Karl Winston Mullings was Born
on March 11, 1942 in St.
Elizabeth,
Jamaica, He graduated from
Cornwall College in Jamaica. Karl
went on to
be the co- founder of the
Toronto chapter of the Cornwall
College
Alumni Association and
was the driving force in it's formative
years
serving as entertainment
chairman for over ten years, and a
founding
organizer of the cultural event that gave birth to Caribana.
Music was Karl's life, he was the go to guy in Toronto's world of reggae and he was one of reggae music's most influential artist managers. Over the years Mullings managed artist such as the late Jackie Mittoo, Lynn Taitt , Hopeton Lewis, The Fabulous Flames and bands like, The Cavaliers, The Sheiks, The Cougars, and from 1989 to the time of his death, Mullings was managing his daughter, reggae singer Tanya Mullings. The Sheiks with lead singer Jackie Opel up front, were invited on a 32 state tour of the US, Canada and Mexico which had them opening for artist such as Stevie Wonder, James Brown and Percy Sledge. The tour ended in Toronto and Karl and some of the band members liked Toronto so much they decided to stay. Regrouping around the talents of the late Jackie Mittoo they re-named themselves The Cougars.
Mullings opened Club Jamaica at 248 Yonge St. Followed by the WIFF(West Indian Federation)Club from 1964 to 1968, and later the Caribana Club. He found Canadian bookings for a steady stream of Jamaican musicians.
Over the years, Mullings used to advise artists, producers, promoters and radio programmers. Karl's wide knowledge base in the music industry, plus his negotiation and networking skills were assets many show producers depended on. Karl facilitated the over whelming successful Legends of Ska shows in Toronto footage from which will be used in the making of a movie still in the production stage but it is something that has to be finished to honor Karl's memory.
In 1994, he was awarded the Peter Tosh Memorial Award by the Canadian Reggae Music Awards, In January 2005 he was awarded the Circle of Distinction Award by the radio program,"Caribbean Crucible" for his service to reggae music.
Affectionately called "Mullo" and "Mayor of
Brampton" Karl Mullings will be remembered as a reliable and
trustworthy colleague and genuine friend RIP Karl Mullings March 11,
1942 - July 29, 2005