Don Letts
The Don Letts Story
The legendary Don Letts – DJ/Musician/Film Maker has compiled the special Greensleeves music section in our music player. This represents Don’s pick of the most innovative and influential tracks on Greensleeves. They also carry brief track notes to give you more insight into each artist. As one of the most notable and respected Reggae DJ’s in the world – this is a unique introduction to the Greensleeves catalogue.
Don Letts’ reputation has been firmly established in both the film and music world by a substantial body of work from the late 70's through the 80's, 90’s and well into the millennium. His work has been exhibited in The Kitchen N.Y.C, The Institute of Contemporary Art, The N.F.T in London and was honored at Brooklyn’s BAM festival. In March 2003 he won a Grammy for his documentary ‘Westway To The World’.
He came to notoriety in the late 70's as the DJ that single handedly turned a whole generation of punks onto reggae. It was whilst as a d.j at the first punk club 'The Roxy' in 1977, that Don adopted the punk D.I.Y ethic and begun to make his first film 'The Punk Rock Movie'. Shot on Super-8mm it is the only documentary on the U.K punk scene w/ Sex Pistols-The Clash and many others. This led to a period directing over 300 music videos for a diverse range of artists (see below).
In March 2007 SAF Publishing released Don Letts’ autobiography Culture Clash: Dread Meets Punk Rockers in hardback.
Film Credits
Soul Britannia
60mins / BBC
2007
The final episode of a three part series looking at the impact of black music on the U.K and it’s part in changing the cultural identity. Features Soul to Soul’s Jazzie B, Norman Jay, Amy Winehouse, Massive Attack’s Daddy G, Mica Paris, Omar, Roots Manuva, Goldie, Skinnyman, Joss Stone and Trevor Nelson amongst others.
Tales Of Dr. Funkenstein
60mins / BBC4
2006
George Clinton. A look at the master of P-Funk, features George Clinton, Andre 3000 and Macy Gray.
Rock It To Rio
30mins / Ch4
2006
On tour with Franz Ferdinand in Chile, Argentina and Brazil.
All Mod Cons
40mins
2006
The story of the making of The Jam’s album of the same name.
PUNK: Attitude
90min
2005
From Jerry Lee Lewis to Nirvana the film puts punk in the context of an ongoing counter-culture. Premiered on the IFC Channel in America it also won best the documentary prize at the Melbourne Film Festival and London’s Raindance.
The Brother From Another Planet
60min / BBC2
2005
The story of Sun Ra. A look at one of the strangest characters to emerge from the jazz scene.
One Love
90min / Feature co-directed with R. Elgood
2004
Premiered at Cannes this is a love story shot on location in Jamaica starring Bob’s son Ky-mani Marley.
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
60min doc / BBC2
2003
The Story of Gil Scott-Heron. Critically acclaimed the documentary also featured The Last Poets, Chuck D and Mos Def.
Downtown To Worlds End
30min doc
2002
A look at the roots of Punk Rock in New York City. Featuring Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Group), John Holstrom (Punk Magazine), Jayne County, Bob Gruen and Richard Lloyd of Television.
The Hundred Greatest Number One’s
4hrs doc / Ch4
2001
A lighthearted look at 100 of the best number one singles from the late fifties to date. Viewed by 6 million it was Channel 4’s highest rated program that year.
Smile
45min doc
2000
A portrait of Marti Pellow (of Wet Wet Wet fame) as he embarks on a journey back to Memphis Tennessee. Features Willie Mitchell (Al Green’s producer).
Westway To The World
82min doc / BBC2
1999
This Grammy winning documentary looks at the story of the Clash, one the most influential punk bands of the 70's, from their roots in the U.K to their conquest of America
Return of the Super Ape
30min doc / Ch4
1998
Featuring the legendary work of Jamaican recording artist/ producer Lee 'Scratch' Perry.
Dancehall Queen
90min / Feature Film
1997
Shot on location in Jamaica, it went on to be the longest running movie in Jamaica, breaking all box office records.
Planet Rock
60min doc / BBC
1996
The final episode in the B.A.F.T.A nominated series 'Dancing in the Street'. Aired in 26 countries around the world, the program examined the effect of black music in the eighties. Featured Grandmaster Flash-Africa Bambatta-Run DMC-De La Soul-Public Enemy-Frankie Knuckles-The Beastie Boys-Derrick May.
Music Credits
Don continues to D.J as THE DUB CARTEL playing a strictly old and new school dub reggae. His set is in the spirit of his time as DJ at London’s legendary Roxy club back in ’77. From the days of Punk Rock to present day Don has always been drawn towards musical projects. After d.j’ing at the Roxy and whilst directing videos for many other acts he created the band Basement Five, released a single with members of John Lydon’s P.I.L, managed the Slits and collaborated with members of Trouble Funk.
Don continues to D.J as THE DUB CARTEL playing a strictly old and new school dub reggae. His set is in the spirit of his time as DJ at London’s legendary Roxy club back in ’77. From the days of Punk Rock to present day Don has always been drawn towards musical projects. After d.j’ing at the Roxy and whilst directing videos for many other acts he created the band Basement Five, released a single with members of John Lydon’s P.I.L, managed the Slits and collaborated with members of Trouble Funk.
In the mid 80's he formed the group 'Big Audio Dynamite' with Mick Jones (ex-Clash). He went on to perform and co-write four albums with B.A.D achieving several hits on both sides of the Atlantic including the top ten hit E=Mc2.
In the early nineties Don left B.A.D to form ‘Screaming Target’ their debut performance at The Transmusical Festival in France received rave reviews. They released one critically acclaimed album 'Hometown Hi-Fi'.
As the 'Dub Cartel Sound System' Don and Dan Donovan (ex B.A.D) have done d.j sets for The Rough Trade 25th Anniversary - Adidas promotional party - Fat Boy Slim Birthday Bash - Ali G premiere party - Jarvis Cocker’s Desperate Sound System - Trojan - Ninja Tune -Lee Perry’s Meltdown - Glastonbury 2003/4 - Stussy 25th anniversary.
Along with collaborations with Dreadzone and remixes for various acts with Dan Donovan, Don has also released several compilation albums -
Time Warp Dub Clash
Island Records
1996
A compilation of old and new school dubs.
Dread Meets The Punk Rockers Uptown
Heavenly Records
2002
Voted one of the top ten compilations by the N.M.E.
Don Letts presents: The Mighty Trojan Sound
Sanctuary Records
2003
A critically acclaimed compilation of classic seventies reggae.
Dread Meets B-Boy Downtown
Heavenly Records
2004
A compilation of early eighties hip-hop.
Don continues to explore the audio/visual medium...
