands.

Things are happening for you, Jay Douglas. It's a great country, great city. I'm so proud of you all, man, for what you're doing, everybody. It's a great country of Canada. God bless Canada, man. God bless Canada. All right, so we have,

I'm just doing the math here, we have five jams to go. Let it roll, bro. It's amazing. We're going to let it roll, but I just got to give you a couple of gifts real quick here. All right. what do i got

okay real quickly this is for you jay douglas because you made the trek here and you're kicking out the jams of me and i i just love this ridley funeral home have been pillars of uh this community since 1921 and uh you never know when you got to find something in the dark this is a flashlight courtesy of ridley funeral home so i'm gonna give going to give that to you, Jay. Thank you, Ridley Funeral Home. Thank you. I need it too because at night when I'm sleeping

I get a dream about singing a new song. I wake up in the night to find my recorder to record because if I sleep it out I'll forget the melody when I wake up

so I need a flashlight. Okay, you know what? Just to know that Ridley Funeral Home might have a role in the next great Jay Douglas channel. Thank you.

That's amazing, actually. Okay. But I have more than that. I want to also give you, I have a frozen lasagna for you, courtesy of Palma Pasta. Palma Pasta. They have four locations in Mississauga and Oakville. Delicious, authentic Italian food. And you will love it, my friend.

Thank you. Thank you. Tarantazone, Pal and you will love it, my friend. Thank you. Thank you. Tarantazone Palma. Palma Pasta. Okay, looking forward to dig into this. It's delicious. I can vouch for that. Thank you. And also, since I'm giving you gifts, one more gift and then more later, but I want to give you

some fresh craft beer courtesy of Great Lakes Brewery. They brew it right here in southern Etobicoke, but you can buy it all across this fine province of Ontario. So thank you, Great Lakes. Thank you, Palma Pasta. Thank you, Ridley Funeral Home.

Thank you, Jay Douglas, because we're going to kick out this next jam. And thank you, too. Thank you all. Thank you. Thank you for thanking me. See how Canadian we are? God bless.

God bless. Here's another banger. Oh. You've got your highest deacons on. No, this is the real Godfather. I'm telling you. I'm telling you, man. My first time seeing you as a student at Central Tech,

we had to rush home after school to catch the Mike Douglas show, TV show, because James Brown would be in the kids. We all went home, man. Black and

white TV. Woo! Do you remember the venue on, it's in Mimico, right down the street, actually, on Lakeshore.

It was called the Mimicombo. Do you remember this venue at all? It was like a roller rink, but they had concerts there.

Yes, yes, yes. There was like the first time James Brown played Toronto was at the Mimicombo on Lakeshore in Mimico. Yes, yes, yes. There was like the first time James Brown played Toronto was at the Mimico Combo on Lakeshore in Mimico. Well, I saw him at Maple Leaf Gardens. Oh, my goodness.

He did the split. Hardest working man in show business. He did the split and the whole Maple Leaf Gardens locked out. No light. No kidding. For about 16 seconds and 17 seconds, light came on,

the Godfather was out in a different outfit. Don't ask me how he did. He's the hardest working man. Hardest working man. You're the second hardest working man on showbiz. Still, thank you, man. Thank you. This is a great inspiration.

He was a great inspiration for me. His precision, his musician, the band, the shots. You know, just pure magic. Listen to that band. Jay, you had me at hello. This is the godfather, like he said. And then you could see the flames beside him. Three brothers.

Oh, yeah. Precision. It's interesting, Jay, because I'm looking at your jams here and you got the bonus jam. But here's what's interesting. Sometimes I'll get somebody coming over to kick out the jams and they'll have, let's say a Bob Dylan song and there's a Pink Floyd song and there's a Bruce Springsteen song and the songs are like seven, eight, nine minutes long each.

Okay. And it's like, okay. Cause I like to play, I don't cut these songs down. We're playing the whole thing. I'm looking at your jams. Okay.

We've got some jams here. A couple of your songs are under two minutes all most of them are under three minutes like the your this is just of an era where it was like uh don't bore us let's get to that's right we'll get to that's right that's right we got yeah that's over the years we were taught these stuff don't bore the dj or whoever right you know because time is precious you know right and then uh it's all about you know, because time is precious, you know. Right, and then it's all about, you know, it was all about radio play, right?

That's right. So radio back then didn't want to play, you know, five-minute songs. And the camera guys who were at those days, they would get very ruffled if you wear too many white outfits, white shirts, because it wouldn't be good for the shots. Gotcha, interesting.

But with technology improving now, that might have changed now, but it still stays with me. Try not to wear or do certain things coming from the old school. Well, listen, it works for you, man, so stick to what works. But I'm open to listen

you're evolving with the times but uh you know i you said the word technology that triggers a uh psa a public service announcement from yours truly if anyone out there has old technology like an old smartphone or maybe it's a not so smartphone or maybe you got an old printer an old television you have old electronics, don't throw it in the garbage, because those chemicals end up in the landfill. Bad for everybody. You go to recyclemyelectronics.ca,

you put in where are you, where do you live, and it tells you the closest depot that has been accredited by the EPRA to safely recycle your electronics and your technology. So, that's a PSA. Remember this URL

if you're throwing away some old tech. It's called recyclemyelectronics.ca. You ready for another jam, Jay? Yeah. You got it. Jam Master Jay, here we go. Oh. Oh, my goodness.

Sheps and the limelights. This is very touching moving why? as a young kid now you have American Idols in Jamaica

in my time the show was called Pick a Star it's a talent show you have Simon well we had Fear Johns the man and he would come to Montego Bay You have Simon Well we had Fear Johns The man

And he would come to Montego Bay Once per month To pick a star And at the end of the year A grand final So we would go to After school At three

We would rush to the Palladium Theater In Montego Bay To get auditioned By Diz Barker And Jojo Bennett And they would say, okay, you come back at 8 o'clock tonight

for the show, same night. And this was one of the first songs I performed, we performed, Errol and Ty. Really? That is only. What's your reaction when you hear this in the headphones right now?

Yeah. Are you back there? Oh God, yes. Listen to the singing. Not only that, when we did these shows, you'd think Simons were tough. No. Simon Cowell? In Montego Bay, the people

who came to see you that night, you had to be accountable. If the band made a mistake, you couldn't turn around and look at the band. You couldn't be picking your fingers. They gave us what we needed to travel the world up until today. So it means so much. And if you notice, this is the original cut,

Shep's and the Limelights, not Jermaine Jackson. So this song stays with me into my next life. And that night we got a second prize at the talent show. And that's the dawn of what we have today. A little kid beat us out for first prize. Okay, what happened to that kid? Oh, man, I'm still, I'm looking for him. He sang the Lord's Prayer at the age of nine.

And he kicked her butt. Yeah. Well, you know what they say, it's better to finish second than to win like that kind of a show right but that's how we got started and that's on my career side i love your origin story and i love hearing you tell that story during this song and it's another this is more pure voices yes oh pure singers pure those days you had to sing to get an applaud yeah and respect no auto tuner i'm not oh yeah daddy's home you had to sing it out from the diaphragm I'm not a thousand miles away. You have to sing it out from the diaphragm.

Thank you so much. Thank you, man. These are your songs. Foundation, man. Listen, like I said, the songs are short, but these stories are awfully sweet. So we've got three more to go. Respect the foundation. What about, did you ever see a band like the tragically hip have

you ever seen the oh yeah oh yeah in toronto here okay many times oh yeah actually i followed them in some of the rooms the bars in the early years in the early days yes with the the ep uh yeah okay because a member of that band paul langois guitar, guitarist. He was here on Monday. So this has been a big music week. I had Paul Langlois here. I had Robert Priest here. Now I have Jay Douglas. It's been like a completely thrilling week for me.

These are like my favorite episodes. And while you're talking about these great local acts, we could talk about George Oliver, Grant Smith and the Powers, Eddie Spencer. these are great, you know. Diane Brooks, Sean and Jay Jackson, you know, Bobby DuPont. These great, you could go to the whole club, Blue Note at the time.

See these local great artists, Eric Mercury, you know. I'm glad you're shouting him out because, I mean, there's a method to my madness by shouting out the Tragically Hip, not just to promote Monday's episode of Paul Langlois, which is very good. But you, my friend, you were there, right? You love what you do. You're like a living testament to the power. The great Ronnie Hawkins.

The late great. Yeah. We just lost him too. Yeah. You know, Tony Bennett died. died you know we talked about that but it's like the only guarantee in life is that one day it will end like it's it's this this reality that you know we're here for uh we're here for and yes you want to say something go ahead good can i say that we're here for uh i'll let you finish no just that in what is it warren zivon

once said when he learned he was dying and David Letterman was asking him if he had any advice because he had a terminal illness and he was going to die soon. And then he said, enjoy every sandwich. Okay. Enjoy your life. You're enjoying life and just enjoy it because we don't know how many years we get on this planet.

And he wanted to say something. Here's the deal. I'm enjoying life. I do my very best with my diet, healthy food diet, and a healthy spiritual diet. Now, the important thing for all of us, I can speak for me,

I know that in this life that we all have to enjoy, when it comes to an end, that spirit moves on to another life. So for me, I can speak, it's important what I do for the younger generation. So when they said, who was Jay Deller, what was it all about? He did this, was very good.

So the young generation can, picked up where it left off with goodness and mercies and positive vibration. And we move on into the other life. So let me ask, so if I make a statement, and picked up where I left off with goodness and mercies and positive vibration. And we moved on into the other life. So let me ask, so if I make a statement, because I just realized what I said and how it would be perceived by you, right, with your beliefs, is that I said,

we have, I think I said something like, we have but one life to live. And you're sitting there thinking, not true. Well, it's not that I'm saying that's true because I am not going to say I'm 100% right and you're so wrong. But here's the deal. Yes. Life is a spirit.

It's an energy. It doesn't die. Energy. Winter, spring, summer, and fall. It goes continuously. No matter what man does, he can't stop stop that process and we're connected to the universe i don't know if i'm losing no no jay i'm uh i'm interested no i'm interested in how you see the world yeah you have a couple of years on me so i can learn from your wisdom right i believe we're

connected to the universe yeah well you definitely are connected to us uh via the magic of your uh and you and i are connected spiritually well we're connected now because you're an fotm okay i'm the tm and fotm don't forget that jay douglas here okay before we get back to the jams and more jay douglas i did bring up the tragically hip so i gave i had two reasons for bringing up the tragically well three one i was legitimately curious if you had ever seen the Tragically Hip live because sadly, we won't see the Tragically Hip live again. But secondly, I wanted people listening to us right now to know that they should listen to Paul Langlois

on Toronto Mic as well. He played live down here and it was fantastic and it was a great chat. So do that. But third, last but not least, on September 1st, 2023, there's an evening for the downy wenjack fund it's called getting hip to the hip again september 1st 7 30 at the rec room i urge everyone listening to come on out and enjoy it there's going to be a tragically hip cover band there's a live recording

of getting hip to the hip jamie do he's an fotm he's behind this and it's a fantastic project so go to getting hip to the hip.com write that down getting hip to the hip.com and when you buy your ticket not very expensive it's like 40 bucks i think but you can use the promo code fotm10 so fotm10 you can save 10 come on out to the uh getting hip to the hip uh evening for the downey wenjack Fund and hang with me. So, Jay, that's a great night. That's the night after TMLX 13, which is my event at Great Lakes Brewery

on August 31st from 6 to 9 p.m. So lots of great events happening. Again, Jay Douglas is at the Beaches Jazz Festival tomorrow, and you can watch him perform. Do it while you can. We're just lucky that we get to witness the the magic of jay douglas and on that note three songs to go let's kick out here's a word for you okay anti-penultimate people talk about you know we have your final jam

and we have your penultimate jam which is a song before your final jam but did you know the song before the song before the end is called the Anti-Penultimate? You can use that, okay? So Anti-Penultimate Jam. Here we go. I love that. I'm performing this tomorrow night. This is a great Roscoe Gordon. Can I tell you a story?

Of course. I got a phone call one day from Derek Andrews when he was at Arborfront as a director. He said, Jay Douglas, this is Derek Andrews. I said, hey, Derek, how are you? He says, have you heard of Roscoe Gordon? I said, yes, sir. When I was a kid in Montego Bay, Jamaica, we used to dance to his music

because it came in from the States. He says, well, I got him coming to Toronto. I want you to put a band together for him. I said, are you serious? He says, no. Here's his number. I called Roscoe. So I phoned him.

He was living in Jersey. He says, who's this? I said, Jay Douglas. He said, you're the young man who's going to put the band together for me. I'm coming up to Toronto. I said, yes, sir. He said, listen, I want you to put a good band together

with a big horn section, but I want all saxophone. No trombone, no trumpet, nothing. All saxophone. I'm running out of a tone. Barry Tone, Perry May. Perry, what was his name? Anyway, great on.

We did a show at the Harborfront. He's a great man. But this man, single-handed, helped create reggae music. Okay, tell me that story. It's in the song. Listen. Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.

The strumming, he played piano. And he was a son label with Elvis Presley at the time as a pianist. Right. So this beat went into Jamaica and they copied away the piano. I hear it. They slowed down to rocksteady, then reggae. Ska, rocksteady. This is the man.

Roscoe Gordon. Yes, with Fats Domino. Surely I love you. All those old news guys. This is the man. You hear the piano? Yes, sir. You show my aching heart.

I will do love it on a field. Whoa, oh, surely. It's on my new CD, man. I will too Love it on a field Whoa Whoa Surely It's on my new CD, man Is that Confessions? Yeah Surely Surely

Five Where should people go To get Confessions? Oh, they can go online Church, that was a trick question Go ahead Oh, I'm sorry No, go ahead

They can go online And it's all on YouTube too But they can It's all out there Okay, the latest album from Jay Douglas here is Confession, singular by the way.

I don't know why I put an S on there. And of course, you can see him tomorrow at Beaches Jazz Festival. And we now have the penultimate jam. I gotta get my words in.

So we did the anti-penultimate. All right, let's simmer down everybody. Here we go. Oh my goodness. Woo. The Brothers. So this, my first time going to Studio One.

Sir Coxon, who I ran into. I went for audition, and guess who was there? The Wailers. Wow. And this was the song they auditioned. Just yesterday, Donovan Bailey was here.

Oh, really? And he was wearing a Wailers shirt. I should have taken a picture with him. Big shout out to Donovan, man. He's on his way to Jamaica right now.

Yeah, for two weeks. God bless him. So hear that young Marley voice that's a young Bob Marley yeah wow and I tell you what

listen to his voice that band that group when they started out he was not the lead singer he was Junior Brathwaite beautiful but this song Bob wrote it and the rest when they started out, he was not the lead singer. It was Junior Brathwaite.

Beautiful, but this song, Bob wrote it, and the rest is it. He was driven. I look back at that day, he was driven. Listen to that. Beautiful. That's Scare Man. Beautiful That scale man This is the beginning of it all Yeah that scale

And it all came from the American blues It's all connected man Love it Just like when we're connected spiritually Love it I feel a connection to you. Yeah. And then the GJs would go,

there, rapping. This is where it starts. Big Daddy! Come tonight! That's where rap came from. Yeah, like the toasting, right? You got it! You were born in Jamaica too I wish

The toasting That's what they called it And that's where hip hop came from And that's If the FOTN's listening That's where the name Toast came from That's right

It all It's all connected You right I don't care Oh man I'm actually sad We're down to one more jam I'm glad you got the bonus jam Now I think we should have Given you like 50 bonus jams, okay?

One song to go, and it's a great song for a beautiful summer day. But whew, so let's catch our breath here. I'm going to play the last song, and then it's all over. We're going to take a great photo before you disappear. And I do have the Palma Pasta lasagna for you in my freezer, so don't leave home without that. And there's something the Palm of Pasta lasagna for you in my freezer. So don't leave home without that. And there's something

I want to take with me. That word you use, pro... Oh, yeah. Anti-penultimate. Okay, well, penultimate. So Simmer Down was our penultimate jam.

Roscoe Gordon was our anti-penultimate jam. Now we have our final jam. Let me... So other than tomorrow, so obviously tomorrow at the Beaches Jazz Festival, because I'm worried

some people won't listen, you know how it is, when you get a new podcast, you want to listen to it, it goes in the queue and maybe they don't get to it until Sunday or Monday or next week

and they're catching up and they're like, oh man, I missed Jay Douglas at the Beaches Jazz Festival. Where can we go to find out other places we can see you live?

And by website and also, I should tell you this. Yeah, tell me everything. I'll be, I'll be at the, Where can we go to find out other places we can see you live? And by website. I should tell you this. Tell me everything. I'll be at the C&E, the Banshell, August 24th with the great Marcia Griffiths from the eye trees. That's massive. Yeah, absolutely. So that's the 24th of August?

Yes. C&E Grandstand. Yes. Okay. And I'll be going to Huntsville too. yeah that's so that's the 24th of August C&E Grandstand yes okay and and I'll be going to Huntsville too

Huntsville I used to I used to have a buddy I had a buddy that had a cottage in Huntsville North Country August

August 13 the North Country yeah it's beautiful yeah okay well everybody listening should see

Jay Douglas when you can and get Confession, his latest album. And here we go, Jay. Final jam. You hear that? Guess who? Just makes you smile, right?

Oh, man. I right? Oh, man. I'm telling you, man. One heart. Let's get to it. Come on, I got my One Heart Toronto shirt on, Jay. But that's what it's all about. Let's all get together and feel our own. And listen to him again.

Yeah, I was going to say, interesting to hear his maturing of his voice. Like you can hear him in Simmer Down and then you hear him in One Love. Yes. And you know who owned part of this publishing? Who? Curtis Mayfield. Love the Curtis Mayfield.

Because part of this song is People Get Ready. Yeah. Curtis Mayfield. Because part of this song is People Get Ready. There is one question. I'd really love to last. One love. This is people. See, that's a fun fact.

People Get Ready melody. But Bob had the one love. Two great writers. Yes. Now this is Marley's part. One love. What about let's get together and feel all right What an anthem, eh? I know absolutely an anthem

Is Bob Marley the world's most famous Jamaican musician? Yes Without a doubt Yes Is Usain Bolt the world's most famous Jamaican athlete? Yes. Even Donovan would agree to that.

And Donovan is up there because they both won. Donovan was born and raised in Jamaica, but he was pretty young when he moved to Oakville. He's Canadian, but he loves his home country of Jamaica. Yes, and he Canadian, but he loves his home country of Jamaica. Yes,

and he's contributed a lot to this great country of Canada. A lot of love and respect to the brother and to all of them. And you know, the world's a big stage. Everybody's got a part to play.

You're playing your part. We all got something to contribute to this great, great planet Earth. And I cannot wait to see the J. Douglas see the J. Douglas show on TVO. And that's fantastic.

And you deserve everything. You deserve it all. I meant it when I said your first visit way back in September 2020, one of my favorite episodes of Toronto Mic'd of all time was chatting with you about your career in music. Thank you, man. And I have some great people like you to thank. Ed Bullin, my producer.

Bernie Peters, Pablo Paul from the Cougars and all the great people out there, man, you know, who are still working with us and make it happen. And most of all, my great fans. Your great fans. That was like an Oscar speech there.

I was like, yeah. Jay Douglas accepting his Oscar. I love it. No, I got the Juno first. You know what? How many nominations now? Three? Yes.

And no wins. But still carrying the message. Well, you're a loving man who is a kind, gentle soul. I'm not, okay? So I'm going to make some noise about this, okay? I'm going to make some calls. It's time, Jay Douglas. I don't know, Lifetime Achievement Award from the Junos.

Thank you, man. I'm working on it. I'm working on it. It's still, you know, everybody's playing their part. And thank you so much. And thank this great country of Canada, man. God bless Canada. You know, you were talking about the recycling.

Yeah. RecycleMyElectronics.ca. It's amazing how they have it together in Seattle, man. Okay. We're falling behind. Seattle. They got it going on in Seattle. Seattle, again, you're not there now.

You're here. But the Blue Jays are there, I believe. But they're really on top of the... Saving the planet. Oh, big time. Everything is, you know, really nice. But the CN Tower is still better than that Space Needle, right? Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Amazing. And that brings us to the end of our 1,295th show. Oh, man. I saved the best for 1295. It went so fast, though.

You know what? You'll be back. I know you'll be back because when that doc is airing on TVO, I'm going to see if you'll drop by again, maybe kick out different jams. Thank you, man. It's always a pleasure. Thank you. You can follow me on twitter

I'm at Toronto Mike now Jay I don't think you're active on the twitter I see you there Jay Douglas yeah like you're there

Jay Douglas music maybe I want to say but the best way is your website right yeah so fine go google Jay Douglas

and I'm on Instagram and all that stuff okay Instagram yeah follow Jay on Instagram sorry get in touch with my publicist Eric Alpert fine go google jay and i'm on instagram and all those okay instagram yeah follow jay on instagram so i get in touch with my publicist eric alpert shout out to eric alpert man i love that guy greg gooden too okay greg too okay our friends at great lakes brewery are at great lakes beer palma pasta is at palma pasta getting hip to the hip is at Getting Hip Pod. Remember to use the promo code

FOTM10 when you buy your tickets. Recycle My Electronics are at EPRA underscore Canada. The Moment Lab are at The Moment Lab. And Ridley Funeral Home are at Ridley FH. See you all next week

when my special guest is this is something Fergie Oliver. See you all then. Sports? Sports, yes. This is a good one. Yeah. Picking up trash and then putting down rogues And they're brokering stocks, the class struggle explodes

And I'll play this guitar just the best that I can Maybe I'm not and maybe I am But who gives a damn because Everything is coming up rosy and gray. Yeah, the wind is cold, but the smell of snow warms me today. And your smile is fine, and it's just like mine, and it won't go away. Because everything is rosy and gray. Cause everything is rosy and green Well I've kissed you in France

And I've kissed you in Spain And I've kissed you in places I better not name