"Oh Carolina" is a 1958 song by the Folkes Brothers, produced by Prince Buster and released in 1960, after which it became an early ska hit. It was covered by many various artists, including Shaggy in 1993. Folkes Brothers version The original version of the song was recorded by Jamaican vocal trio the Folkes Brothers (John, Mico, and Junior Folkes) and was produced by Prince Buster at RJR studios in Kingston. The song was written by John Folkes in 1958 about his girlfriend (who was actually named Noelena). The group had met Buster while auditioning at Duke Reid's liquor store and Buster decided that he wanted to record the song. According to the brothers, Buster paid them £60 for the recording. Buster claims he paid £100. Buster travelled to the Wareika Hills to find a Niyabinghi group to play on a recording session, and brought Count Ossie and his group of drummers (Count Ossie's Afro-Combo) back to the studio, where they played on "Oh Carolina". "Oh Carolina" was a landmark single in the development of Jamaican modern music (ska, rocksteady and reggae) specially for the incorporation of African-influenced Niyabinghi-style drumming and chanting, and for the exposure it gave to the Rastas, who at the time were marginalised in Jamaican society. The track's piano riff was performed by Owen Gray. The single was licensed to Blue Beat Records for release in the UK in 1961. The two tracks on the single (The B-side was "I Met a Man") were the only songs recorded by The Folkes Brothers as a trio. Mico and Junior Folkes re-recorded the song without John for the 2011 album Don't Leave Me Darling, the first release credited to the Folkes Brothers since the early 1960s. "Oh Carolina" was later reissued on the Prince Buster label. The song was also recorded in 1973 by Count Ossie, on his album Grounation, and in 1975 by Junior Byles. Track listing Original release A: "Oh Carolina" B: "I Met a Man" Prince Buster label reissue A: "Oh Carolina" B: "Chubby" – Prince Buster and the All Stars Other releases "Oh Carolina" was also issued as the B-side to Prince Buster's "Madness" on a 1961 single on the Fab label, and was included on a 1978 12-inch single of "Big Five". Shaggy version "Oh Carolina" was covered by Jamaican musician Shaggy and released in January 1993 as the lead single from his