HE is the longstanding bastion of one of the most internationally recognised and cherished musical genres.

David Rodigan has been a front-man in the British reggae scene for nearly 40 years.

So when the veteran DJ and broadcaster arrived at Southampton’s Orange Rooms the anticipation was electric among revellers of all ages.

The bespectacled Rodigan, looking evergreen in his early 60s, developed his love of reggae as a 1960s schoolboy while listening to ska.

In 1978 he began DJing on BBC Radio London where he introduced both British and Jamaican artists to the masses.

His longstanding Roots Rockers Show gained widespread fame and he now hosts a weekly show on BBC Radio 1Xtra.

He has also DJ’ed alongside top British, Caribbean and American soundboys to boost his international acclaim.

Among his proudest moments was winning the Champion Trophy at World Clash Reset in New York in 2012.

At his Southampton gig he received rapturous applause when he asked the crowd “are you ready for the summer?”. One of his delights is his energetic enthusiasm for all styles within the genre ranging from the ska and rocksteady of the 1960s, through to dub, dancehall, raga and modern day reggae renaissance.

He took the crowd on a rollercoaster tour through the ages. Tunes ranged from Desmond Dekker to one of the latest dance-floor slammers – Fighter by Cham and Damien Marley.

Rodigan declared the hit one of the most played on 1Xtra at the moment. But some of the biggest cheers of the night were for Buffalo Soldier and Is this love by Damien’s father the late, great, Bob Marley.

It was a cherished moment to hear how music hailing from far away in the Caribbean can still spread peace and love halfway across the globe.