In the UK's Channel Four television series Deep Roots Music one of the most memorable scenes was the debate between Count Matchuki and Sir Lord Comic with regard to the birth of the Jamaican recording industry. The veteran DJs could not agree as to the title of the "first' song although between them they were singing the Jiving Juniors" "Lollipop Girl", which they confused with Millie's "My Boy Lollipop". While the Juniors are best remembered for the song, the group's history began in 1957 when Derrick Harriott and Claude Sang Junior entered and won the Vere John's Talent Hour, performing as Sang And Harriott. After their initial success the duo enrolled Neville "G Bobs' Esson and Roy Robinson to perform as the Hurricanes although this venture was short-lived. Following the Hurricanes" demise, Harriott and Sang re-emerged as the Jiving Juniors with Valmont Burke and Winston Service. The group immediately found themselves in the limelight when they released "Lollipop Girl", which was originally recorded as an exclusive for the Thunderbird sound system in 1958. The following year they re-recorded their debut with an official release produced by Duke Reid that was credited to Claude Sang And The Jiving Juniors. The Jamaican hit led to a series of releases including "Dearest Darling", "I Love You" and "I Wanna Love You". Inspired by the group's popularity Reid's rival Coxsone Dodd at Studio One invited the Juniors to record with him at his Brentford Road studio. The group remained with Dodd from 1960-61 and enjoyed hits with "Hip Rub", "Beautiful Doll", "Oh Pretty Girl" and "Over The River". The group also enjoyed international sales when the UK-based, jazz orientated Starlite label released "To-woo-up-to-woo", "Lovers Line" and a hit in combination with the Caribs, "Slop'n'mash". By 1962 Harriott had decided to pursue a solo career which inspired Sang to recruit a new line-up to record a handful of unreleased tracks in New York. Sang was accompanied by his brother Herman alongside Maurice Winter, Eugene Dwyer and Jimmy Muldahaye. The group was unable to maintain a high profile although they remained a popular live act performing their earlier hits.

Listen to The Jiving Juniors at Finetune.

• Sugar Dandy
• Over The River
• I Wanna Love
• Dearest Darling
• I Love You

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