The Legendary Reggae Promoter: Ardie ‘Cuban’ Wallace

According to the Connecticut census, there were approximately 139,739 people living in the city of Hartford in 1975. Not many of them knew anything about reggae or Jamaican culture.

Ardie “Cuban” Wallace, a maverick Jamaican, helped change that. He made his debut as a show promoter in March, 1975 with Bob Marley and The Wailers at Bushnell Theater.

Since then he has promoted shows in Hartford by the top acts in reggae including Jimmy Cliff, Dennis Brown and Gregory Isaacs.

Wallace, who is from Montego Bay, is a legend in Connecticut reggae. He tells the story of his start in the music business in that state through The Legendary Reggae Promoter: Ardie ‘Cuban’ Wallace, a book released on October 3 by DC Productions Media Group, a company owned by Dr. Davies Chirwa, a Zambian businessman based in Washington.

The folksy Wallace co-wrote the 300-page project with his wife, Yevette Ann Wallace. 

“The book had to focus on 1975 for many historic reasons. It’s a year of all big history with myself and reggae music building in America,” he said. “In 1975, no one knew anything about reggae in America or what it is, so this was the start of it.”

Marley had left The Wailers — which also included Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingston — in 1973 after releasing two albums with Island Records. The following year saw the release of Natty Dread, his first solo album for that London-based label, which he was promoting when he came to Hartford.

Wallace has promoted shows by Marley’s sons — Ziggy, Stephen and Damian — in Hartford. He has helped make the city one of the most reggae active areas in New England.

The Legendary Reggae Promoter: Ardie ‘Cuban’ Wallace is available through Amazon.