the first to introduce
the concept of dub plates   

King Tubby’s Sound System has been hailed as one of the if not the most consistent sounds over the last five decades. The consistency and success is down to how this sound system is run. All of the sound crew and DJs are considered as equals and have a valued role to ensure smooth operation of the sound system.

Owner/operator Cecil Rennie aka King Tubby’s, was born in Jamaica. He came to the UK as a teenager in 1965. Since then his love for music developed into  becoming a life long passion. Cecil started his quest to be a leading sound man by serving his apprenticeship as a dedicated follower and selector of Duke Reid Sound System, an association which lasted until 1969.

In March 1970, at the springly age of 19 King Tubby’s hi-fi was born. This made Cecil one of the youngest sound system operators in the UK. The sound system was named after the legendary Jamaican Dub Master 'Osbourne Ruddock' (aka King Tubby’s.) Ruddock was Cecil's inspiration and also his mentor in Reggae Music.
They continued to have a close friendship and working relationship right up until Osbourne’s untimely death in 1989.

Following this period, King Tubby’s hi-fi transformed into King Tubby’s Sound System which went from strength to strength. In 1973, King Tubby's led the way by introducing the now popular 'dub plate specials' concept on sound systems. The sound’s reputation grew from playing locally in the London Brixton area into becoming a name that was recognised, regularly performing to capacity audiences across all of the dancehall venues in the UK. King Tubby's first carnival was in 1985.

The years of hard grafting in London and Europe were rewarded when in 2003, King Tubby's was crowned the No.1 London sound system. Although Tubby's had won many titles along the way, he feels that this crown is of major importance. 

He says that:
"Nobody these days seems to differentiate between a dj, simply playing music from his or her laptop, to a sound system and all of what it takes to bring the whole thing together".