Just Ska Music of Glory Days Alphanso Castro from Teenage Dance Party

Alphanso Castro Remember Teenage Dance Party Ska Glory days. Teenage Dance Party (TADP).With that famous theme, Bear Man Shuffle, one would hear the mellow voice of Aggrey Brown from Negril to Morant Point calling all Jamaican teenagers to the show.TADP was the brainchild of Sonny Bradshaw. The talent,that placed TADP on the map were Winston Blake, Godfrey Blair, Alphanso Castro, Syl Castro, Lennie Lawrence, Pat Reynolds (our first 'queen' who was called Pat # One), Pat Coke (who was called Pat #Two),Verona Johnson, Ceceile Wilson, Hartley Cousins,Louis Burke and Peter Vassall. Also involved were Trevor Weir, Gerald Bennett, Winston Sirjue, Joyce Morris,Pat Williams, Roy Cousins, Symona Symes, Sandy McGeshie, Earl Knight and Sunshine Plunket.TADP was the vehicle through which the Jamaican music received its greatest exposure. The young people on the programme would dance to the music and, in so doing, the television audience would become more familiar with the music of the day. The innovativeness of TADP dancers helped to market Jamaican music.You would not miss a performance by the Castro brothers, Louis Burke or Lennie Lawrence. The dance created a visual impact - it gave body to the music and, therefore, people would associate particular songs with particular body moves.TADP also provided valuable exposure as in 1962 Alphanso Castro was selected to represent Jamaica at the World Fair in the USA, along with Jimmy Cliff, Prince Buster, Eric Monty Morris and Byron Lee and the Dragonaires. They sold ska to the world. Alphanso Castro, outdanced the famous Chubby Checker in a performance at Carib Theatre. The local newspaper, THE STAR, carried a headline which screamed 'Castro out-twists Chubby'.