He walked in with a modest smile, but his face told the tell-tale signs of what brewed beneath the surface. He’d barely opened his mouth to introduce himself before the jokes came rolling out. It was then and there I realized that this sit down was going to be all laughs….
….He has broken through the clutter and reached beyond the microphone to become legendary both on and off the Jamaican airwaves. But who is this radio personality with the infectious laugh and mischievous jokes? Whom for over a decade we’ve welcomed not only in our homes but into our hearts. Who is the man behind the mic? Who is Stokey Love?
Photo: Roy Sweetland
For starters, Stokey Love is not actually ‘Stokey Love.’ He is Seymour Mundy! A fact that even persons making cheques ‘payable to Stokey Love’ are unaware. But how did Seymour become Stokey? Well, for a young Seymour, playing music was life; a way to pass time with friends and gallivant with girls (aka ‘girlivant’). But what started in fun, resulted in the start of his first sound system ‘Soul Ghetto’ in 1968.
He got the nickname however in 1970 when his coworkers in the sugar industry saw it only fit to name him after Civil Rights Activist Stokely Carmichael, as he was always defending their rights. As he puts it, “Sugar was the staple that placed food on the table.” And the ‘Love’ part? From the ladies of course.
Though sugar was the staple for over 25 years, music had his heart. Hence he never stopped playing. And when his big break in radio came with Kool FM in November 2001, he ran with it. Over a decade and four programs later, he has not looked back since. He is now host/co-host on Crusin’ Kool, Kool Rhythms, Musical Rapture and Jus’ Koolin’. Admittedly, his Sunday ‘Just Kooling’ is dearest to his heart.
What people call trouble, I consider more spreading joy. If I see someone having a bad day, I think it’s my responsibility to change it.
To Read More: Purchase your copy of Volume 9 #2 – May – June 2017
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He walked in with a modest smile, but his face told the tell-tale signs of what brewed beneath the surface. He’d barely opened his mouth to introduce himself before the jokes came rolling out. It was then and there I realized that this sit down was going to be all laughs….
….He has broken through the clutter and reached beyond the microphone to become legendary both on and off the Jamaican airwaves. But who is this radio personality with the infectious laugh and mischievous jokes? Whom for over a decade we’ve welcomed not only in our homes but into our hearts. Who is the man behind the mic? Who is Stokey Love?
For starters, Stokey Love is not actually ‘Stokey Love.’ He is Seymour Mundy! A fact that even persons making cheques ‘payable to Stokey Love’ are unaware. But how did Seymour become Stokey? Well, for a young Seymour, playing music was life; a way to pass time with friends and gallivant with girls (aka ‘girlivant’). But what started in fun, resulted in the start of his first sound system ‘Soul Ghetto’ in 1968.
He got the nickname however in 1970 when his coworkers in the sugar industry saw it only fit to name him after Civil Rights Activist Stokely Carmichael, as he was always defending their rights. As he puts it, “Sugar was the staple that placed food on the table.” And the ‘Love’ part? From the ladies of course.
Though sugar was the staple for over 25 years, music had his heart. Hence he never stopped playing. And when his big break in radio came with Kool FM in November 2001, he ran with it. Over a decade and four programs later, he has not looked back since. He is now host/co-host on Crusin’ Kool, Kool Rhythms, Musical Rapture and Jus’ Koolin’. Admittedly, his Sunday ‘Just Kooling’ is dearest to his heart.
To Read More: Purchase your copy of Volume 9 #2 – May – June 2017
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