
2024
Play it Loud is a feature documentary that tells the little known story of how Jamaican music became a critical and unlikely part of Canadian culture, told through the life, music, struggles and triumphs of beloved singer Jay Douglas.
In early 1960s Toronto, a white, Anglo-centric city, an underground music scene emerged from the Jamaican diaspora, led by newcomers like Jackie Mittoo, Wayne McGhie, and a young Jay Douglas. Battling racism and indifference, they left a lasting but underrecognized mark on Canadian music and culture. Nearly 60 years later, Jay Douglas still champions Jamaican music and is finally receiving long-overdue recognition. Play It Loud is a feature documentary that tells the little-known story of how Jamaican music became a vital, unlikely part of Canadian culture. It traces a cultural migration that made Canada a global hub for Jamaican music - celebrated abroad but overlooked at home. Told through the life and music of beloved singer Jay Douglas, born Clive Pinnock in rural Jamaica, the film follows his journey from teen performer to enduring icon.

Jay Douglas
Jay Douglas

Jackie Richardson
Jackie Richardson

Lowell 'Sly' Dunbar
Lowell 'Sly' Dunbar

Rollie "Cadence Weapon" Pemberton
Rollie "Cadence Weapon" Pemberton

Lillian Allen
Lillian Allen

Klive Walker
Klive Walker

Nicholas Jennings
Nicholas Jennings

Carlene Davis
Carlene Davis

Grub Cooper
Grub Cooper

Supreme La Rock
Supreme La Rock

Michael Williams
Michael Williams

Eddie Bullen
Eddie Bullen

Henry Marks
Henry Marks

Everton Pablo Paul
Everton Pablo Paul

Adrian Miller
Adrian Miller

Matt Sullivan
Matt Sullivan

Shahi Teruko
Noreen / Beverly Kelso of The Wailers / Cissy Houston

Jephthe Beljour
Jay Douglas

Gabriel Gherutchi
Mr. Bulucan / Matt Sullivan

Eon Sinclair
Band Member

Dana Carrabon
Coxsone Dodd / band member

Ethan Henderson
young Jay Douglas

Barry Malcolm
Barry Malcolm

Kehinde Akanbi
Buddas

Demi Pinnock
Demi Pinnock

Empress Harmony
Jackie Richardson

Stan Pinnock
Stan Pinnock

Cameron Greene
Everton Pablo Paul

Ian Dawkins
Ian Dawkins

Ricky Cambia
DJ Supreme La Rock

Coming Home

Your Call Is Important To Us

Reggae Boyz

About Mermaids And Sailors

Sounds of Memphis

Beat Is Protest: Funk from a Female Perspective

Shipbuilder

The Royal Visit

Toronto Jazz

Let Me Have It All

Bollywood/Hollywood

The Corporation

heroes

Wet Earth and Warm People

Momentum

When We Were Kings

Ruff 'n Tuff - Stranger Cole's Toronto Roots

Golden Globe - Kanada - Der Osten

King of the Hill: A 70th Anniversary Retrospective of Cincinnati’s King Records

Dr. Feelgood - All Through the City (with Wilko 1974-1977)