A Reggae label, run by Joe 'Junior' Lincoln from his shop, 'Junior's Record Spot', at 88 Stroud Green Road, London. Bamboo was described in 'Record Retailer' of the 9th of July 1969 as a new independent label for West Indian and locally produced records. According to the article the first single was due out on the 21st of July, and an agreement had been reached with producer Clement Dodd for specially recorded material to appear on Bamboo. Distribution initially was to be by Pama and members of the BIRD group. The article added that Lincoln had formerly been a promotions man with Coxsone and Studio One. Bamboo operated from 1969 until 1972, issuing singles in a BAM-0 numerical series; the material that appeared on Bamboo was all either licensed from Dodd or produced by Lincoln himself. In 1972 Lincoln closed the Bamboo label down and set up Ashanti (q.v.), which featured material from a variety of sources. Bamboo had a number of subsidiaries, including Ackee, Banana and Now! (q.v. all); from 1971 onwards more records appeared on these labels than on Bamboo itself. The company's singles are collectable nowadays, particularly the earlier ones.
Copyright 2008 Robert Lyons.