Montego Bay stood still on August 16 as hundreds gathered inside the Montego Bay Convention Centre to honour the life and legacy of Extoll “Ticka” Earle — the man whose speakers once shook western Jamaica, and whose heart kept it dancing.
The pioneering mind behind Ticka Music Sound System, Earle wasn’t just a selector — he was an era. Born from his teenage years at Cornwall College in 1974, Ticka Music was more than a sound system; it was a cultural landmark. What began at school fetes and house sessions grew into one of the most respected musical movements in western Jamaica.
Ticka’s final bow came on June 28, three weeks after a stroke. But his legacy echoed long after the last beat. Friends flew in from abroad. Locals came from every corner of the island. On stage, off stage, in sound clash or church pew — Ticka had left a mark.
Neville Thompson, a fellow stalwart of the music scene and longtime friend, flew in from South Florida just to pay tribute. “Ticka had a spirit you couldn’t replicate,” he shared. “When he touched the turntables, it was alchemy. He made music speak.”
From cabinet ministers to local councillors, the service was heavy with public figures — Deputy Prime Minister Horace Chang, Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon, and opposition candidate Dr. Andre Haughton among them. But their roles faded in that moment; they were all simply mourners of a maestro.
Steve “Junior Smiley” Campbell, a veteran of the Ticka Music crew, offered perhaps the most succinct eulogy: “Him was di cleanest heart. Everybody love Ticka.”
Throughout the 1980s, Ticka Music stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the giants of Kingston — holding its own against Volcano and Stur Gav at Cornwall Beach, and earning slots on stages like Reggae Sunsplash at Jarrett Park. Back then, names like Frankie Paul and Little John lit up the line-up, but Ticka always made sure the sound system wasn’t just background — it was centre stage.
But Earle was more than a soundman. On the football field, he wore the #9 jersey for Cornwall College during the daCosta Cup, and later represented Hornets FC. Whether in music or sport, he was always the one to watch — the one who played to win, and played with soul.
He leaves behind his wife Rosie, three children, four sisters, and one brother — but also an entire region still moving to the rhythm he set.
Ticka Earle may have signed off, but the music? It plays on.
