Jamaica’s recording studio scene is rich, historic and vital to the global sound of reggae, ska, dub, dancehall and more.
These studios reflect the rich tapestry of Jamaica’s recording industry — from the humble to globally renowned institutions.
Each has played a vital role in capturing Jamaica’s musical heritage and driving the evolution of genres like reggae, dub, ska and dancehall.
Here’s a curated look at some of the island’s most important and influential studios, past and present — from vintage legends to cutting-edge facilities.
Anchor Recording Company / Anchor Mix & Mastering
Anchor Studio (also known as Anchor Mix & Mastering) was established in 1987 and is one of Jamaica’s most professionally oriented modern studios.
The facility has four recording rooms and supports both analog and digital formats, offering 24/7 access.
Over the decades, it has become a cornerstone for the creation of iconic reggae, dancehall and other genres.
Notable artists who have used Anchor include Sly Dunbar, among others and its engineers are known for producing top-level reggae, dancehall and other genres.
Beverley’s Records Studio
Beverley’s Studio, based on Orange Street, Kingston, was founded by Leslie Kong in the 1960s.
It became a major ska and early reggae hit factory, launching acts like Desmond Dekker, The Maytals, and Jimmy Cliff.
The studio’s hook-driven pop-reggae songs played a big role in internationalizing Jamaican music during its early decades.
Black Ark Studios
Black Ark was Lee “Scratch” Perry’s prophetic backyard laboratory — built in 1973 behind his family home in Washington Gardens, Kingston.
Black Ark became legendary for its unorthodox, deeply creative approach.
Though short-lived (the original Black Ark closed and burned at the end of the 1970s), this tiny four-track studio produced some of the most imaginative records in reggae and dub history.
Despite being a modest home studio, Perry used it to craft some of his most innovative dub and reggae productions. The studio was active until 1979.
Lee “Scratch” Perry’s developed experimental production techniques — tape manipulations, creative reverb/delay and layering that became hallmarks of dub.
The legacy of Black Ark has influenced countless artists.
Famous musicians who recorded there include Junior Murvin (“Police & Thieves”), The Congos (“Fisherman”), Max Romeo, Junior Murvin and Bob Marley.
Perry developed iconic songs like “War Ina Babylon” and “Roast Fish and Cornbread” there.
Black Ark’s lo-fi gear and Perry’s genius produced a unique sonic fingerprint that continues to inspire producers around the world.
The studio’s mystique — and its dramatic end — are part of reggae folklore, but its recordings remain essential listening.
Channel One Studios
Channel One is the studio that helped define the heavyweight sound of 1970s reggae and roots.
Founded by the Hoo Kim brothers in 1972 and built in West Kingston, Channel One’s engineering innovations and drum/bass-focused “one drop” rhythms became a template for producers.
Their in-house engineers helped shape records by artists such as Culture, Augustus Pablo and others who wanted that distinctive Channel One groove.
Channel One pioneering 12- and 16-bar rhythm productions and dub mixes influenced both Jamaican and international dance music.
Channel One remains referenced in reggae scholarship for the way it changed production aesthetics during reggae’s classic era.
Dynamic Sounds Recording
Originally established as West Indies Records Limited (WIRL) in 1958 by Edward Seaga, this Kingston-based studio did early Jamaican pop and ska.
In 1964, Byron Lee acquired the company and rebranded it Dynamic Sounds, turning it into one of the most professional studios in the Caribbean.
Dynamic became famous for its top technical standards, pressing facility and for hosting both Jamaican stars and major international acts.
Over the decades artists including Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones and Paul Simon have used our facilities while many local legends tracked sessions here, such as Toots & the Maytals, Jimmy Cliff, and Byron Lee’s own Dragonaires have used the space.
Dynamic’s polished facilities helped elevate Jamaican production quality for global audiences.
Geejam Studios
Geejam Studios is both a luxury creative retreat and a world-class residential recording secluded area of Port Antonio.
Created by Jon Baker and partners in the 2000s, Geejam blends a boutique hotel with private production suites — an escape for artists who want privacy and inspiration.
The setup includes three recording facilities, guest villas, a private beach, spa and more — making it both a high-end studio and a retreat.
We’ve welcomed international names who chose Geejam for both comfort and its high-end control rooms: artists reported to have recorded here include Drake, Rihanna, Amy Winehouse, Santigold, Wyclef Jean, Popcaan, and Sean Paul.
The secluded, inspirational setting has made Geejam a go-to for creatives wanting both privacy and world-class production.
Harry J Recording Studio
Harry J Recording Studio was founded by promoter-producer Harry Johnson in the late 1960s/early 1970s and has become one of Jamaica’s most influential studios.
Located in Kingston, Harry J’s captured the raw, classic sounds of the 1970s: early Marley recordings, Bob & Marcia, The Heptones, Burning Spear, Augustus Pablo and more were produced or engineered here.
It became one of the most reliable studios for roots reggae, lovers rock and early Wailer sessions.
The facility is known for its excellent live-room sound and engineering team; over the years artists from Jamaica and beyond have recorded albums.
After a period of change and refurbishment Harry J Recording Studio remains a living chapter in reggae history, balancing vintage analog warmth with modern production needs.
Harry J Recording Studio is known for clean, warm mixes that highlight vocals and instrumentation.
Joe Gibbs Recording Studio
Joe Gibbs Studio is the creation of producer Joe Gibbs (Joseph Gibbs), who ran a hugely influential production house in the 1970s and 1980s.
Joe Gibbs Recording produced top reggae and rocksteady records and worked with a roster of artists that included Culture, Gregory Isaacs, Errol Dunkley and many session stalwarts.
Their productions are known for their punchy rhythms and popular dub versions.
The Gibbs camp built a signature catalogue and helped define the era’s production standards.
Joe Gibbs’ studios and releases are frequently cited in reggae discographies and were instrumental in exporting reggae to global audiences in the 1970s and beyond.
King Jammy’s Studio
King Jammy’s Studio is a legendary reggae/dancehall recording studio founded by Lloyd “King Jammy” James, one of Jamaica’s most influential producers.
Born in Montego Bay, Jammy began his career working under King Tubby, before opening his own studio in Waterhouse, Kingston in the late 1970s.
Jammy is widely credited with producing Wayne Smith’s “Under Mi Sleng Teng”, recorded on his studio’s Casio-built digital riddim, often considered the first fully digital dancehall track.
He also produced artists such as Black Uhuru (their debut album), Admiral Bailey, Junior Reid, Tenor Saw and many more.
Penthouse Records / Penthouse Studio
Penthouse Studio, based in Kingston, was founded by Donovan Germain in the late 1980s and it has played a pivotal role in the transition to digital dancehall in the ’90s.
Penthouse became one of Jamaica’s leading dancehall/reggae production houses, launching or boosting careers of stars across the 1990s and 2000s.
The studio and production team have crafted many recognizable riddims and hits that dominated Jamaican radio and international reggae/dancehall playlists.
Big names like Buju Banton, Beres Hammond, Wayne Wonder, Sean Paul, Morgan Heritage and Cutty Ranks have recorded there, producing major dancehall hits and lovers reggae tracks.
Penthouse’s production style helped modernise contemporary Jamaican popular music and created a string of charting singles and albums.
Penthouse is also known for its record label and for providing production to labels and artists worldwide.
Randy’s Studio 17
Located in Kingston, Studio 17 was founded by Vincent & Patricia Chin (of Randy’s Record Mart) and became a crucial hub in the ’60s and ’70s.
The studio hosted Bob Marley & The Wailers, Dennis Brown, The Heptones, and many other reggae luminaries. Tracks like “Young, Gifted & Black” by Bob & Marcia were recorded there.
The upstairs recording room connected to a record shop downstairs, creating a bridge between recording and distribution.
Shocking Vibes Recording Studio
Shocking Vibes Recording Studio is a storied dancehall/reggae production house rooted in Kingston, Jamaica.
It was founded by Patrick Roberts, a veteran producer who built the Shocking Vibes label in 1987.
Over time, it became a powerhouse for prominent artists such as Beenie Man, Lady Saw, Tanto Metro & Devonte, Tiger, Mad Cobra, Capleton and many more.
Its productions include major hits like Little Lenny’s “Gun Inna Baggy,” and Beenie Man’s “Who Am I (Sim Simma)”, which was released under the Shocking Vibes umbrella.
Studio One
Studio One, “is where Jamaican popular music was born.”
Studio One is one of Jamaica’s most important recording houses, founded by Clement “Coxsone” Dodd in the 1950s and with a studio operating on Brentford Road from the early 1960s, Studio One was central to ska, rocksteady and the birth of reggae.
Often called “the Motown of Jamaica,” Studio One saw early recordings by The Skatalites, Alton Ellis, The Abyssinians, Culture, Alton Ellis, John Holt and many more and countless session musicians whose rhythms and arrangements defined an era.
Studio One’s catalogue reads like a who’s-who of Jamaican music — entire riddims, albums and timeless singles were created there.
While original Studio One operations have changed, its influence remains foundational in reggae history. The label/studio’s back catalog continues to be reissued globally.
Treasure Isle (Duke Reid’s studio)
Treasure Isle operations grew from Arthur “Duke” Reid’s Bond Street music business into one of Jamaica’s defining rocksteady and early reggae labels and studios.
Founded in the late 1950s / early 1960s, Treasure Isle became synonymous with silky rocksteady productions and artists such as The Paragons and Phyllis Dillon.
Songs recorded at Treasure Isle later became international hits (for example The Paragons’ “The Tide Is High” later covered by Blondie).
Treasure Isle was known for a warm, polished production style that contrasted with Studio One’s rawer sound.
Treasure Isle’s catalogue remains highly collectible and its rhythms and productions are still sampled, covered and celebrated worldwide.
Tuff Gong Studios
Tuff Gong Studios is the heart of Jamaican recording heritage — founded by Bob Marley and the Wailers and it has grown into one of the Caribbean’s largest professional studios.
The label opened in 1970 and later the world-famous Tuff Gong studio complex in Kingston was established, creating an environment where local and international artists come to capture authentic reggae energy.
The studio boasts pro mixing rooms, mastering facilities and a creative vibe that has attracted generations of musicians.
Artists such as Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley, Capleton, Shaggy, Vybz Kartel, and Major Lazer have worked here.
Major songs recorded at Tuff Gong include Marley classics such as “Redemption Song,” “One Love,” and “Iron Lion Zion.”
It’s roots are grounded in Marley’s original DIY spirit, but the equipment and services meet modern pro standards — making Tuff Gong both a historic landmark and a working contemporary recording facility.
