Riddims n Vibes: Cocojam

Pinoy Reggae is reggae music developed around the tropical island nation of the Philippines. The country possesses a couple of groups and sound systems that perform reggae as well as dancehall music in a manner devoted to its concept in Jamaica. Reggae in the Philippines includes the various types of reggae as well as its sub-genres, and also at instances integrating conventional Filipino varieties of music as well as instruments within their music.

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Cebu, Manila, Quezon along with Boracay are a couple of the places in which reggae has discovered a base, with numerous musicians living in these places as well as working at at local cafes and clubs. The Visayas region in the Philippine islands has brought the biggest concentration of reggae groups, with the Visayan town of Cebu sometimes being called The Reggae Capital of the Philippines. At The Begining Of 2007 Ziggy Marley performed in the MTV Philippines Reggae Fest by the Bay festival in Manila. Zigy Marley enjoyed playing with the local reggae talents as well as the major names in Filipino reggae

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Brief History

Jamaican Reggae appeared to be brought to the Philippines during the late 1960s, nevertheless the very first acknowledged Pinoy reggae groups didn't emerge until the later part of the 1970s. Cocojam is recognized as among the first Pinoy reggae groups. ska in addition discovered its place in the Philippines, with numerous groups developing, particularly in the Visayas island region. Cities like Cebu and Dumaguete had become the center of Filipino Ska. Dub music likewise found its spot throughout the islands, with groups just like Junior Kilat popularising the particular style with music like "Sigbin". Local tradition, stories and customs were an apparent influence on songs. The subgenre known as dancehall continues to be popularized in Cebu by Coolie Dread and The Microphone Commanders along with Powerspoonz. Experimental Reggae is also made popular in cebu by the particular group Toy Souljahs and Spiritually motivated dub by Roots Revival, both groups are at the same time coming from Cebu. Groups like Badjao Roots as well as Tropical Depression exhibited cultural consciousness by utilizing conventional instruments within their songs. With the commercial success of groups like Brownman Revival, Tropical Depression and Hemp Republic, the Filipino reggae scene has seen more recognition, to the point that more and more reggae events are now being presented and expanded throughout the land.

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Tags: Brownman Revival, Cocojam, Pinoy Reggae, Reggae History

I recently bumped into a discussion of what reggae group/band first came in the Philippine music scene. Some said that it is Spy which apparently not the first reggae band. At some point, someone mentioned Cocojam, Eurasia and Tropical Depression. Well, there is really no exact information of who is really the first ever reggae band in the Philippines. Most people would gauge it on popularity but I think it's not how it's measured. Famous or not, that is not exactly the point.

Well, if ever it is Cocojam, I managed to gather bits and pieces of information of the band. Got it from a Friendster account. I am not sure if this is reliable enough, maybe it happened somehow.

COCOJAM has pioneered and stayed alive in the music scene with its own brand of original sound. Through the years, it has played pivotal roles in festivals and concerts.

1980 - Cocojam was the only band in Palawan playing at the Kamayan Restaurant.

1985 - Cocojam started playing in Mayrics pioneering in reggae music here in the Philippines.1988 Cocojam played at the Coconut Palace Halloween Party with regular gigs in Larry's Bar, Fire and Rain, La Caribe and Paper Moon. For five years (1990 -1995) they played at the Kalye Bar and Restaurant in Legaspi Village in Makati.

1990 - a UP Diliman sorority sponsored CocojamMIN a solo concert at the Music Museum (February 1990). They played at the Baguio Arts Festival for three years (1990 - 1992 ), Woodstock Cebu (1990), Kageban

1996 - (Feast of the Forest) in Palawan, Sapon Ti Pasok (Rite of the Harvesting of the Grain) in Sagada (1995) and at the Roxy Park in Boracay Island for one month in 1990.

1992 - In Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro Cocojam lived in the island for seven years (1992 -1999). Cocojam planned and played at the Full Moon Parties in Kalaw Place and the Annual Puerto Galera Music and Arts Festivals in White Beach.

1999 - Cocojam together with Stairway Foundation worked on a collaborative piece entitled GoldTooth, A Street Childrens' Musical. In its response for the need in educating the children of the horrors and bad trips of street life, Cocojam penned the music for GoldTooth. The musical was performed at the GSIS Museum in March of 1999. It was then brought on a European Tour through the help of the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). Together with 17 streetchildren, Cocojam performed in Europe, at the World Forum for Children in Helsinki, Finland. They also performed at the UN Palais for the 10th Anniversary of of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Geneva, Switzerland.

2000-2005 - Now based in Manila, Cocojam has done the Full Moon Parties at the Villa Romana in Baguio City. They have followed through with gigs from Lucena, San Pablo, Puerto Galera, Cebu and Davao. They have been part of various gimmicks and tours such as the Oktoberfest, NU Independence Day Celebration and the recently concluded Ooh-lola, Reggae Skaravan.

COCOJAM has done two albums. Their first album, Lakambini under the Viva-RJ Records was released in 1992 and got the band a nomination for the Best New Recording Group at the 1992 Awit Awards. Their second album, Cocojam, was released in 1996 under Neo Records. These are a compilation of all original songs with music and lyrics by Rolly Maligad, point man of Cocojam.

Rolly has also written songs for Binky Lampano (Manyikang Lansanagan) and Lolita Carbon (Bayle ta). Tropical Depression also did a cover of Lakambini in their second album.