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The Cleveland Beat

The Cleveland Beat is a monthly show being live-streamed on the Music America platform, designed to

The Cleveland Beat

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Cleveland Was First to Bring Reggae to Ohio – Thanks to Dave Valentine
Deanna Adams

I know I promised an article on Steve Popovich this week, but Cleveland just lost yet another icon in the local music scene, and so, we honor Dave Valentine today.

Back in 1978, Cleveland wasn’t exactly known for its reggae music. But when Dave Valentine, who then owned the club, Coach House, in the University Circle area, went down to Key West and heard the great Bob Marley’s second album, “Rastaman Vibrations,” he was addicted. Lo and behold, he soon found an ad in Rolling Stone magazine, where someone in Jamaica was selling a slew of reggae 45s.

And so, it began. He stocked his jukebox with all those records and the people rejoiced. He added a Tuesday open-mike night, and one fateful night, singer/guitarist Dave Smeltz walked in the door.

Smeltz took it to the next level when he formed a band out of one of those open-mike nights, that included Dave Valentine on bass. He called it I-Tal, based on a Penthouse article on Bob Marley, discovering that I-Tal meant “the natural movement of the body when it hears music.”

That nine-piece band included two native Jamaicans – Kingston born, George Gordon (percussion, “footwork” and “all-around reggae expert”), and Errol Williams (drums/vocals), giving the group immediate authenticity.

“We got great support from the college radio stations,” recalled Smeltz, in my book, Rock ’n Roll and the Cleveland Connection. “We played a lot of the college towns, like Ohio U, Ann Arbor, Michigan State, and of course, Kent.” The group was also one of the first to play a WMMS Coffeebreak Concert. They also played often at Peabody's Cafe and the Euclid Tavern, before becoming the Sunday night house band at the Mistake, below The Agora.

“I was blessed to be a part of this journey, which I continue to share with all,” says Michael “Chopper” Wasson, lead guitarist who is now in the band, Shākē GrOuNd. “Dave Valentine took the time to share with me the roots of the music and culture. I know the heavens will be jammin’ now,” he says, meaning Valentine joining Dave Smeltz, who passed away in 2021.

Carlos Jones (Carlos Jones and The P.L.U.S Band) played with I-Tal from 1981 until he formed First Light, along with Michael Wasson, in 1984. “Dave was mild-mannered and easy-going, but he was definitely passionate. His unique style of playing bass was like poetry in motion. He didn’t just stand there, he danced and dipped with his instrument in a kind of hypnotic, rhythmic sway that let you know he was feelin’ it!
“I am so extremely grateful for being allowed to be a part of the legacy that has such deep roots in Cleveland history. Thank you, Dave Valentine!”

This Monday, December 9th, Dave’s family and friends will gather to pay tribute to, and celebrate his life at The DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME Of WILLOUGHBY HILLS, 28890 CHARDON ROAD (between Bishop Rd. and Rt. 91) from 4-6 PM.
Immediately following, the family will invite words of remembrance at 6 PM at the Funeral Home, and Carlos Jones and Michael Wasson plan to do a song in his honor.
Obviously, Dave Valentine has made his mark in Cleveland music history, and will be missed.

*Contributions may be made in his memory to Cleveland Rocks: Past Present Future, or to benefit the Clean House organization, a nonprofit transitional housing center, which Smeltz started in 2013, you can go here: https://cash.app/$CleanHouseInc
For all details, see https://www.dejohnfuneral.com/obituaries/david-valentine
*Photos Courtesy of Carlos Jones.

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