Count Ossie

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Count Ossie, born Oswald Williams, (1926, St. Thomas, Jamaica-18 October 1976) was a Jamaican Rastafari movement drummer and band leader.

As a young boy he grew in a rasta community were he learned techniques of vocal chanting and hand drumming. In the late 1950s, he (with other percussionists) formed the Count Ossie Group. His first sound recordings were made after meeting Prince Buster. One of those was a song "Oh Carolina," is regarded by some music historians as the first-ever reggae record. During this period Count Ossie also recorded for Harry Mudie.

He formed a group called "Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari," and during his life issused two albums that he recorded with them. His masterpiece was "Grounation" (Ashanti 1973), 3 LP set, which includes songs as "Oh Carolina", "So Long", and "Grounation" (the latter title with over 30 minutes running time).

Two years later "Tales Of Mozambique" (Dynamic 1975) was issued, continuing the legacy of the first album.