Alpha Boys School

Vocational residential school on South Camp Road in Kingston, Jamaica, founded in 1880 and run by the Roman Catholic Sisters of Mercy, famous for the many successful musicians who have come through it's music program and the Alpha Boys Band. Originally named Alpha Cottage School, often referred to as Alpha Boys School and Convent of Mercy "Alpha" Academy, it is now called Alpha Institute. Founded in 1880 as a residential vocational school for boys who needed a place to live. Although the residence closed in 2014 due to financial challenges the vocational and general education activities continue to serve 120 young men in need of services between the ages of 16-19 years old. Alpha is best known for its music program which has graduated jazz pioneers such as Joe Harriott and Dizzy Reese, ska music innovators like the Skatalites, reggae icons such as Leroy Smart and Leroy Wallace not to mention 1997 Grammy nominee Winston 'Yellowman' Foster and 1980s dancehall star Johnny Osbourne. See below for a more complete list of past Alpha students who became professional musicians... Bertie King Bo-Pee Bowen Bobby Ellis Cedric "Im" Brooks Danny Browne David Madden Damon Riley Dizzy Reece Don Drummond Dudley Farrier [a237616] Floyd Lloyd Harold ‘Little G’ Gaynair Harold McNair [a166272] [a1060784] Jo Jo Bennett Joe Harriott Johnny Moore Johnny Osbourne Karl Bryan Lennie Hibbert Leroy Smart Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace Leslie Samuels Leslie Thompson Lester Sterling Mus'come Nicholas Laraque Owen Gray Raymond Harper Rico Rodriguez Ronald Wilson (4) Sammy Walker Tommy McCook Tony Greene Tony Gregory Vin Gordon Wilton Gaynair Winston Foster Winston Francis Winston (Sparrow) Martin Roland Alphonso Desmond Dekker Albert Craig