Decades later, the song became a global phenomenon when it was covered by the Jamaican-American artist Shaggy .
The track was originally written in 1958 by , a member of the vocal trio the Folkes Brothers .
The story behind the landmark song "" is actually a central chapter in the history of Jamaican music, marking the moment that Rastafarian influence first broke into the mainstream. The Original Recording (1960) oh_carolina
Released as the lead single from his debut album Pure Pleasure , Shaggy's version topped charts worldwide, including reaching number one in the UK.
The song's iconic piano riff was an improvisation. Owen Gray , who happened to be at the studio, jumped in and composed the riff on the spot during the session. The Shaggy Cover (1993) Decades later, the song became a global phenomenon
Are you interested in the of a specific version, or perhaps more about the history of ska music? Oh, Carolina - song and lyrics by NEEDTOBREATHE - Spotify
Despite the title, Folkes actually wrote the song for his girlfriend at the time, whose name was Noelena. The Original Recording (1960) Released as the lead
In 1960, a then-unknown producer named Prince Buster decided to record the track. In a revolutionary move, Buster brought in Count Ossie and his group of drummers from the Wareika Hills to provide the percussion.
