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“Music and Art keeps me alive, my therapy, I cannot go without either, for the opposite of Expression is Depression, I try not to be depressed so I express. Music is Art for the Ears and Art is Music for the Eyes, and both I will do till I die.”-Shelly Lightnin

Empress Shelly Lightnin Sound System Operator, Sound Engineer, DJ, Radio Presenter, Music Producer, Artist & Artiste’s earliest recollection of her passion for music is playing the Gram with her father on Sunday, she recalls the Marvellous pictures and the feel of the vinyl, she was allowed from an early age a deep respect for music, and how to put the needle on the record. From Bach, Beethoven to Brook Benton, Sarah Vaughn, Ray Charles, Shirley Bassey, all the way to Clancy Eccles, and the Heptones. With her father being an avid vinyl collector, also Aunty, who she added wore out the grooves on the Althea and Donna, Uptown Top Rankin & Godmother Cecile who, regularly keep weekend long house parties, Friday evening and Saturday morning trips to Don Christie’s, Summit, Black-wax meant she would happily forego Ice-Cream money for a record instead, her first one being ‘OK FRED’ by ERROL DUNKLEY at the age of six.

This passion continued when her family migrated to Jamaica when she was 10yrs old recalling the sound of YELLOWMAN, BRIGADEER JERRY, MICHIGAN AND SMILEY on the radio in the vehicle which collected them from the airport on their arrival in Jamaica.

Her love for Reggae and Sound System Culture grew and was fuelled by the $2 a day lunch money & fare money which was spent on buying 45’s, Mr Palmer FEDERAL RECORDS who also introduced me to the world of production, RANKIN, PHANG’S, CLAPPERS, TADS, became her Musical Godfather’s always saving the pre-releases and white labels and giving her discounts.

DOWNBEAT, SILVERHAWK, BLACK CAT, STONE LOVE, TIKKA & PIECES sounds that she loved and would regularly take in. So to know that she as an Artist has been privileged to meet her sound idol Tony Screw was awesome, never mind being able to cut specials and have him become a Mentor and Friend, is something she honours deeply and like wise with Father Shanty the original selector for SIR CHRISTOPHER

Shelly Lightnin was initially trained in Media and broadcasting By Alice Rhodd ‘Ms Lady’ at Radio West in Montego Bay where she presented WHATS RIGHT WITH TEENAGERS in the Early 80’s and was privilidged to be mentored by the likes of ARNOLD KELLY, CALVIN BROWN, BARRINGTON GORDON, MARLENE STEPHENSON – DALLEY, HORACE BROWN, CORDELL GREEN, CALVIN G.SCOTT.

Whilst attending Montego Bay High School she became a part of the band, and also A founding member of The JAMAICA ORCHESTRA OF YOUTH (JOY) playing Saxaphone, Trombone, Clarinet and Percussion, whilst currently doing PIANOFORTE and grading Through the LONDON ROYAL ACADEMY of MUSIC.

Fast Forward a Decade, a few radio stations later, she started to play out publicly on Sound Systems with great reception and in 1999 started her own sound-system, along with her Son LIGHTNING D who is also an International DJ, Videographer KETCHDISTV.COM and Music Producer for KETCHDIS Studios. In 2007 saw them launch KETCHDIS an online music site which sought to promote positive Reggae Music from unsigned artists across the world whilst presenting classical and authentic Reggae Music with conscious and uplifting messages.

“Reggae gimmie Pure Vibrations, Soul Elevation, Sweet Meditation, Yuh know mi love mi Roots an’ Culture Send On Don’t Heng On!!!!!” - ‘Love Mi Roots’ Shelly Lightnin

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