Taught by Heather Augustyn

Alpha Boys’ School: The school that started a musical revolution

Behind Jamaica’s global musical influence is the unlikely story of a boarding school founded by The Sisters of Mercy, a brass band run with military discipline, streetwise orphans, “wayward boys,” and a diminutive, jazz-loving nun who taught music appreciation, creative expression, and boxing. It’s no exaggeration to say that without Alpha, the music of Jamaica – ska, rocksteady, reggae and dancehall – would not be the same. Join ska historian and author Heather Augustyn for a discussion on The Alpha Boys’ School and the students who changed music forever.

Heather Augustyn is a Continuing Lecturer at Purdue Northwest, SPIN magazine contributor and author of numerous books on ska including Alpha Boys’ School: Cradle of Jamaican Music (with Adam Reeves), Don Drummond: The Genius and Tragedy of the World’s Greatest Trombonist, and Rude Girls: Women in 2 Tone and One Step Beyond. She’s also a weekly guest on This Is Ska Jazz, Friday at 8pm on Jazz90.1.