Socialist Roots Sound System
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Socialist Roots Hi-Fi was a Jamaican reggae sound system and record label owned by Tony Welch (aka Papa Roots) in the 1970's and early 1980's, it stood alongside Stur Gav, Channel One, Virgo, Jah Love and Jack Ruby as a Heavy Weight sound of the time.
Socialist Roots Hi-Fi was Originally named King Attorney (and before that Soul Attorney), the name changed in 1976 when Tony Welch bought the set. Regular DeeJays included Ranking Trevor, U Brown, Jah Mikey and Nicodemus alongside the regular selector Danny Dread.
The set was also known as Papa Roots Hi-Fi (post 1981).
The sound system was strongly aligned with the Jamacian Peoples National Party and was instrumental in organizing local communities and attempting to 'increase the peace' at a time when JA was racked by political violence.
Socialist Roots record label released several records, the most successful was "Train to Zion" released in 1976 featuring U Brown and Linval Thompson, it was one of the great peace songs of that year and was also one of the first 12" 45s issued in Jamaica.
