Archive

NEWS :

- February 08 -

24th, After 10 year show at Radio Solar, today is the 1st aniversary of Reggae Portugal Radio Show on KISS FM, special show tonight.

- December -

9th, Alpheus will be live & direct on Reggae Portugal Radio Show at Kiss FM for an exclusive interview. Don't miss it, tune in live here.

4th, Is another historic moment for Reggae in Portugal, we've passed 1million visitors since the 1st of April 2001, nuff thanks to all visitors - MAXIMUM RESPECT !

- November -

16th, it's confirmed the 2 shows from the Studio One Artist - Alpheus - next 7th and 8th of December 2007 in Portugal, check it !

- October -

30th, Studio 1 artist Alpheus is gonna be in portugal between the 7th and the 10th of December, all radio shows and soundsystems interested in jingles and dubplates from Alpheus can contact us for more info. Jah bless.

30th, MIKEY DREAD DIAGNOSED WITH BRAIN TUMOUR

Michael 'Mikey Dread' Campbell has been diagnosed with a brain tumour, a release from his Miami-based company Dread At The Controls Inc said, yesterday. "The bad news is that Mikey Dread has been diagnosed with brain tumour. He is in the care of the best doctors at Duke University in North Carolina and is undergoing chemotherapy."

The release apparently came as a response to numerous queries and speculations concerning the health of the legendary radio jock who was dubbed, "The Dread at the Control Tower". Hence the relase stated, "For months now, many of you have made inquiries about Mikey Dread. Mikey believes that it is important that his fans, friends and supporters know about his current health condition and the treatment he is currently undergoing, and what has happened to him since July, 2007. The good news is that. Mikey's son was born healthy and strong on October 12, 2007." One of Jamaica's most innovative and original radio personalities, Mikey Dread, last year celebrated two special milestones - his 30th anniversary as "The Dread at the Control" - and his father Simon Campbell's 100th birthday. Thirty one years ago, Mikey Dread revolutionised night time radio when he redefined what was then known as the graveyard slot (between midnight and 4:30 am) by turning it into a primetime listening slot on the now defunct JBC Radio Station. After his radio stint, he ventured into recording with one of his earliest hits, Weatherman Skanking in combination with Ray I, for producer Carlton Patterson for whom he also recorded his best known song, Barber Saloon, after which he migrated to England with more popular recordings to come like Love the Dread. For his 30th anniversary celebration also, Mikey Dread who for sometime now has been touring the world performing at universities and festivals with his own Dread at the Control Band, recorded CD featuring his radio shows back then as well as box set of some of the tunes he has made over the years.

courtesy Basil Walters, Jamaica Observer Sunday October 28th 2007

21st, 15:57 JOHANNESBURG,

Five arrested in SAfrica reggae star's murder South African police have arrested five suspects in connection with the murder of reggae star Lucky Dube, one of the continent's biggest-selling artists, police said Sunday. Spokesman Superintendent Eugene Opperman told AFP they have also confiscated two unlicenced firearms and four cars, including the one believed to have been used on the night Dube was killed in the Rosettenville suburb south of Johannesburg on Thursday night. "I can confirm that five suspects were arrested this morning. We confiscated two unlicenced guns, and four cars including the blue VW Polo that is believed to have been used on the night the crime was committed. The cars are believed to have been stolen," Opperman said. Dube, 43, was added to the list of high profile victims of murder in crime-ridden South Africa after he was shot and killed during what is believed to have been a botched car hijack. He was dropping his teenage son at a relative's home when unknown gunmen shot him three times at close range in full view of his two children. The murder was condemned by fellow musicians and South African President Thabo Mbeki who hailed Dube as "an outstanding South African," saying his killing underlined the need for unity in the fight against crime. "We must... make a commitment that we shall continue to act together as a people to confront this terrible scourge of crime, which has taken the lives of too many of our people and does so every day." Senegalese singer Youssou Ndour decried as "terrible" what happened to Dube, saying his murder poses "a big question which South African authorities must provide answers to." The award-winning Dube recorded more than 20 albums in a career spanning two decades and was regarded as one of the first artists to introduce reggae in South Africa.

18th, Reggae musician Lucky Dube was shot dead in a hijacking on Thursday in Rosettenville, Johannesburg police said. Captain Cheryl Engelbrecht said the incident took place at about 8.20pm when Dube (43) was driving a blue Volkswagen Polo in the Johannesburg suburb. She said Dube was dropping off his son in the area when he was attacked. "His son was already out of the car. When he saw what was happening, he ran to ask for help." The hijackers were still at large. The boy was too traumatised to provide police with any information, Engelbrecht said. Dube, born in Johannesburg on August 3 1964, was named "Lucky" as he was born in poor health and doctors thought he would die, according to Wikipedia. But Dube survived and went on to become a front-line artist in the reggae genre. However, the singer's website, Luckydubemusic.com, says: "Giving birth to a boy was considered a blessing and his mother considered his birth so fortunate that she aptly named him Lucky." He recorded more than 20 albums in his music career, which spanned more than 20 years, according to Luckydubemusic.com. His albums include Rastas Never Die, Think about the Children, Soul Taker and Trinity. His latest, released in 2006, is called Respect. The build-up to this international success, though, started in 1982 with the release of Kudala Ngikuncenga, an album that was not reggae but mbaqanga, a genre that was to serve him well for four more albums until his transition to reggae in 1985. "The change was brought about by the fact that I wanted to reach the world. With mbaqanga I would have been seen as a tourist musician," he told the Mail & Guardian in an interview in 2001. "Don't waste your time and mine," a concert promoter told Richard Siluma, Dube's producer at the time. "No one wants to hear reggae." By 1987, Dube was the sole reggae star among South African "disco" acts and established music acts such as Brenda Fassie, Stimela and the Soul Brothers. His introduction to the international stage was heartening, such as when he was invited to play at the Sunsplash Festival in Jamaica in 1991. He recalled how the spiritual home of reggae had been waiting for him and his band. "We knew they love the music. They said we remind them of Peter Tosh." On the final evening of the festival they were called back for an encore -- and for another performance the next year. The reggae sensation, who did not drink or smoke cigarettes or marijuana, despite the association of the substance with Rastafarians, had won more than 20 awards for his music contribution locally and internationally. He is the only South African artist to have a record signed to Motown Records, according to Luckydubemusic.com. Dube always had to fend off questions of whether he was Rastafarian. "If Rastafarianism is about having dreadlocks, smoking marijuana and believing that Haile Selassie is God, then I am not Rastafarian. But if it is about political, social and personal consciousness, then, yes, I am," he said.

Although his idol was Peter Tosh, he acknowledged the unshakeable influence of the king of reggae, Bob Marley, whom he described as "the reason we know reggae".

- September -

17th, The sixth release on the Green Tea label is a cracker of an album from the Los Angeles based LVX Collective and is a collaborative effort between musician and producer Dave Harrow and writer and vocalist Zen. The duo have been writing and recording in Los Angeles for the last year and 50.5.10 is their debut album. David Harrow was a member of the successful On-u Sound team and has worked with Bim Sherman, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, The Dub Syndicate and African Head Charge as well as fronting his own projects such as Technova and James Hardway. This superlative musical CV is topped off by having also played with Jah Wobble in the Invaders of the Heart. Zen r.el.z.m is one of the most talented mcs in the underground Los Angeles Hip Hop scene and is currently one of the core members of The Visionaries Crew and one half of the duo Writers Block. This is a very different type of album recorded in Los Angeles, California with thought, care and an abundance of talent. The songs are well crafted, with an obvious debt to classic old school Soul and Hip Hop, but blend a fusion of styles and succeed in taking all of these various influences somewhere startlingly new. There’s a strong soulful feel to Zen’s vocals on stand out tracks such as ‘Shining’ with its strange Indie Rock feel. ‘Days Like These’ has an old school Dub Reggae vibe and the classic Soul vocal to ‘Expressions’ is enhanced by singer Azul. Other guest vocalists include Jah C and Dannu from the Visionaries. This is the first release on Green Tea for some time and we are delighted with the result and excited to be able to work with such a talented group of people. We feel this project is a worthy follow up to the series of Dry and Heavy albums on Green Tea and we believe that the LVX Collective’s fusion of Electronica, Dub and Hip Hop is a surefire winner. A seven inch single by the LVX Collective ‘Days Like These’ is also currently available on the Green Tea label (GTSI003).

- August -

31st, NEWS FROM 47 ENTERTAINMENT

NEW SINGLE FROM LUKIE D, "SEARCHING", ON LAXIS RECORDS:
The past three months, Lukie D has been flying all over the world, he has been performing in USA, Holland, Germany, France, Hawaii and he is soon visiting Portugal, UK, Germany and Japan. This year Lukie D is hardly in Jamaica. But his latest single from Laxis Records is beginning to hit the airwaves of Jamaica. Ras Kassa's the Guru film's has also created very fancy looking video for this single which is being broadcasted by Hype TV and RE TV Jamaica. With no doubt, Lukie D now has become one of Jamaica's biggest superstars and this song "SEARCHING" is going to be one of monumental hits of the artiste's career!!!

BRAND NEW RELEASES ON KALASHNIKOV LABEL: We are delighted to inform you that a brand new Jamaican label with the edge Kalashnikov (AK47) is releasing huge ammunition "NEXT LEVEL RIDDIM" with top DJs like Sizzla, Elephant Man, Turbulence , Anthony B and more including a massive party tune "PARTY TIME" by Stone Love's vibes master Geefus and veteran DJ Fambo and "BUSS OFF YUH FACE" by Nitty Kutchie which is going to be one of the biggest Dance Hall tune of summer 2007. This Riddim is guaranteed to buss the dances!!!
Tracklisting - Next Level Riddim
Bun Bad Mind / Sizzla
Bun U Crew / Turbulence
No Raper / Elephant Man
I Smoke / Monster Empire
Party Time / Geefus & Fambo
Caan Put Hand Pon Mi / Anthony B
Buss Off Yuh Face / Nitty Kutchy

Kalashnikov is also releasing three one drop tunes. "GANGSTA FLEX" by Big Pop which is the answer song to Tanya Stephens' hit song "These Streets". The next track by Big Pop is "BABYLONE HIDE & SEEK" which is dedicated to the streets of Jamaica who is going to face election at the end of this month. Since the nomination day last week, many people have been shot in the street of Kingston. Ironically, in this track, Big Pop is begging the system to stop those killings between one nation. Above two tracks were engineered by Kirk Bennett; the man who build the famous "TEK FA YUHSELF" by Mr. Vegas. And another bound to be a classic tune from Kalashnikov is "RAIN" by Powerman which has been played on Jamaica's no station Irie FM heavily.

KALASHNIKOV LABEL: Cutting edge Jamaican label named after the Russian rifle AK47. But AK 47 in this case does not symbolize violence, but it symbolizes "the toughest" and "the roughest". It also means musical murderation 'co we are going to be the baddest!!!

21st, ASSASSIN's 2nd album called "Gully Sit'n" will be released on September 10th in the UK and the rest of Europe. With productions from Dave Kelly, Don Corleon, Stephen McGregor, Christoper Birch and Daseca, "Gully Sit'n" is one of the most consistent dancehall album of the year. 

WAYNE WONDER is making his return with his new single "Again". The track is already getting a great response in the UK (Choice FM, MTV Base..). WAYNE WONDER will be in London for Notthing Hill Carnival to promote his forthcoming album "Forever" - in stores on September 24th.

JAH CURE made an amazing impression at REGGAE SUNDANCE (Holland) on August 12th for his first live performance since he has been released from jail. During an hour, the "Cure" performed his hits on stage, backed by a new band orchestred by Dean Fraser. Listen to JAH CURE exclusive interview on BBC.co.uk/1xtra alongside ROBBO RANKS on August 27th. "Sticky" (Reggae Gold 2007) is actually N°1 in the UK REGGAE CHARTS & 1XTRA DANCEHALL CHARTS. "True Reflections .. The New Beginning" is now in stores. This album is a compilation of Jah Cure's best songs recorded in the last 3 years of his detention. Also included the exclusive track: "To Your Arms Of Love".

Some strong rumours are saying that JAH CURE & TARRUS RILEY will perform live at Brixton Academy (London) on October 20th & 21st. We will confirm this information asap.

TARRUS RILEY also performed at REGGAE SUNDANCE (Holland). On his way back to Jamaica, he made a quick stop in London. Enough time to pass through Chris Goldfinger (Radio 1), Natty B & Gammo Speng(Choice FM) & Robbo Ranks (1Xtra) radio shows. Visit choicefm.com & bbc.co.uk/1xtra to hear what Tarrus Riley had to say to European massives. His single "She's Royal" is currently N° 2 of UK REGGAE CHARTS & 1XTRA DANCEHALL CHARTS and his last album "Parables" is N°1 on UK REGGAE CHARTS.

MAVADO is still at the top of his game and leading the dancehall scene all around the world. VP plans to shoot "Last night" video in NYC early September. This 2nd single is mashing up all the clubs in Jamaica & USA. MAVADO will be on RIDDIM MAG cover alongside Gentleman in September issue.

RAS SHILOH will be in Europe in October to perform live his new album "Coming Home". This album is getting a great response in France & Germany.

15th, JAH CURE PERFORMANCE AT REGGAE SUNDANCE 2007, HOLLAND - What a show. Excellent band, including Dean Fraser as the director of the bunch, with Jah Cure giving an excellent set; wicked performance. All big tunes, audience very excited, Cure loving it too, lovely combo with Jah Mason (Run Come Love Me), Cure's voice sounded great live too. Very nice moment to witness, his first full performance after release (no need for discussing details of that again, been there). Tunes played were Longing For, Jah Bless Me, Jamaica, King In This Jungle, Run Come Love Me (feat. Jah Mason), Jamaica, What Will It Take, Good Morning Jah Jah, I'm Still Around, Reflections, Ghetto Life, Sticky, Love Is and maybe one or two more I can't recall now. My highlight of this year's festival no doubt! Overall a good festival with stand-out performances for me by Natural Black, Tony Rebel, Bunny Wailer and Jah Cure. Mafia & Fluxy did a great job backing Gregory Isaacs, but the man himself had some throat-problems and didn't sound too good, nice to seem him still. Also nice to see acts like Marcia Griffiths, Tarrus Riley, Yellowman, Gyptian, LUST, Lutan Fyah (wasn't as good as previous time), Jah Mason (replaced Richie Spice), Capleton and Jimmy Cliff too.

10th, THE REAL DEFINITION OF REGGAE - Through out the years of the musical genres existence, its ideological definition has been a platform for debate. Various intellectual and institutionalized impressions have been grafted in an effort to refine the clarity of this task; however each one seemingly takes to its own tangent of identity. It is as though the blend to define is either too diluted, or over concentrated. How then can we define the musical structure of this art form without writing an entire book?

Firstly, we have to truly understand and appreciate the development of the music beyond the mainstream contemporaries such as Bob Marley, and Peter Tosh and the basic terminology of “Reggae”. No disrespect intended, but we have to peel away the layers of the onion to reveal its core. It is the core that defines the music. Reggae is not as many may think. A fusion of externalized influences, interpreted, and blended to fit our own cultural experience. This fact may be argued, evident by the past and present trend, but this experience happens to all musical art forms as it tries to find a place outside of its own social habitat. Hiphop/Rap fused with classical, latin, and slews of 60’s and 70’s groove samples. Jazz eventually fused with Blues, R&B, Doowoop etc. and let us not forget the latest and greatest example, reggaeton. Yet the purist fans of every musical genre enjoy the fused experience. Some stay for the ride, while others retreat to purity, like a tribe splitting up, sub-genres are born.  As Yuppies become boomers, and Generation X gave birth to Generation Next each generation holds onto their own musical classification. Their rhythmical identity, a subliminal time machine that when needed creates some kind of nostalgic, physiological comfort zone, which for every generation is incomparable. Yuppies, now boomers, still think Jimmy Riley is the biggest thing since slice bread. But Generation Next thinks Tarrus Riley is the man of all times. And when Generation Next gives birth to Generation Y(any child born 2000+), Tarrus will still be the biggest thing for our generation. To each his own, and that’s a fact.

In the early days, as far back as the 1920’s, reggae was unnamed. It had no true social identity in Jamaican culture. It was just called, “Rasta music”, or blackheart chant, that these, so called “madmen” would chant and beat whilst they burned bonfires to cover the scent of the marijuana they consumed. The few Sadhu Indians that’s came to Jamaica in the late 1880’s, brought with them not only weed seeds, but the Nazarene vow, and word of mouth updates of the middle east and its spiritual practices. This influx of information up stirred the yearning few, who crudely interpreted this new knowledge to create a social ideology that other “sufferers” as themselves could identify with. Once the Leonard Howell saga took place in the 30’s, it not only further isolated these outcast, but it fevered their unstated mission of creating a social identity for the people, primarily the black indentured laborers and subsistence sufferers who could recognize, and sympathize with their cause. This was helped heavily by the illiteracy rate amongst the lower class individuals within Jamaica and as such the art of “word of mouth” and rhythmical rhymes were all simple ways used to pass stories, history and lessons of life to the next generation. Reggae embraced this mantra from its conception quite incidentally, and once it was recognized, it became the steam that kept the fledgling art form growing until its upsurge, during the Garveyian Era that not only brought the Selassian prophecy, but with it the ideology of black heritage which was soon blended into this infantile movement aptly name “Rastafari”. As the movement grew, so did the music, and by the 1940’s the term Nyabinghi was attached to the art form, a crude reference to the Nyabinghi drum chants, somewhat like the “talking drums” of the North American Indians, supposedly used by secret Ethiopian warriors to communicate during the 1935 Italian invasion. This would later be redefined (or refined from your point of view) by the Bobo Tribe in the latter 1960’s. The Coral Garden drama in the early 60’s only helped to feed the fire that simmered this musical cauldron, creating a social platform in an instance for the Rastafarian movement, by giving them a very evident mission. To uplift the people, and to give them a sense of heritage, and a spiritual purpose with which they could truly identify. The Nyabinghi sound was experimented with, and soon a new soundscape emerged. The heavy horn based influences of up-tempo Jazz, and the big band sound streaming across the radios in Jamaica during the mid to late 60’s, gave birth to “Ska” or a crude definition of the “skat”, cool cat horn driven up-tempo jazz of the 50’s/60’s that in itself, gave way to Rock.

Once the R&B era of the early to mid 60’s rolled around, the experimentation spawned rocksteady. But the greatest catalyst for the music’s rapid evolution would only arrive once H.I.M Haile Selassie , Emperor Of Ethiopia, visited Jamaica in the late 60’s. The “in the flesh” evidence that the black dynasty was no myth exploded the movement to such a level, it became a cause for concern once it reached the confines of middle and upper class Jamaica in the late 60’s.The existing social strata within the island forced an ideological segregation within the movement, the two most popular being the Bobo and the 12 tribe.  This split contrast in “Rasta” ideology was deeply ingrained in the music which emitted from each tribe. The puritan Nyabinghi sound was retained somewhat, by the Bobo along with the chanting principle. The 12 tribe on the other hand created a slow, smooth folk sound with thought provoking limericks and acoustic guitar accompaniment, occasionally accentuated with a Nyabinghi derivative. Unlike Nyabinghi where the drum was the center of the soundscape, the 12 tribe soundscape was centered on the acoustic guitar. It is this sound that became the trademark of the greats we know today. However it was not until Bob Marley and the Gang met Chris Blackwell, did it obtain the “Rock and Roll” accents which commercialized the music on an international level. Since then reggae has evolved, surely, spawning many sub-genres, fusions and soundscapes from its womb, the latest being Reggaeton. Yet despite all the various children that have been derived from Reggae it has not lost its core identity. We the listeners have just forgotten it. Reggae in its true essence is not only an art form. But it is the cultural epitaph of the Jamaican people; It the indigenous identity of a proud nation which has influenced millions worldwide. It is the voice of Rasta, and as this generation redefines the sound, reggae at its core will always be the music of reason. Selah.

10th, NORRIS MAN BEATEN BY SIZZLA’S ENTOURAGE - What a way Norris Man persistent! The man cause two riot at St. Mary Mi Come From when an army of bobos descended on him and beat him to a pulp after he told Sizzla to 'suck his madda' while both of them were onstage. Norris Man had been waiting backstage while Sizzla was performing an extended set. Norris Man walked onstage and began to perform. He told Norris Man to behave himself and leave the stage, and then Norris Man blurted out what could have been his death warrant when he said 'suck yu madda'. Sizzla simply said, 'what yu tell me 'bout mi madda' and suddenly, a small army of turban-wearing men began to beat Norris Man savagely. In the meantime, Sizzla continued to deejay as if nothing had happened. The onstage altercation caused a melee at the front of the stage, as some rastafarians in the crowd began to jump onstage in an earnest attempt to beat Norris Man as well. Capleton was able to restore order with a long stream of expletives and the show resumed. However, later, Norris Man returned onstage and appealed to the people, 'see what dem do me' and this time, he was boxed and mauled, and dragged off the stage like a ragdoll by another set of angry rastafarians. The crowd was terrified by what they were witnessing and there were several mini-stampedes throughout the packed venue. One man shouted in awe: "Ah suicide Norris Man waah commit, why him go up there again?' Norris Man is not backing down from any future confrontation with Sizzla or his entourage following his beat-down at the hands of Sizzla's turban-wearing Rastafarian supporters at the 'St. Mary Mi Come From' over the weekend. “Ah country Sizzla come from, me ah original West Kingston man, me no haffi buy friend. Him fi know that as long as him live, him diss me,” he told One876Entertainment.

The major television stations have been carrying footage of the incident that occurred during Lady Saw’s set when Sizzla walked on and began to deejay. Norris Man entered the stage and declared that he had rehearsed with the Jah Prophecy band and was there to perform. He then deejayed his hit, Big Long Gun Go Over Dem Yard on the Red Bull & Guinness rhythm to a roar of approval from the crowd. “Hope anno me you a talk, Norris Man. Come offa me (expletive) stage,” Sizzla said. Chastened, Norris Man then uttered what many believe to be his death warrant when he responded with a derogatory remark about Sizzla’s mother. He was then attacked and punched several times by several men, even when he had thrown up his hands in apparent surrender; the blows seemed to come from all sides. After Capleton rushed in to part the melee, Sizzla continued to perform, saying: “Norris Man, me a badman, mi nuh haffi cuss bad word, a Kingston me come from.” Then he promised that ‘some big long gun ah run out pon dem", and the crowd went wild. Some people have said that the two had had some amount of friction because Sizzla felt Norris Man’s song on the RBG was a counteraction to Big Long Gun on the Applause rhythm. Two days after the incident, Norris Man is still angry at the onstage attack. He promised that he would ‘see’ Sizzla’s entourage soon, and that they were hiding from him. “Sizzla violate me...mi no punk inna war, why dem nah drive out? Nuh dem have all the machines dem? Right now, mi waan hear wah dem haffi say about this ting 'cause right now, mi nah go to no police wid my ting. Me know the whole ah dem who lick me, tell dem say dem nuffi run and hide, me ah see the whole ah dem. Dem anno artiste, and my fans waan see dem,” he said. He said he was ready for a lyrical and a physical confrontation with those who were responsible for attacking him. In the meantime, Claudette Kemp, Capleton’s manager, said that the David House camp would soon be issuing a press release regarding the annual show.

Source: One876Entertainment

2nd, LEGENDARY DUB POET LINTON KWESI JOHNSON TO PERFORM @ DURHAM LITERATURE FESTIVAL 2007

Linton Kwesi Johnson is one of the most influential black poets in Britain, widely known and admired for his dub poetry: poems performed over reggae backings. He has pursued parallel careers as an activist and musician, often performing with reggae bands, releasing mostly on his own label, LKJ records. Johnson's first book, Voices of the Living and the Dead (1974) announced his intention of being at the forefront of the struggle of black people. He documented the Brixton riots in the early 1980s in poems such as 'Di Great Insohreckshan'. Often stark and violent, his work is leavened by humour, as in the title poem of his 1980 collection, Englan is a Bitch. Do not miss out on this rare visit to the North East. Daljit Nagra has also brought a new voice to British poetry, representing the Asian immigrant experience in poems that are by turns touching and comic. Like the work of Linton Kwesi Johnson, Nagra's poetry is created for the page but its rhythms and wit take on a new life in performance. His eagerly awaited debut collection Look We Have Coming to Dover! was published earlier this year by Faber and Faber, and the title poem won the 2004 Forward Prize for Best Individual Poem.

Venue: Gala Theatre
Date: Thursday 11th October
Time: 7.30pm
Price: £9 / £7conc.
Address: Millennium Place, Durham, County Durham DH1 1WA.

- July -

4th, TRIBO DE JAH GANHA O PREMIO TODDY DE MÚSICA INDEPENDENTE - MELHOR ÁLBUM DE REGGAE/SKA, No último dia 04/07, no auditório Elis Regina no Parque do Anhembi em São Paulo, recebeu vários artistas e profissionais do mercado fonográfico de todo o Brasil para o Prêmio Toddy de música independente!. Concorrendo pela segunda vez ao prêmio (em 2006 conseguiu mais de 700 votos) este ano a TRIBO DE JAH com mais 1700 votos levou para casa o Prêmio de Melhor álbum de Reggae/Ska com o álbum “THE BABYLON INSIDE” que juntamente com o álbum “LOVE TO THE WORLD, PEACE TO THE PEOPLE” (em inglês), comemora os 20 anos de carreira da banda, que saiu do Maranhão para conquistar o Brasil e o mundo. A TRIBO DE JAH agradece e deseja à todos que votaram bons fluídos e Jah Bless!!

- June -

26th, Danish-born reggae siren killed in car crash.

Thrity-two-year-old Danish-born reggae singer Natasja Scrul was killed and two others injured in a car accident along the Hellshire main road, St Catherine early Sunday morning.

The singer and friends, the Observer understands, left Saturday night's Portmore Awards where Natasja had performed.

Reports from the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) are that at about 5:45 am, a Toyota Corolla motor car, registered 6627 EM, was travelling along the Hellshire main road towards the beach. It is said that the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a utility pole. The injured three were rushed to the Spanish Town Hospital where the singer was pronounced dead.

"Last year she won the Red Stripe, Irie FM Big Break contest, said the late singer's manager Stephen Greg, "she's a regular here and she loves Jamaica". He told the Observer that Natasja was scheduled to fly back to Denmark on Friday and was only visiting to put some finishing touches on her album.

"She was doing some work on her album with Sly and Robbie, Arif Cooper and she had done collaborations with Ninja Man, Lady G, among others," Greg shared.

Her friend 'Lady G' is deeply saddened, admitting that she could not fathom her death after seeing her mere minutes before the accident.

"Everytime it come 'cross me mind, but me jus' cyaan believe seh Natasja gone," the female performer shared. 'Lady G' noted that she had called up Natasja during a group performance with Macka Diamond and Queen Paula at "Nuffy's show".

At the same time, the veteran act said that she is trying to be optimistic about her friend's passing.
"Me jus' a look pon it from a positive angle...at least me did get fe spend the last couple hours wid har."

Irie FM marketing director Brian Schimdt expressed similar sentiments, adding that the news put a "damper on everybody [at Irie FM]". He noted that because of the association with last year's competition, he came to know the late singer as, "bubbly and engaging". He added that the singer had recently stopped by the radio station to drop off new music and have everyone know what new projects she was working on.

"She was in the prime of her career," Greg said, adding that the driver of the vehicle had fled the scene but turned himself in yesterday morning.

"The police are doing investigations as to what state he was in when the accident happened, right after the accident he was missing and I think that ought to be questioned," Greg said.

Summer 2006 saw Natasja win Irie FM’s influential “Big Break” contest in Jamaica! 700 contestants, 12 finalists – but only one winner! NATASJA. She's the first non-Jamaican ever to win the contest, and the exposure she is getting over there right now is tremendous!

Born in Copenhagen 1974, Natasja grew up listening to her mother's collection of Dennis Brown and Bob Marley Records. This would mark the early steps in a life filled with music. - A life that has become as busy as ever during the past year.

Natasja’s debut on stage was at the mere age of 13 when she started singing /”dee-jaying” in Copenhagen with local Jamaican soundsystem Sky Juice and was noticed at a concert opening for Macka B and Arriwa Posse, where Mad Professor himself was blown away by her talent.

She was ahead of her time alongside with Miss Mukupa and McEmzee introducing raggamuffin to the Danish hip hop community in the early nineties with the group called No Name Requested. During that period the girls did a lot of shows and travelled with artists such as: Queen Latifa, Das EFX, Tribe Called Quest and Massive Attack opened shows for people like Ninja Man, Charlie Chaplin and Lexxus, including a jam session in the studio with UB40. Natasja’s talent has impressed many people from the reggae scene, which has led to studio recordings, live performances and press coverage in Jamaica.

Unfortunately Natasja suffered serious injuries due to a crash with a racehorse in 1998, during her education to become a professional jockey. The accident slowed her musical career down for a while, but luckily you can’t keep a good woman down and soon after she would be pursuing her recording career again...

During Summer 2004 she released the 12" ‘Cover Me’, and later the 7" ‘Summercute’ followed one year later by her long anticipated debut album ‘Release’. Furthermore she has featured on the hit-single ‘Cigar’ from Denmark’s chartbusting dancehall trio Bikstok Røgsystem, and has also recorded with German reggae institution Germaicans on the Rodeo riddim. Additionally she featured on the new album of Africa Unite. Natasja recently stepped up to the super league of reggae and recorded with legends Sly & Robbie in their studio in Jamaica. Furthermore she had legendary studio engineer Bulby do the mixing duties on the forthcoming revised international version of ‘Release’.

Natasja has been touring in many different countries with her band ‘The Ragga Pack’ or with her soundsystem set up. In 2006 you could find Natasja at Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest in Jamaica, Popkomm Reggae Festival in Berlin, Uppsala Reggae Festival in Sweden, SPOT, Roskilde Festival in Denmark, and the legendary Sting Festival in Jamaica to name some.... Natasja is now ready to hit more international stages in 2007 - Big tings a gwaan!

About NATASJA
DONATIONS TO NATASJA'S MOM - UPDATED

Many things have happened during the last three days since we lost Natasja. As a stress relief amid this sad situation it turns out that Natasja was ensured through DJBFA (Danish organization for songwriters and composers) that will at least cover the costs of bringing home Natasja's remains. So the previous cry of help collection in order to bring back Natasja's remains is cancelled! However Natasja's mom's financial situation is stretched and many people think that Natasja deserves a beautiful funeral and that family in Denmark should have some economic relief in these difficult times. Natasja’s mom invested a lot in her daughters career, sometimes more than she could afford, and one of Natasja’s biggest wishes when she was alive was to one day be able to pay back her mom everything she got from her.

Friends and colleagues of Natasja have been wishing to start collections for Natasja's mom and others already did collect on the day that Natasja died, like it happened at Rub’a’Dub club last Sunday. Anyone wishing to relief Natasja's moms situation can do so by donating money on the bank account below which is set up as a trust fund with the sole purpose of paying for transportation of Natasja’s remains and to pay for her funeral. Any excess funds from the collection will be donated to The Red Cross effort to fight AIDS in Africa. The last cause has always been one of Natasja's greatest wishes to support.

Bank info:
Account number (incl. reg. no.): 3121 3121656760
Swift code: dabadkkk
IBAN: dk4030003121656760

Note: This is a new account number – donations paid to the previous posted account number has also reached Natasja’s mom.

/Peter Skovsted, Musicall Management

ALL OF NATASJA's FRIENDS REGRET THEIR LOSS AND YOURS! OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH HER FAMILY AND MOTHER IN THESE HARSH TIMES, TERRIBLE WORLD WHEN THE GOOD PEOPLE GOES FIRST. R.I.P. ANGEL!

19th, Gentleman recently was in Los Angeles to film the video for the single "Different Places" a conceptual video centered around the song's message of diversity and cultural understanding. Directed by esteemed reggae video director, Ras Kassa, whose video credits include Damian Marley's "Welcome To Jamrock", Lady Saw's "Infertility", and Richie Spice's "Youth So Cold," the "Different Places" video is now edited and available to view on Gentleman's My Space page: myspace.com/gentlemanjourneytojah.

The song's refrain: "It's not about class, color or races, let's get together and see different places" is propelled by images of a mohawk haired-woman, an Orthodox Jewish man, along with African, and Asian people whose singing faces are imposed and depicted Gentleman's dancing torso.
_

3rd, starting today, we coming back to our preferred format on the radio, the two hour show between 9 and 11pm, just tune in !

- May  -

10th, NEWS BITE: Lutan Fyah saves the juveniles in Spain  - Roots Reggae artiste Lutan Fyah takes to the stage in Barcelona, Spain and brings his seasoned lyrical message to Reggae fans there. He will also hit stages in Madrid and Balencia by Sunday, May 13. Fyah’s latest single has taken over the radio airwaves and its video continues to rock TVs everywhere. The single has peaked at #1 on ER’s Top 10 video countdown and tops Richie B’s Top 30 Singles for the second consecutive week.


7th, Reggae on the River Music Festival
Henry Turner Jr. and Flavor and Cosmic Force will co-headline the 3rd Annual Reggae On The River with special guest performers Ricky Starr and Cat the Mystic, along with selected acts from the Vermont Reggae Festival and traditional blues, gospel, African, Caribbean reggae and world beat music acts, to be announced soon. This years’ theme for the two-day, family oriented event is ‘Irie Healing, One Love –Aiding Racial Harmony’. The festival will also feature cultural food presenters, Jamaican/African & Native American arts and crafts booths, plus an on and off site Irie One Love Reggae themed art gallery, as well as a spoken word, court vibing poetry and storytelling. For an additional treat WMPR's DJ Selector from Jackson, Mississippi, will be performing with other guest DJ’s. Pre and after parties are scheduled, in Natchez, at Bobby J's, Under the Hill Saloon and Different Accents. Admission is free, until 2pm, but in the spirit of love, a donation of $7.00 in cash or non-perishable food is appreciated. After 2 p.m. general admission/donation is $10.00, students and senior citizens $5.00, children 6 and under free at the gate, advance tickets $7.00. Donations benefit Feed the Hungry in Vidalia, Louisiana and The Stewpot in Natchez, Mississippi. The Festival will take place at the Vidalia Amphitheatre, located at 100 Front Street, Vidalia, Louisiana, from noon to midnight. Event producers are Ras Cathe’ and Henry Turner. To get tickets log on to www.brownpapertickets.com or call Ras Cathe’ at 225-993-5595, Henry Turner at 225-952-0784 or Joanna Ballard at 318-868-3840. Reggae On The River honours the 100- year-old tradition of marching from Vidalia, Louisiana to Natchez, Mississippi on Memorial Day, to honour the “Civil War Freedom Fighters” buried at Natchez Memorial Cemetery. This tradition was started by members of the Grand Army of the Republic, along with their Women’s Relief Corps organization.

Source: Tropicalfete.com


6th, Get Set For The Reggae Academy Awards In Jamaica - "We should control the destiny of Jamaica as creators and managers of the Jamaican music entity," remarked Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller during her keynote address at the historical launching of the Reggae Academy Awards. In support of the awards, she suggested to create a home-grown supermodel international music industry that will service the market and vowed to develop a State of the Art Cultural Performance Centre in Jamaica. Held Monday, April 23 at the Caribbean Business Club in New Kingston, the launch was hosted by eloquent Queen Mother Elise Kelly of Irie FM. The list of invited guests included many amongst the who's who in Jamaican society. Minister of Tourism, Aloun N’Doumbet Assamba, M.P. Babsy Grange and Minister of Entertainment Wicker McNeal were present, as well as many distinguished members of the music and media fraternity. Dubbed the Grammy's of Reggae Music, the Reggae Academy Awards has been described by founder, Lloyd Stanbury as "An international Reggae recording industry project that will recognize and celebrate the artistic achievements of talented musicians and singers. It will also recognize important, behind-the-scenes contributors such as producers, songwriters, engineers, and music video directors." The Reggae Academy Awards grew out of the Reggae Industry Academy Jamaica (RIAJam) that was founded in 2003 with the view of providing a vehicle for promotion as well as facilitating music business practitioners' upgrading of recorded music and music video products. RIAJam has a mission to raise the level of professionalism in the recording industry and return financial and other benefits to the Jamaican economy from music products released by locally based artists and music professionals in the global market. Slated to take place in February 2008, The Reggae Academy Awards will feature the granting of over 30 awards determined by votes of Reggae Academy members and two “Peoples Choice Awards" There will also be inductions of outstanding personalities into the Reggae Hall of Fame. A three day series of activities will take place which will include seminars, workshops, and business networking. The Reggae Academy Awards will be the first awards project to be based on nominations and voting, without regard to popularity, music sales or chart position. Voting will be made by members of an industry body, comprised of persons involved in the making and promotion of sound recordings. Membership to the Academy is open to all Reggae music industry practitioners around the world through an annual membership fee here.

Source: Yardflex.com


5th, Stephen Marley is Bob’s youngest son with Rita, and a young man who’s arguably better known for his production skills than as a singer after his work on Chant Down Babylon, and also tracks featuring his brother Damian, AKA Junior Gong. In terms of vocal style, he’s very close to his late father. In fact, there are two tracks on here that could easily pass for Wailers’ songs with their classic, but original, one-drop reggae grooves, namely Chase Dem, which inhabits the same lyrical territory as Crazy Baldheads, and Lonely Avenue, which describes the pain of being alone, and is one of several tracks on this album written about a failed relationship. More of that later, since it’s Traffic Jam everyone’s talking about as he and Damian bust some old school dancehall moves over catchy, beatbox riffing. Their deejaying on this track is like something Super Cat and Nicodemus were doing back in the mid-eighties, except this is no vain approximation of the ragamuffin style, but a brilliant, new adaptation of the same lyrical patterns, and expertly delivered.  Iron Bars, featuring Mr. Cheeks, Spragga Benz, and Julian Marley, is again more hip hop than reggae or dancehall, but funky all the same. It’s written from the viewpoint of a prisoner, incarcerated for life on account of speaking the truth. “Let me out, let me out, I’m an angry lion,” sings Stephen on the chorus, whilst the title track is radio-friendly to the max, and carries another sting in its tail as he accuses the government of trying to control our lives, and corrupt our souls. Songs like these are masterful compared to what’s being released in Jamaica, and yet Stephen’s lyrical remit is by no means confined to reality themes, despite his talent in that direction. He’s versatile musically too, and we get the sense that each track is build specially, to suit its individual mood.  Whereas You’re Gonna Leave is dark and atmospheric, Fed Up is a shuffle, and sung about a woman who’s unhappy about the way she’s been treated. A mournful flute and rippling, acoustic guitar adds to the pathos, whilst Hey Baby features a cameo appearance from Mos Def, and describes a man who leaves his woman in order to find himself. The lyrics are again self-absorbed, unlike those on Let Her Dance, which resemble a screenplay as he falls under the spell of a dancer. This song has a lively, Latin flavour, and co-stars Maya Azucena and Illestre. It’s lighter and brighter than many of the other tracks, but like his older brother Ziggy, Stephen is unafraid to express his innermost feelings and write from the soul. This is how it’s done in his family, so if there’s unhappiness in his life, it’s bound to surface in the choice of material.  Because of this, Mind Control isn’t a happy or joyous album, but a collection of songs voiced from somewhere real and deep inside of him, and in this age of manufactured music, that’s surely a blessing.

Source: Echoes Magazine, March 2007


4th, Tanto Metro and Devonte performed at the Razle Dazle Promotions' show at Elite Ark in Brooklyn, New York on Saturday, April 28. Also Beenie Man and Mr Vegas performed at the event. Tanto Metro and Devonte will attend and perform at DJ Epps' (of G-Unit, Shadyville DJ's, Warner Brothers Records and 103.5's The Beat) Birthday Bash on Tuesday, May 1 at the Oxygen Lounge in Coconut Grove, Miami. Tanto Metro & Devonte will perform their new track, 'MIA' done with DJ Epps, North and Agony and Smitty.  Tanto Metro & Devonte's Right By Your Side is on heavy rotation on Mystik 1400AM in South Florida.

Source: Tropicalfete.com

- April -

25th, Da'Ville off to England on promotional tour - Award winning and chart topping singer, Da'Ville headed off to England on Wednesday, April 25 on a promotional tour. The singer will be promoting his On My Mind album which is also expected to be released soon by VP Records. He will be doing several interviews and autograph signings among other productive things. Da'Ville is expected to visit radio stations such as Kiss FM, Galaxy FM, Radio 1 (BBC), 1xtra, (BBC), Choice FM, Vibes FM, Pyradio FM and Beat FM. He will also be making appearances on MTV, Base MTV, Bubble Hits, Chart Show and Channel U. Print media won't be left out of things as he will be making stops at Riddim, Pride, New Nation and Echoes magazines. The remix for the single On My Mind, done in collaboration with Sean Paul continues to extensive airplay on radio stations at home and abroad.

Source: Yardflex.com

18th, Dancehall group Voice Mail’s new album Let’s Go is scheduled to be released on April 18. The album boasts production work from the likes of Christopher ‘Langmann’ Birch, Donahue Riley, Donovan Bennett, Tony ‘CD’ Kelly, Delano Thomas from Renaissance, Rohan ‘Sno Cone’ Fuller, Nigel Staff and Danny Champagnie. ‘This is a more mature album from our previous album Hey. We put a lot of work and effort into this album and we are confident that our fans will be pleased with the finished product’, said Oneil Edwards, a member of Voice Mail. Let’s Go is the follow up to Voice Mail’s Japan gold selling disc Hey. It contains 18 tracks including songs such as I Need You, Clap Off, and Love. Voice Mail recently returned to the island after performing on two shows in Japan. The three member group also played to sold out shows in Antigua, St. Lucia and the Bahamas. On April 7, the group performed in Boston. In mid April the members will travel to the US East Coast for performances at three major colleges. Voice Mail currently has two songs making moves on the charts. They are Flash Yuh Finger on the Renaissance label’s Quick Draw Rhythm and Dancing Fever featuring Cool Face. The members of Voice Mail recently snapped up an endorsement deal with Prohibit clothing in Japan. The group was featured in advertisements last year for Bashco. Voice Mail is also one of the many entertainers featured in advertising campaigns for Cable and Wireless’ bmobile brand.

Source: Eurweb.
 

17, Stephen Marley’s Mind Control slam dunks its way to the top of the Billboard Reggae Album chart, With a first week sales burst of 20,000 copies, Mind Control, the debut album from Stephen Marley, debuts at the top of the Billboard Reggae album chart. The sales were strong enough to allow Marley to debut at number 35 on the big chart, the Billboard 200 pop album tally. Over on the Billboard R&B Hip Hop album listing, Mind Control debuts at number 18.

Let’s take a quick recap of the Marley siblings who have debuted on the Billboard album charts. Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers have six charted titles. The group’s 1988 debut album Conscious Party debuted and peaked at number 23 on the Billboard 200. The disc got as far as number 26 on the R&B album chart. Their follow up album, 1989’s One Bright Day debuted at number 26 on the Billboard 20, but stalled at number 43 on the R&B album listing.

In 1991, the group’s Jahmekya disc rose to number 63 on the Billboard 200, while their 1993 disc Joy and Blues topped out at number 178 on the Billboard 200 and number 75 R&B. Free Like We Wanna Be went to number 170 on the Billboard 200 in 1995 and number three Reggae album chart. 1997’s Fallen Is Babylon didn’t even pick up on the radar of any of the main album charts, but it got as far as number two on the Reggae album tally.

Grammy winner Ziggy Marley’s solo effort Spirit of Music reached number four on the Billboard Reggae album chart in the year 2000. But it was the album Dragon Fly which picked up some steam debuting at number 84 R&B and 138 Billboard 200. It reached number three on the Billboard Reggae album chart.

Julian Marley only turned up on the radar in 2003 when Time and Place stopped at number eight on the Reggae album listing.

Grammy nominee Ky-Mani Marley reached number seven on the Reggae album chart in the year 2000 with The Journey, while 2001’s Many More Roads which contained the hit single Dear Dad, reached number eight.

Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley has fared better than the other Marley siblings. His 2005 disc Welcome to Jamrock debuted and peaked at number 7 on the Billboard 200 and number four on the R&B album chart. The disc flew to the top of the Reggae album chart. By stark comparison, his sophomore set Half Way Tree reached number two on the Reggae album chart in 2001, while Mr. Marley which was released in 1997, peaked at number two on that same chart.

Buju, Bounty, Shaggy, Capleton, Matterhorn and Mavado to blaze at Memorial Weekend show in Miami

South Florida’s premier Caribbean music and lifestyle promotions company, Rocker’s Island has teamed up with Rebel Mix and Massive B promotions to stage the fourth annual Best of the Best concert. This takes place on Memorial Sunday, May 27 at Bicentennial Park in Downtown Miami. Confirmed performances include Buju Banton, Bounty Killer, Shaggy, Barrington Levy, Mavado, Capleton, Lady Saw, Tony Matterhorn, Bling Dawg, Daville, Jovi Rockwell, Collie Buddz, Shifta, Munga Honorebel, Trevor Off Key and Elephant Man. Best of the Best 2007 will be hosted by Wyclef Jean, Jabba and Bobby Konders and DJ Khaled, with co- hosts Jamusa, DJ Roy, Mikey Mike, 800-Bungie, Andrew D, Lady Terra, Papa Keith, Walshy Killa, and Supa Twitch.
 

Source: Eurweb.

15, The Greensleeves story - Of course, the three-decade history of Greensleeves records significantly pre-dates the above-referenced 1986 Tippa Irie single (one of, if not the first record from a reggae artiste to find national chart success in the UK) and neither does it end with Vybz Kartel's famous slang.

Vybz Kartel
But the two form a reasonable bracket to one of the most diverse and influential bodies of work - both commercially and artistically - in the annals of reggae music. Greensleeves began as a record shop in West Ealing, London, in November 1975. A move to the Shepherds Bush community two years later set the stage for the thriving record label as it is known today, with offices in both London (actually in Isleworth, Middlesex), and New York City (where the sales, promotion and much of the A&R work is handled).

Indeed Tippa Irie was not the mainstay of the label in its formative years, but a DJ with the unusual moniker of Dr Alimantado, whose album, Best Dressed Chicken In Town, was a runaway success and has never been out of print since. By 1980, the record shop had been eclipsed by the record label. Greensleeves quickly established an identity with acts that provide a continuity between those fledgling days and today: the first few albums included work by Augustus Pablo (the acclaimed Original Rockers album) and Barrington Levy, both of whom still appear on the label.

The emergent dancehall culture of the early '80s led Greensleeves to form mutually satisfying relationships with the late Henry 'Junjo' Lawes, the pioneering early ruler of the genre, and with singer/producer Linval Thompson. This period included dub releases from Scientist, vocal albums from the Wailing Souls, Freddie McGregor, Thompson and Don Carlos, and early works from Black Uhuru produced by Prince Jammy (he later became King Jammy), another Jamaican producer long associated with the label.

The mid-80s were a particularly strong time for the label, with virtually every reggae major recording for it in some degree or fashion. Among best-remembered highlights of the era are several albums from Eek-A-Mouse (including the classic Wa Do Dem), 10 albums from Yellowman (including his most famous, Zungguzungguguzungguzeng), Josey Wales' The Outlaw Josey Wales, Johnny Osbourne's Water Pumping, Junior Reid's debut, Boom Shack A Lack, and Frankie Paul's early success Pass The Tu-Sheng-Peng.

At the same time, the company continued to provide for the more traditional end of the reggae market with classic roots material like Hugh Mundell's Africa Must Be Free By 1983, Jacob Miller's Who Say Jah No Dread, Ras Michael's Rastafari and albums from Burning Spear, Ini Kamoze, Augustus Pablo and Israel Vibration. An eight-year period of home-grown productions reached its peak with Tippa Irie's UK Top 30 hit Hello Darlin' in 1986. Other Greensleeves UK acts to score heavily were Pato Banton, whose Secret Thunderbird Drinker remains a cult classic, and reggae-rapping duo Clint Eastwood & General Saint who were highly successful with Another One Bites The Dust (nine weeks at Number one in the UK reggae charts) and Stop That Train (Number three in the national charts in Holland).

Greensleeves was quick to embrace the new digital music from 1986 onwards, issuing Wayne Smith's Under Me Sleng Teng, the record that started it all. In 1988 Gregory Isaacs' Rumours single (a Gussie Clarke production) was the best-selling reggae record of 1988 and created a new hi-tech raggamuffin genre all on its own. For the next two years, Clarke's productions on records by Isaacs, JC Lodge, Dennis Brown, Home T, Cocoa Tea, Shabba Ranks, and Greensleeves' own signing, Deborahe Glasgow, dominated both the label and the reggae world.

For several years, Greensleeves licensed the leading American reggae label RAS, with releases from Black Uhuru (including a UK Top 50 entry for Great Train Robbery), Freddie McGregor and Israel Vibration. It continued to distribute the RAS label, and in addition provided UK/European distribution for other leading US reggae labels -- Heartbeat, Shanachie and VP -- for a number of years until deciding to concentrate on its own Greensleeves label in the late '90s. A world music series, including three albums from Zouk masters Kassav, came out in the late '80s. In the early '90s, the NYC connection deepened and productions like Shaggy's career-launching cover of the Folkes Brothers' Oh Carolina reached the UK Number one slot in March 1993. The single also reached the Top 10 in Holland and Belgium on the Greensleeves label.

The mid-90s also saw an involvement with the fast-rising 'new roots' scene in the UK through releases for the legendary sound system figure Jah Shaka and newcomers Alpha & Omega, and also some of the toughest productions to emerge from the UK ragga-jungle scene (now collected on two mid-price compilations).

Strong relationships with most of Jamaica's top producers has continued to allow Greensleeves the pick of the very best music from the island, including productions by King Jammy, Shocking Vibes, Jack Scorpio, Steely & Clevie, Startrail, and Bobby Digital. Highlights have included albums by Bounty Killer (including 1997's highly successful Ghetto Gramma), Garnett Silk's Lord Watch Over Our Shoulders (1995), Beenie Man's Maestro, Mykal Rose's Nuh Carbon and Beres Hammond's Lifetime Guarantee (all 1996).  Compilation albums increased significantly in importance during the '90s, and Greensleeves has established two of the leading compilation series -- its mid-price Sampler series of more accessible reggae, and its Ragga Ragga Ragga series of hardcore dancehall.

A recent development has been a merging of roots lyrics with modern ragga rhythms, which are showcased on the compilation series Conscious Ragga, and on albums from artistes such as Everton Blender, Anthony B, Bushman, Morgan Heritage, and Sizzla.

The label also helped to bring Sizzla Kalonji to wider attention, beginning with the classic Black Woman & Child (released to massive critical acclaim in 1997) and its successors, Royal Son Of Ethiopia (1999), Bobo Ashanti (2000) and Rastafari Teach I Everything (2001).

The label also brought pop success to Beenie Man with his smash, Who Am I (Zim Zimma) which stormed on to the UK national charts at Number 10 in 1998. Following this, dancehall sensation Mr Vegas proved himself a cross-over success: his debut album, Heads High, became one of the label's best-selling single artiste albums, the title track reaching Number 16 in the UK pop charts in 1999 after his MOBO award success that year.

The annual Biggest Ragga Dancehall Anthems series of double-CD collections each year has recently been supplemented by its first retrospective Anthems release, covering the 1979-82 period and entitled The Birth of Dancehall. On the publishing side, Greensleeves has published 10 Top 20 hits in the UK in the last 10 years, including two Number ones, and Greensleeves Publishing has now developed far beyond its original subsidiary role to the record label. With a well-established network of sub-publishers throughout the world, it has become a substantial business in its own right, currently handling over 12,000 songs, including two recent Top 20 hits in the Billboard Hot 100 in the USA.  The new millennium saw the emergence of the charismatic Elephant Man, whose first three albums on the label have been among the company's biggest successes recently. Greensleeves also signed Ward 21, as well as Vybz Kartel, whose debut album for the label was released late 2003.

The other recent development on the label has been the success of the Greensleeves Rhythm Album series, meeting the ever-present demand of hardcore reggae fans to own all the cuts on the best new rhythms by releasing them on a single album. Number 27 in the series, Diwali, produced by Steven 'Lenky' Marsden, even crossed out of the base market to reach the sort of sales figures normally only achieved by top artiste albums in the genre and spawned the recent Wayne Wonder hit, No Letting Go.

Now, with the A&R base shifted to New York, Greensleeves is again in a period of reinvention, one which the relatively new A&R head Dan Kuster hopes will coincide with a reinvention of its principal genres. "We're essentially starting from scratch, we're in search of new talent, and personally, I'd like to see new energy in the business, and I believe the market as a whole wants that too, "Kuster told the Observer in a phone interview.

Part of that search for renewal has led to a collaboration with this year's season of Digicel Rising Stars, launched this past week in Kingston. The winner of this year's competition will have two singles recorded with Greensleeves, one of which will be accompanied by a music video. The label is also currently in talks with other acts, Kuster says, but "nothing that we're ready to announce as yet". On the distribution side, recognising the shift towards digital media, Greensleeves has signed a global agreement with leading digital distribution outfit, The Orchard.

Kuster, whose own background dealing in 7" reggae singles, helped prepare him to assume his current position ("when I was approached, I was winding down my own business and looking to get more involved on the creative side") says it's still early days for the digital distribution of reggae but acknowledges that the music scene is rapidly heading in that direction. Still, Greensleeves remains focussed on its history.

To celebrate its 25th Anniversary in 2000, the label re-released 25 classic titles from its catalogue, remastered, and repackaged. This Greensleeves Classics series has been continued with further re-releases on a regular basis.

Five years on, the company plans to continue the trend, and is scheduled to re-release some 50 of the more classic items in the catalogue, many of which are appearing in the CD format for the first time. But no doubt, Greensleeves, like other labels, will have to continue to walk the line, maintaining the bridge to the past while looking clearly towards the future.

Source: Jamaica Observer.
 

5th, Today Reggae Portugal makes his 6th aniversary (officially speaking). Nuff thanks to everyone that have contributed to maintain alive this project. MAXIMUM RESPECT !

- March -

30th, Stanley Beckford, the legendary mento artiste from Jamaica died this Friday.

20th, Richie Spice: In the Streets to Africa (VP)
Jamaican singer Richie Spice approaches dancehall music from a vastly different angle than most of his peers. Despite growing up in the rough parish of St. Andrew, Spice's smooth vocals and delicate songwriting stand in stark contrast to most of the soundbwoy fi dead shit-talk now proliferating throughout the reggae ranks.

On his newest disc, In the Streets to Africa, Spice sings passionate love songs to both women and youth in an effort to bring healing music to the masses. His radio-friendly tune Youth Dem Cold is easily the best song on this album, and it speaks directly to the causes of violence in Jamaica.

The romantic ditty Brown Skin is another standout song, both for its lyrical content and smooth vocals that somehow remain within the reggae canon and don't cross over into R&B territory.

Coincidentally, Spice is also the younger brother of Pliers, who co-wrote the dancehall classic Murder She Wrote, so musical talent runs in his blood. There are times when some of the love crooning grows monotonous, and it's easy to tune out around the halfway mark of this disc and wait for the radio-ready tracks like Motherland Calling to wake you up again. But the Rastafarian nyabinghi drums on that song are so slow and crisp, they remind you of a simpler time in reggae, when violence and misogyny weren't so prevalent.

Source: Miami New Times

18th, Reggae artist Bunny Wailer will headline the 2007 Kolohe Festival

It took Bunny Wailer more than three decades to make his Hawaii debut. This weekend, the surviving member of the Wailers, returns to Oahu, just 2 1/2 years after performing at the Waikiki Shell. He'll headline the 2007 Kolohe Festival with Steel Pulse and Midnite last Friday, March 2 and Saturday, March 3 at Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park.

The Star-Bulletin caught up with Wailer last week in Southern California, where he was on tour.

Question: You were just here in 2004. Do you have any thoughts on that experience?

Answer: It was the first time there, and it was good. The people of Hawaii seem to be very turned on to reggae music. It was really interesting.

Q: Did you have a chance to listen to any local reggae bands? What do you think of Hawaii artists using fake Jamaican accents when they perform?

A: I listen briefly, but not a lot because I was on the move. (The accent) all depends on how the individual feels about it.

Somehow, Jamaica's language is a little different. ... All we have to do is realize that with reggae, everyone is going to be interested in what comes out of Jamaica. That's why Americans are trying to imitate Jamaicans talking.

Q: Last year, you performed in Las Vegas alongside Ziggy and Stephen Marley. Then earlier this year, you played at Smile Jamaica with Julian, Ky-Mani, Damian and Stephen Marley. What was it like sharing the stage with the offspring of one of your oldest friends?

A: Well, you know, Bob isn't here. Someone has to be here for these youths to give them the direction that is necessary as they mature into this music.

It's good to know that I'm still here, as their uncle, to be here for them and make sure they're going in the right direction ... and also to be supportive in the areas of their development, musically and otherwise.

It's a duty and a responsibility as it's a privilege, so I gotta make sure I do the right thing about it.

Q: Does it ever bother you that Bob Marley continues to be a driving force in reggae music, while your own work might not receive all the attention it rightfully deserves?

A: See, it's not my music. It's Rastafari's music. And Rastafari inspire whoever is in his power and his will to do so. So if I'm here, it's because of the will of the most high.

It's like watering a tree that's already been planted. If it's been planted where it can mature into bearing fruit, then it's good to know you're watering such a tree. ...

We know that it's an appreciated thing when we see trees grow. ... That's where we get the seeds to grow the next generation.

Q: When you started your career in the 70's, a lot of musical influence came from America. Now it seems as if America is looking toward Jamaica for influence.

A: Back then, we had to be taking in the music that came from the U.K. and the United States. They made a difference in our time, when we didn't have a music of our own. It enhanced us in putting together our own music.

The reggae music is related to so many other music of the world. It's attracted the other cultures and the artists where we see a lot of people are turned on to reggae. It's going further than we ever expected.

From Peter (Tosh), we see Andrew Tosh. From Bob Marley, we see all his sons coming from his genes. And from Bunny Wailer, I've got my daughter coming soon, Cen-C Wailer.

Q: Your daughter is planning to release an album?

A: Yes, called Contagious.

Q: Don't you have a new album, Cross Culture, due out soon?

A: That's one of three albums, actually. Cross Culture is dealing with trying to go over into the other music cultures, to let it be seen and be known that we're familiar with (them).

And then there's one called Unite. I want to see if I can bring especially the Jamaican people together in a unified fashion based on the problems that we have in the political sense of things.

And then there's one called Rub-A-Dub, which is the dancehall situation. I want to try to make sure I give some direction to the dancehall, as now the dancehall has been somewhat revolutionized into where people are not dancing with partners anymore.

They're all finished. But I've not actually been dealing with the distributors as such. I'm trying to see if I can re-establish my catalog in a way that I'm in control.

Q: Do you still have issues with others making money off your earlier recordings?

A: Yeah, well ... somewhat. We've been on top of it, so it's becoming less and less of a problem. ... If (my album) is going to be distributed by any organization, then it's gotta be something that's totally in control by Solomonic Productions.

Q: Any last words for your fans in Hawaii?

A: It's always good to know that the reggae family group just keeps growing. It's also good to know that I'm here to give whatever of me that I can give in this constant growth of reggae music.

I'm proud that I'm still here and that I'm strong enough to deliver the message that people would expect from the surviving Wailer. Source: Star Bulletin

17th, Nadine Sutherland, Eight76 Prep For Big Tingz
Jamaican artist Nadine Sutherland has just wrapped shooting on the music video for her newest hit single Big Tingz from her upcoming album Call My Name on Eight76 Records (in stores Tuesday, April 3). The upbeat single was released to radio earlier this month, and has quickly become a staple at reggae radio in South Florida and is picking up steam all over the Caribbean. Shot on location at the beautiful Negril Escape resort in Negril, Jamaica the video is directed by Michelle Barnes (Red Rat's Crying For My People and Macka Diamond's Bun Him) of Mad Multimedia Productions and choreographed by local dancers Erica Allen, Anika Thomas, and Nakoy Asher. Every member of the cast and crew was local, from the stylists to the set auditors. Eight76 Records exec Myshjua Archibald flew down to oversee the shoot and was thrilled with the results. "The talent in Jamaica always blows me away. There is so much brilliance there, both aesthetically and creatively, and I get excited just watching these young people express themselves. Very professional as well - we came in on schedule and under budget." The video showcases several facets of Nadine and will premiere in early March. Some photos and out-takes from the shoot will be available on the Eight76 website and their myspace page, but don't expect to see too much. "We don't want to spoil the effect of the premiere by giving away too much beforehand", says Archibald. Sutherland will also perform the song at several of the official events planned for the 2007 World Cup Cricket series taking place Monday, March 5 through Saturday, April 28. After several years out of the musical spotlight, Nadine's profile has stepped up in a major way since hooking up with Eight76 Records a little more than a year ago. The association has already produced two hit singles, Keep Me Safe and Cyan Tek It (featuring Chrisinti) and both label and artist promise that the best is yet to come. Big Tingz is a significant choice for the first single from the album. Written by Nadine and producer Kenroy 'YahBreeze' Archibald, the song was the first track recorded specifically for the new album. "I work with a lot of different producers, and YahBreeze is definitely one of my favorites," says Nadine. "I always write, and the vibe and connection was there instantly with us. I immediately wanted to do more songs. We worked together the whole way."  Nadine is also credited as a co-producer on the album. For the next two months, preview music will be available on both Nadine's myspace page and the label's page. There will also be snippets on their distributor's website, CED Entertainment Distribution. "We are excited and proud to be working with Eight76 Records and Nadine Sutherland on Call My Name," said CEO Steve Lane. "This album is great, and the label continues to impress me with their hard work and integrity as well as talent." Source: Yardflex.com

16th, 'Bad Gal meets Classy' - Bad Gal Cecile Props New Look and Sound For '07'

Bad Gal Cecile is styled with a new look and sound for 2007. The diva told YardFlex.com in an interview that she just got back from the 26th Anniversary Ragga Muffin Festival in Long Bay Beach, California. "I know people haven't seen me on the local scenes for a while but I am actually been doing a lot of overseas work and a lot of collaborations. There is a new video out called Take it off which features Smujii from Abood Music in London, also there is an album set to be release in March called Matadore, which features Jamaican artistes along side reggaeton artistes, this will be release under EMI Latino/Dangerzone Latino label. Ce'cile as the only Jamaican female artiste on this album strikes a maximum of two collaborations.  Apart from that fans can be on the look for a 'killer' collaboration with Ce'cile, Bounty killer alongside The French Universal recording artiste Lord Kossity. Throughout Cecile's career she has never had an album, but her songs were featured on both Lady Saw and Sean Paul's album to name a few. However, for 2007 she is currently working on albums for the Japan and North American territories. YardFlex caught up with Ce'Cile just when she was applying the finishing touches on her Japan debut album which features songs like Goody (Wipe Out) on the Dangerzone label, Talk Talk produced by Cordel 'Skatta' Burrel along with others. For her North American album she plans to remake some of her songs from the time of her entry in the business. "I plan to take everything that I've already done in dancehall so as to upgrade it. This is so because people don't know most of these songs, it's old to the Jamaicans but new to the US market also a European album is in the making. "I'm getting back in the mix now with some local productions, there is a new riddim out called Jamdown which is on the Dangerzone label, I have two songs on the riddim Waiting and Jamdown". Jamdown was done for Jamaica, I have never written or done a song about my country, everywhere I go people always say why you live in that country, isn't is full of violence? But I plan to tell them it's not about violence but the nicer side that awaits you." The Bad Gal has 'upgraded' her look to a classy Cecile. She explains that for 2007 she wanted a new look to go with her new sound, she has grown in the business and so this look shows maturity. Her new sound is interesting when you hear her; Cecile has a mix of hip hop and rock mixed with dancehall. When she came on the scene she was only singing, but for 2007 it is a revolutionized sound. You can listen out for a remixed version of Wickedest time a wen di rain start fall, featuring Hitlist, new collaborations and video shoots. Source: Yardflex.com

13th, Sean Paul does the Caribbean big!
Dancehall superstar heads to the Caribbean to suffice his “longing for his Caribbean people.” This is Sean Paul’s first Caribbean tour since 2003.

“I wanted to perform in my home market as I have been busy spreading the message across the world.”

Sean Paul is also appearing at the opening ceremony for ICC Cricket World Cup at the Trelawny Multipurpose Stadium on Sunday, March 11. “I am proud to be a part of the opening ceremony not only because an event like this has never been held in the Caribbean, but because it is being held in Jamaica,” commented an enthusiastic Paul. In addition, this event will be the third largest television sporting audience, in the world. Sean Paul was recently nominated for 9 International Reggae and World Music Awards. The categories he is being considered for, includes: Bob Marley Award for Entertainer of the Year, Recording Artiste/ Group of the Year, Best Song (for Temperature), Best Crossover Song (for Temperature and Give It Up To Me which features Keyshia Cole, Break It Off by Rihanna), Best Hip Hop Entertainer, Best Music Video (for Temperature) and Songwriter of the Year. The 26th International Reggae and World Music Awards, by Martin's International and Associates, is scheduled for Saturday, May 5 returns to Harlem's World Famous Apollo Theatre, in New York City.

5th, Ask Stephen and Damian Marley your questions during MTVU Spring Break!
It’s that time again when fans are asked to submit their questions for Stephen and Damian Marley as MTVU will be shooting with them while they’re performing at Spring Break. Fans can visit this link, and email in their questions for these Marley brothers. These questions should be submitted by Thursday, March 8. As always, MTVU pick the best fan questions, and then ask them to the artistes during their interviews. Some will make it into the feature and the rest will be packaged into bonus content to live on mtvU.com.

3th, Morgan Heritage takes to the road from Canada To USVI.
Family Reggae Band, Morgan Heritage, is once again taking to the road. With the heat on the streets from their new song, Brooklyn To Jamaica, and an impressive catalogue of hit songs, Morgan Heritage will perform in North America (Canada, United States) before heading to Antigua and the US Virgin Islands. The tour kicked off Sunday, February 18 in Long Beach, California and ends on Saturday, March 31 in St. Thomas, USVI.

- February -

26th, Billion-dollar lawsuit for Beenie - Songwriter claims unpaid royalties by Krista Henry and Teino Evans, Staff Reporters

Dancehall entertainer Moses Davis a.k.a 'Beenie Man' is about to be in the hot seat again. The artiste is about to be sued for royalty rights for the shocking sum of ?10 million (JA$1.31billion).

Songwriter Michael 'Rasta Voice' Morgan claims to have written over 30 songs for Beenie Man including some of his major earlier hits such as Memories, Blessed Be Thy Name, Healer, Murderer, and Which One, among others.

Blessed Be Thy Name spent five weeks in the number one position in Jamaica, and Launch From My Father Pump Rifle spent a total of nine weeks in the number one spot on the U.K. Reggae Chart.

Morgan claims that though these songs became the basis for the launch of Beenie Man's Grammy Award winning career, he has not received the required royalties.

Morgan, a well-known song-writer, signed a contract with the United Kingdom-based Per-forming Rights Society (PRS), in March 1995 and entered into a five-year contract to write songs for Shocking Vibes Production.

Attorney-at-Law Conrad Powell, practitioner of the law office of Conrad Powell, contacted THE STAR recently on behalf of his client Michael Morgan. He told The STAR: "We're about to sue Beenie Man, also Shocking Vibes, Patrick Roberts individually, Beenie Man's Shocking Vibes music company and Dubplate Music, which is an administrator of Shocking Vibes. We're suing for ?10 million."

According to Powell, the lawsuit (which will be filed within the next two weeks) will be suing for copyright infringement, breach of the writer's rights associated with compositions, and breach of contract action with respect to reporting and accounting of royalties.

"My client has been with them for 10 years and has done about 30 songs, all recorded by Beenie Man," Powell said.

"There has been minimal royalties (de minimus). He had legal contracts with Shocking Vibes music which have been cancelled. We have strong hard evidence. My client has a lot of personal issues that he needs to attend to. He hasn't gotten royalties, his family has been stressed and we're hoping they make good," Powell said.

Augustus 'Gussy' Clarke, who is the CEO of Dub Plate Music Publishers, says: "We are not the publishers for Beenie Man, we are the sub-publishers for Shocking Vibes and any and all copyright information was submitted to us by Shocking Vibes and we act on behalf of Shocking Vibes and their writers."

He further commented: "I am aware of his claim and we have researched it and our information and data base reflect that he was credited as a writer of these songs and further to that and to the best of my knowledge, he was signed to Shocking Vibes as a writer. So we are like a middle man and we have honoured all our obligations to Shocking Vibes Music in relation to their writers and catalogue of work."

Morgan, who has been a registered writer from 1992, says he has known Beenie Man for years since the two were teenagers. He says he made attempts to confront Beenie, but the issue was not fully dealt with.

"I've spoken to Beenie Man. He used to live wid me for like six-seven years. I talk to him bout it but not in depth cause it would have caused conflict. They haven't been giving me royalties every three months, sometimes all five or six months later I get paid. 1999 was the last slip I received," he said.

"I was getting very embarrassing figures like JA$7,000 to JA$11,000. Its difficult to say the exact amount I should be getting, but it's at least US$200,000-$300,000 and that's multiplied by 30 songs," Morgan claims.

Morgan says that he has vigorously tried talking to Patrick Roberts but to no avail. "I went to Patrick Roberts and he said my contract bun up."

However, when contacted, Patrick Roberts, head of Shocking Vibes Limited, claims he knows nothing of the claim.

"I know nothing of that, the claims have to be first verified between himself and Beenie Man and to my knowledge those songs were done over a 12-year period. Beenie has his publishing company and it is not Shocking Vibes. There is a chain of command and the first chain is to deal with Beenie Man and find out the real authenticity of the claim and then it comes to us. We are only the administrator of Dub Plate Music," Patrick Roberts told The STAR.

However, Powell says he has been in discussion with Clyde McKenzie, co-owner of Shocking Vibes. "We've spoken to Clyde McKenzie. The response at one point was that he was interested in settling but they have been evading and no more response has come from that camp."

Patrick Roberts, however, said: "We have no statements here for him. (Morgan) I can't tell the last time I saw his name on a statement. And those songs, dem only play now and then - but first and foremost, he has to find Beenie Man and settle whatever claims."

Efforts were made to contact Beenie Man but were unsuccessful up until press time.

20th, Vegas' New Videos a 'Teck' Life
Vegas' two singles Nuh Friend From Dem and Teck Whey Yuhself are tearing up the dancehall scene right now.t The catchy beat and infectiousness of the songs seem to lull listeners and have them caught up in the addictive groove. The lately released videos for these songs are something else! Director J Will shows creativity, ingenuity and it wasn't hard to see the raw talent shining through. In Nuh Friend From Dem, the director moves away from the traditional skinny girls gyrating away and instead creates an intriguing Vegas decked out in his outlaw outfit, taking that slow deliberate walk to face off with his rival in a classic western duel to the death! Kudos to the directing team on this one. Teck Whey Yuhself moves away from all that drama and captures every nuance of the dancehall as the Ravers Clavers Dancers danced up a storm. There is no ignoring the lure of this catchy song and the dancers keep you on your toes.

16th, King Jammy puts dancehall in its place By Jonathan Cunningham|Brandon K. Thorp|Cole Haddon

Dancehall music is in a state of crisis. Violence and gun-talk rule the scene while peace and love is nowhere to be found. Most longtime admirers of the genre are fed up, but those who created the genre hate it even more. A man like King Jammy, who helped pioneer the digital evolution that's been a part of dancehall for the past 25 years, is tired of all the fuckery and isn't afraid to speak out about it. He's produced loads of hit songs during his career, and he's currently rereleasing them as a weapon to help win back reggae's soul. A massive compilation of his work, Selector's Choice Vol. 1-4, just hit the streets, and the eight discs of music here are serious. We decided to check in with King Jammy down in Jamaica to see what a-gwan.

Imitation is the highest form of flattery.

Subject(s): King Jammy Outtakes: What's motivated you to stay in the reggae business for so long?

King Jammy: Well, the more you make hit songs, it's like pouring gasoline in the tank. It's fuel. And it's all the encouragement I need to keep producing more and more records.

Where was your head when you decided to put together your newest compilation?

Well, Johnny Wonder and myself got together and decided we need to do something to bring back the whole reggae business, 'cause it was going astray. So we decided to take all the hits from the '80s and '90s, chose the tracks carefully. And here it is.

But what about the ultracompetitive nature of dancehall right now? Are things in Jamaica getting out of hand?

Well, some of it is good, but a lot of the artists are taking things too far. When they have a clash, they take it personal and take it out of hand. Their lyrical content is not even accepted internationally. The artists need to make some changes within themselves. They need to have fun and not take it so personal.

Speaking of reggae beefs, how do you feel about the never-ending war of words between Beenie Man and Bounty Killer? Have you had enough?

I'm fed up with it. You have other DJs, Mavado and all of them, that start that type of behavior as well. It's not good for the business. They're taking it too far.

What can be done to turn things around?

The culture is not being brought out the right way right now, and that's why I'm starting to produce new material with Ras Shiloh and Ninja Man — to show the youths that you can still make good music. Plus, culturewise, you have some very good new artists, but they're not getting a chance.

Can you envision yourself retiring from reggae?

Retire? King Jammy will never stop producing. I'll always be on the scene. — Jonathan Cunningham

15th, Lady Saw Get's Ready To Walk Out new album, Walk Out is set to hit stores on Tuesday, April 17.

The album is the final of the VP Records label but the Grammy winning artist still remains true to her sexually empowering, no-holds bar dancehall lyrics, but she is entering the next chapter of life and is ready to address those often-ignored and important issues for females. Lady Saw opens up about her personal struggles with infertility on No Less Than A Woman, the inspirational hit swarming the airwaves of Jamaica and beyond. She talks about the media hype, stigmas attached and how she overcomes these battles. World's Prettiest is another uplifting ballad that rejects all idealistic beauty standards and reiterates the importance of beauty within. "I'm in love with this one, it's hot in every way" says the 30 something St. Mary's native in a delightful British seasoned Jamaican accent. "I'm singing about a lot more positive things and revealing a side of me that people never knew I had." Lady Saw, born Marion Hall, remains true to her raunchy sexual ego, while demonstrating a mature, not often explored, emotional side that ultimately authenticates her diversity as a musician. - Hardbeatnews.com

12th, Grammy for Ziggy - Reggae star wins fourth award published:

Ziggy Marley … previously won Grammys in 1988, 1989 and 1997. - File. The eldest son of icon, Bob Marley, proved his mettle when he beat four other nominees to take the Best Reggae Album award at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards which honoured the music industry's finest at the Staples Center in Los Angeles last night.  Ziggy Marley's album, Love is My Religion, a Tuff Gong Worldwide offering and the artiste's second solo studio album, won ahead of the four other nominees: Sly and Robbie, Buju Banton, British reggae band UB40 and Matisyahu Miller, an Hasidic Jew from the United States.

Expanded focus

The album is viewed as an expansion of the personal, social and political themes explored in the 38-year-old Marley's debut CD entitled Dragonfly. On Love is My Religion, Marley is the album's songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer. The album was released on July 4, 2006 and is currently being sold exclusively through Target.  The now four-time winner told The Gleaner recently that the album holds special meaning.  "This record is the first independent record that I own fully and growing up that was a dream of my father because record companies always take a big chunk," he said. He explained that he came up with the concept for the album through a conversation with a woman. "She was Catholic and when she asked me what was my religion I said 'love is my religion' and when I said these words, there was a burning in me and I knew that was it," he said.

9th, The man who thinks he's larger than life the title of the Taurian's first album formerly introduced Omar Riley a.k.a Taurus Riley into the music industry in 2001. The name Taurus Riley originated from him being ruled under the sign Taurus and the style he first came on the scene with, his friends said he fired musical shots with the fast pace that he would deejay, both were combined hence the name Taurus Riley. The new musical sensation got hands on experience from his dad Jimmy Riley who is a veteran in the music fraternity, he shared, that life was always in the studio and traveling with his dad and so he was exposed to the music and to other veterans which he looks up to such as Beres Hammond and instrumentalist Dean Frazer. At age ten, he started fooling around with different instruments and just created a vibe vocally; his mother was his motivator as she insisted on him to pursue his talent, his father was also adamant but mainly his mother. What you see is what you get from the musical sniper as his career did not take off as he would have wanted but some how he says he fired a musical bullet which connected in April of 2006. He describes the feeling to be overwhelming as he didn't expect such a great response to his music. He shares that he tries to make his music to empower people and to uplift.
His hit single Stay with You which brought him on the scene was doomed to be a chart topper for him. He said he visited his heart for another hit because Stay with you was not an original, however his old track Larger than life from his first album was reintroduced and the love is overwhelming. BeWare is another track that is conscious and is well received across the airwaves both locally and internationally. The introduction to his 15 track album Parables produced under Dean Frazer Canon Production was launched in the heat of his career. On Saturday, October 21, 2006, fans were introduced to the musical shooter as they saw how well he used words emphatically. He explains that Parables the name of the album had to be used because of the versatility and creativity he displayed. Parables is also a track on the album, he states that “the nursery rhymes, we grew up on has meaning behind them, therefore I saw the need to play with the nursery rhymes a little to educate the youths of some of these things we face each day. For example the three blind mice... Are the big guys that put price on the rice". In other tracks he speaks on humanitarian topics such as bleaching, the lack of jobs and racism still being exercised in our societies. From talks with VP Records the distributors of the album, it is well received both here and abroad. Taurus expresses the love and respect he has been receiving from his fans.  Throughout all, his recognition and achievements he maintains his goal in music, which is not to preach to people but to uplift youths and to increase peace and love in societies.

7th, Da'Ville Releases New Album
The smooth sounds of Lover’s Rock, Dancehall and R&B are carefully orchestrated on Da‘Ville’s upcoming album On My Mind, released by VP Records on Tuesday, March 27. The singer/songwriter is holding the reins and steering his sound into a fresh direction. As the new lover’s rock icon of his generation, Da’Ville has planted the seed in his native country Jamaica with a string of #1 hits and is branching out into international markets with these breakout smashes (also featured on his new album). Lead single, Can’t Get Over You, took Jamaica by storm and immediately charted to #1 spot this past summer. The smash was within the top ten reggae countdown in Jamaica, held #1 position in Aruba and #2 position in New York. Then the title track of his new album, On My Mind, held the #1 spot on the RE Reggae Charts in Jamaica for almost two months before his newer singles, like This Time I Promise began to pop up and take precedence. Beyond Jamaica, On My Mind, became the most requested songs in Italy and now is generating a buzz in the U.S, showing up on urban as well alternative radio stations, like WLLD-FM Tampa, KDLD-FM Los Angeles, WBLS-FM New York, KVGS-FM Las Vegas, WHQT-FM Miami, WWCD-FM Columbus, OH, and XTRA-FM San Diego. Da’Ville blends an old-school flavor reminiscent to the legends while adding a youthful and vibrant spin on his upcoming album, On My Mind. Whether he is pleading for forgiveness on tunes like This Time I Promise, expressing a woman’s worth on the charming ballad On My Mind, or having his heart held captive on the smash Cant Get Over You, Da’Ville masters the art of love and persuasion. With sweet vocals, strong songwriting skills and a production team consisting of Da’ville, as well as, O. Thomas and J. Brown of Fashozy Records, this lovely album plans to break untapped ground and open new doors for this ‘Big Bad Singer,’ Da’Ville.

5th, Stephen Marley Naturally in control

When the initial Smile Jamaica concert took place, Stephen Marley was just a small boy, so its little wonder he has no direct frame of reference for it.

Now, inside a small townhouse, tucked away in the recesses of the iconic Hope Road property that his father established, first as Tuff Gong, Stephen Marley emerges - his own son in tow - from a room on the upper level.

Downstairs, brother Damian, better known to the world as Jr Gong is rehearsing tracks with a band, and his other brother Julian has gone out for some undetermined purpose.
Stephen doesn't look at first as if its a good time for him to be interviewed anyway - not tired but wary.

But by the time we get across to the office on the opposite side of the 56 Hope Road driveway, he's opened up quite a bit.

Tension, at least of a creative type, is one of the hallmarks of Stephen's career. Its his management of that creative tension that has yielded stellar results, including the Chant Down Babylon disc which, with its skilful blend of his father's lyrics and hip-hop beats and MCs, went where his father had never gone in terms of attracting Black Americans. He's arguably best known for being the production force behind the success of brother Damian's two albums, Half Way Tree and Welcome To Jamrock, the latter which earned two Grammys.

The latest development is the release of his own album as a lead act, Mind Control, full of some of the same percolating rhythms that sparked his brother's worldwide success, and featuring guest spots from Damian as well as DJ Spragga and from their friends in the hip-hop community.

"Well, music is just a natural ting for me," he said in response to whether there were different considerations in making this album than the others he has produced. "So it don't really present any ting different or special."

The album was actually completed some time ago, but its release was delayed, ostensibly to allow Damian's burgeoning career to achieve further lift.

Not that he's ever cast himself in the 'star' mold, but Stephen Marley is - in his own way, and at his own pace - handling the responsibilities of being out front - not just behind the boards or as part of a group, as he was with the Melody Makers, with his other siblings including Ziggy, who has also forged a solo career in recent years.

The family, is anticipating this weekend's (Saturday, February 10) reprisal of the Smile Jamaica concert, a symbolic homecoming of sorts in Bob Marley's birthplace of Nine Miles, St Ann, but as Stephen explains, this event shares only a name with it's predecessor.

"This really is us just celebrating our father's works on his birthday, and really honouring what he was about, just giving of ourselves to the people," he said. Up to press time, the line-up did not include elder brother Ziggy, but Stephen said they had spoken and that an appearance by Ziggy was probable, if not likely.

Another sibling on the bill is Ky-mani, who has hopscotched between recordings and a film career (he was featured in the original version of the film Shottas, as well as on the soundtrack, and was the lead in One Love). Stephen, back on familiar territory, has been producing a forthcoming album from Ky-mani who, to this point, is best known musically for his ode, Dear Dad.

But its just another day-or night-at the office for Stephen Marley, as he prepares to join the heady atmosphere back in the rehearsal room. Asked if on the approach of his father's birthday, there was a particular abiding memory, he replies. "Anything that put me in mind of my father, that is a strong memory. We livin' what laid down and he always with us."

Source: Jamaica Observer.

- January -

31st, Remembering the 'Crown Prince' at 50 By Basil Walters Observer staff reporter

Tomorrow, February 1, the song Children Of Israel by the late Dennis Emmanuel Brown (who would have turned 50 on that date) will be brought into sharper focus as it takes on greater significance.

On that occasion, The Dennis Brown Trust, along with several organisations, will host a health fair and outreach programme at the late singer's alma mater, Central Branch All-Age School, to assist children at risk. The trust currently provides school supplies on a yearly basis as well as sponsors the school feeding programme and supports the school's overall initiatives. This year, the annual Dennis Emmanuel Brown Bursary also provided academic scholarships for 25 students.

The late Dennis Brown, known as the Crown Prince of Reggae.

"Basically, we're going to concentrate on outreach. Something that can benefit the schoolchildren and something that can benefit their parents," chairperson for the Dennis Brown Trust Joan Higgins, told the Observer.

She said the principal of the school has always been seeking counselling for grieving children, because their location is prone to crime and violence and the experiences that they are faced with on an everyday basis.

"So this year, the Dennis Brown Trust in collaboration with a number of organisations, including Caribbean Graduate School of Theology and The Panos Institute Caribbean, has developed a programme to assist these children who have been identified as at risk due to stress, anxiety and/or grief, that may need therapy and to try and modify their behavioural problems," Higgins explained.

"So that's what is going to happen in Jamaica alongside the usual Kool 97FM sixteen-hour marathon during which we'll be giving away prizes and surprises, and Daddy Ernie from Choice FM will be flying in for that," she added.

For the past three years, Dennis Brown's annual birthday celebration has captured the attention and participation of local and international media houses, including the BBC and Choice FM in London.

This year, Kool 97FM offers sixteen hours of Dennis Brown's most well-known hits from his vast catalogue of reggae classics. Popular Choice FM disc jockey, Daddy Ernie will once again journey to Jamaica for participation in this special occasion. In addition, Higgins said, the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAVAA) will stage a special event, and Merritone will dedicate its regular Thursday night oldies session in honour of the Crown Prince.

The Maxs in Brixton, England, David Rodigan, another well-known British reggae enthusiast famous for his collection and selection, will host a session there. "Also, I know the deejays on the pirate radio stations in Britain will be doing their thing, because they always remember D Brown," Higgins said, while adding, "Of course we're going to have our radio marathon across Europe, not only England.

But in France, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Luxembourg and Northern Africa as well. Because Greensleeves (Records) marketing department, they take care of that. Then across America, we'll be doing 300 radio stations, including XM Satellite and Sirius that will do something to recognise Dennis Brown's 50th birthday anniversary."

Brown's commemoration is the first of two members of reggae royalty whose birthday anniversaries are celebrated in the month of February. He passed away on July 1, 1999, at the age of 42. The other is the king, Bob Marley, whose transition came even at an earlier age (36) in 1981. Marley's 62nd birthday anniversary will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 6.

Both the reggae king and the crown prince shared birthdays with other reggae stalwarts. Sharing Dennis Brown's birthday is songbird Pam Hall, while veteran crooner Derrick Harriott and Third World's lead vocalist, Bunny 'Rugs' Clarke have the February 6 birth date in common with Bob Marley.

Source: Jamaica Observer

29th, Wayne Wonder - Simply smooth by Krista Henry, Staff Reporter.

Wayne Wonder during his performance in the 'Art of Reggae' segment of Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival last week. - Photos by Claudine Housen/Staff Photographer

Wayne Wonder showed that he is still a crowd favourite, at the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, 'Art of Reggae' segment on Friday.

It has a been a while since local fans have been graced with the smooth melodies of singer Wayne Wonder, but if the singer's reception at the Jazz and Blues festival is anything to go off, Wonder does not have to worry about regaining fan loyalty.

"It was nice, a few weeks ago I was also at Rebel Salute. Jazz had a nice vibe," Wonder said following his performance.

Wonder's career exploded globally in 2003 when his album No Holding Back and the single No Letting Go were released on Atlantic Records.

The smooth single dominated Urban and Pop radio (reaching number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop chart) in America and the album, No Holding Back received a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album, a MOBO Award in the UK, three BMI Urban awards, and a live performance on NBC Television's 'Saturday Night Live.' The follow-up single and video Bounce Along reached #12 on the U.K. pop charts.

Wonder is back with a new album and single that is set to blaze the scene.

Upcoming album

"The album coming out in May, it's called Forever, the single is out, Gonna Love You which is getting some spins on a couple of stations in the States. So we basically just get the street team together, ready to get the song buzzing."

Giving an idea of what to expect Wonder said, "You know how Wayne Wonder blend it, lover's rock; I balance it you know 'cause I'm a dancehall artiste and proud to say that."

He added, "It's style. I don't limit myself to what I do."

While some artistes may feel pressured to beat the standard of the last album, Wayne said he doesn't feel pressured to try to produce another Grammy-worthy album but just to produce good music.

"I do it for the music, for me a different yute weh inna di business."

"Cause guess what, for me it's not about the recognition, it's not about the hype, it's not about egos nor individuals, but for my music. Music means everything to me."

28th, REGGAE UPDATES FROM JAMAICA: Chuck Fenda’s Living Fire goes to Greensleeves ... and more.

Chuck Fenda *Living Fire, the sophomore album from cultural/conscious deejay Chuck Fenda, will be released next month by London’s Greensleeves Records. The 16 track set will be led by the international release of the single Coming Over Tonight, which features actress-turned-singer Cherine Anderson. The song has already topped local charts and is now making strides on various overseas reggae charts.

Producer Shane Brown who produced most of the tracks on the album says the album took about six months to complete. ‘Fenda and I have a natural vibe together whenever we do songs, plus we have developed a good working relationship. If there is ever something that we don’t agree on, its always easy to reach a compromise’.

Brown produced Fenda’s chart topping controversial single Gash Dem and Light Dem, which is also included on the album. The single topped local and overseas charts last year.

In explaining the topics explored on the album, Brown said ‘The album covers a few topics about life on a whole. Fenda calls himself the ‘Poor People’s Defender’ so on the album you hear him talking about poverty, crime and there are also a few songs that deal with matters of the heart’.

Living Fire also features contributions from producers Christopher Birch, Marvin Williams (who produced the song Child of the Universe featuring Tanya Stephens), Harvel ‘Gadaffi’ Heart and Robert Bogle. Richie Spice also appears on the album.

Brown who is known for a handful of projects released on his Juke Boxx label (Klymaxx rhythm), has worked with a number of artistes over the last five years. He produced nine songs on Junior Kelly’s debut album Love So Nice which was released by VP Records in 2001. He is currently working on a dancehall rhythm called Chaos. He is also mixing projects for the likes of Birch, Daseca, Penthouse, Dean Fraser and the Big Yard label.

Additionally, Brown is working on four tracks for the upcoming album from Morgan Heritage.

Living Fire is the follow up to Chuck Fenda’s Better Living album which was released three years ago via Fifth Element Records. Rough out Deh and I Swear are some of the songs from that disc, that impacted on the charts.

• Max Romeo hires new manager

Veteran reggae artiste Max Romeo recently hired the professional services of marketing executive Tyehimba Kafele as his new business manager. Miss Kafele has played a role in campaigns for artistes including Fantan Mojah, Junior Kelly (Receive), Nanko (Lucky You), DYCR (Misunderstanding) and Jah Cure (True Reflections) during her three year tenure as the Marketing Director at DownSound Records. Additionally, she has worked with Dwight Pinkney. She is currently the publicist for Pam Hall, Kemar Thompson (Jr. Pinchers) and Power mix Records (new management of Mixing Lab).

With more that 35 albums and 17 number one hits to his credit, Max Romeo has kept a low profile in Jamaica for several years, although he has been extensively touring the European circuit.
Born Maxie Smith in 1947, he recorded his first solo hit single entitled Wet Dreams in 1968. Despite the fact that the song is still banned in the UK it was so popular that it stayed in the BBC Radio charts for about 22 weeks.

In 1971 Romeo recorded a more singles with producers like Bunny Lee, Winston Riley, Sonia Pottinger, Alvin Ranglin and Niney Holness. Among the hits that he generated during this period were songs like The Coming of Jah and Babylon Burning. Later on he would score with Press Along Joshua, Pharaoh, Let the Power Fall on I, Sipple out Deh, One Step Forward, Chase the Devil and Three Blind Mice.

Max Romeo’s latest album entitled Pocomania Songs, produced by Mad Professor on his label Ariwa Records. It is due for release in February.

• Former model-turned-actress-turned singer Marcellas does it for Cricket

What do you get when a model with a passion for cricket and a wicket keeper team up to perform? Cricket In Di West Indies of course! Singer/model/actress Marcellas is back in the music arena with a combination song done with Raco Spice. With the World Cup Cricket series set to kick off in March, the song is quite timely.

According to Marcellas her inspiration to do the song came as a result of her love and passion for cricket. Her love affair with the cricket sport developed in 1995 when as a Miguel Model, she was involved in the promotional aspect of the launch of mound Mania. Teaming up with Raco Spice was quite fitting as Raco participates in Business House cricket for his company.

When Marcellas wrote the words for Cricket In Di West Indies she had planned to work with dancehall deejay Elephant Man. However upon meeting Raco at his work place OCS Electrical, the two struck up a friendship, and the musical chemistry quickly blended. The song was later produced by Paul Barclay and Courick Clarke for the Kat Jam Records label.

The song made its debut last Friday on FAME FM and Marcellas revealed that since then she has been getting positive responses about the recording. A video for the song is presently in an embryonic stage.

BITS AND PIECES

Wayne Wonder became a father again with the birth of his son on the weekend. Wayne already has a 17 year old daughter.
Dancehall/reggae artistes Kip Rich, Aidonia, Black-er and Voice Mail recently shot new advertising campaigns for Cable & Wireless’ bmobile.

The musical talents of Arif Cooper have bore fruit with the out-of-the-box hit, the Guardian Angel rhythm.
We understand that Voice Mail will be heading to Japan next month to commence the photo shoot for their new album which is due out in April.

And Chino (formerly known as Cappacino) and son of reggae veteran Freddie McGregor, is releasing an album for a Japanese label next month. Last year Chino hit the charts with Red Bull and Guinness featuring Delly Ranx. He scored a video hit with Girls Dem Straight.

Source: Eurweb.

26th, Luciano believes music can make a better world. By Jonathan Alley.

IN HIS native Jamaica, Luciano is a bona fide superstar. Now, the leading light of roots reggae in its modern post-dancehall incarnation is bringing his conscious sounds to Australian shores for the first time.

Born Jepther McClymont in 1964 in Davey Town, Luciano is one of contemporary reggae's most charismatic roots stars. He began his musical career singing in church, eventually moving to Kingston to work with producer Chin Loy and record on the Aquarius and Sky High labels. His career moved up a notch in 1993 with his cutting of a series of vanguard singles for "Fatis" Burrell's Xterminator label.

The oft-quoted definition of reggae is "message music", and Luciano's hits like a lightning rod. Immediately at odds with the crack-heavy image and accusations of "slackness" (misogyny) of some modern Jamaican dancehall, he appears the antithesis of the complacent star mumbling well-rehearsed pat answers. He lives passionately in the moment; a man spreading a message 24/7 - be it in music or life.

"Life, existing in this present day, requires of us to be vigilant and to be ready to deliver and receive the truth," he exhorts down the phone from Kingston.

"Everything has escalated; crime has escalated, violence has escalated, problems of the Earth have escalated, so there is a deeper need for the message music."

So, to the uninitiated, what is the message? Luciano's ethos represents a core Rasta tenet; to be self-reliant, self-reflective, and to think and act for oneself, particularly in times of hardship and crisis. Variations on this theme echo throughout his music, but he emphasises he lives these philosophies off stage and on.

"In the Rastafarian tradition, it's not just beliefs, it's a lifestyle. We sing the music to teach the people and we live the life to set an example. Rasta gives an answer, to be reconnected to the earth, to life, to nature itself; to be self-reliant."

Passionate to the last about his music, one wonders if the vagaries of the industry ever become wearing.

"This generation is more dependent on what they hear, more than what they read. Music is lucrative, but it started as a spiritual thing; it attracts businesspeople who want to invest, they come into it, but they're not true from their heart."

In his song Stay Away, Luciano takes aim at world leaders' lack of self-control and failing sense of global responsibility, going so far as to sample George Bush referring to the late Saddam Hussein as "the guy that tried to kill my Dad at one time". And while the song's central message is overtly non-violent, Luciano's antennae seem turned towards the winds of war.

"Any minute there could be another world war; if we're not keeping ourselves in tune it's just like what happened with 9/11 in America. As the Bible prophesied, not until the preaching of the gospel is over will the kingdom of God come, and by this I mean through the computer this age is the age of information, everyone has to be thinking 10 times faster and swifter than in the past - we have to become something we have never been before."

Luciano, Mike General and Ricky Trooper play the Esplanade Hotel tomorrow night. Support comes from Chant Down Sound's Jesse I +Damajah, Natty Sistren Sound and Rorer's Ranking Yoni.

Source: Theage

10th, Anthony Cruz prepares for sophomore album.

Singer Anthony Cruz was in high spirits when this writer caught up with him earlier this week. "I just did a stint on Sting with Buju Banton where we did our number one single Place Too Bloody. I also did GT Taylor Extravaganza show in St Elizabeth. It was just crazy," said Cruz. Cruz is now working out with Donovan Germaine's Penthouse label. His sophomore album is expected next summer. It is the follow-up to Mama's Blessing (Jet Star Records) which was released earlier this year. Additionally, Cruz recently completed a new single titled Burn Dem Everyday, featuring Capleton. The song is on the Mixing Finger label. Another single, Sexy Love (a cover of the Ne-Yo original) is reportedly doing well in some overseas reggae markets.
Source: Jamaica Observer.

9th, Abijah's Heavy Load on Grammy-nominated disc.

Wondering what Abijah has been up to lately? Well, one of his most recent recordings, Heavy Load, is featured on Sly and Robbie's Grammy-nominated Rhythm And Doubles compilation disc. Additionally, England-based Jetstar Records will be releasing Abijah's sophomore album, Never Lose Faith. The album contains 19 tracks produced by Phillip 'Fattis' Burrell for Exterminator Records.
Source: Jet Star Records.

8th, Tarrus Riley on top with Parables album.

Singer Tarrus Riley, son of veteran reggae crooner Jimmy Riley, has had the number one selling album on the New York Reggae chart for the past seven weeks. His latest effort, the sophomore release Parables (VP Records), has been well-received by fans not only overseas but also in Jamaica. "Stay With You", a cover of the John Legend original which is featured on the album, is currently making moves on the charts. Another single charting for Riley is "Beware" which is riding both the New York and South Florida reggae charts.
Source: Jamaica Observer.

7th,  Culture Can Never Die. JAH alone a Christian. The man who chanted that out for the world to hear has stepped into immortality.

Joseph Hill, the reclusive man from the hills of Jamaica, today sits on the left hand side of Jah with reggae apostles Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Jacob Miller, in reggae heaven. Hill, the vocals genius of the three-piece group that formed, among others, the spiritual core of Rasta, died in Berlin, Germany, on August 20 last year while on a European tour. Hill, who was renowned for making up the lines of tunes as his brothers jammed on stage, first made the headlines with 1977's Two Sevens Clash, the epochal hit referring to the numerological coincidence of July 7, 1977, which had Jamaicans cowering in their homes praying for deliverance. In attendance at his funeral, Jamaica Federation of Musicians president Desmond Young said it was sad not many of Hill's countrymen were familiar with his impressive legacy that gave roots staples like Natty Never Get Weary, Stop The Fussing And Fighting, I'm Not Ashamed, Jah See Them A Come, Jah Alone (Can Give I Satisfaction) and albums like Two Sevens Clash, Trod On, Lion Rock and, more recently, One Stone. Hill, the man when invited to tour Sierra Leone told rebels there to put down their guns if they wanted him, surprised the world as the rebels declared a truce for the duration of his tour there. He was held in equally high regard in Ghana, Nigeria, Fiji and Israel. He received glowing tributes, including one from Jamaica's first woman Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller. His son, Kenyatta, who will take up the mantle of being the lead singer of the Culture band, vowed to continue his iconic father's legacy. "He was a wonderful man, loving, supportive, all anyone could ask for in a father, he was the one who guided me through, and I will walk proudly in his footsteps," he said. Kenyatta and the Culture band are continuing with a tour of three continents, North America, Europe. Prime Minister Miller called him a "towering representative of our homegrown idiom, reggae", and lauded his "gritty melodious voice, keen ear for harmony, earthy humour, stylish dress and electrifying performances".

"Joseph Hill, your train is bound for glory, rest well, my inspiration," she said in the moving ceremony where Rastafarians and Christians sat shoulder-to-shoulder in a ceremony tinged by reggae and beautiful traditional Christian music.  Hill was buried at the Dovecot Memorial Park, in St Catherine, his native parish. In a career spanning over 30 years, Culture has toured extensively in Africa (where he has a huge fan-base), Israel, Japan, Britain and Northern Europe. There was a service of thanksgiving in Ghana for Hill on the same day as the one in Jamaica while he made front page news in the Patriotic Vanguard in Sierra Leone. The night before his funeral, reggae stars put forward a memorable night of performances at the bursting-at-the-seams Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre. The lineup consisted of Luciano, Anthony B, Bob Andy, Big Youth, U Roy, Jimmy Riley, George Nooks, Tony Rebel, Dean Fraser, Tamlins, Leroy Sibbles, Carlene Davis, Taurus Riley, Josie Wales, Natty King, Lovindeer, Prodigal, Junior Kelly, Bunny Brown, Nadine Sutherland, Sly Dunbar, Peter Lloyd, Lloyd Parkes, Gullibanque, Limey, Boscom X, Mystic Revealers, Grace Thrillers, Pam Hall, Charlie Chaplin, Mighty Diamonds, Toots, Queen Ifrica, Bankie Banx, Etana, Katalyst Crew, Chuck Fender. The memorial show was compered by Mutabaruka and Denise Miller. Culture last performed at home at the Reggae Sunsplash in last July. Hill's powerful lyrics, which mainly dealt with social issues, reflected his Rastafarian faith. But like most good songwriters, Hill was capable of shifting gears as he showed on the rib-tickling 1978 hit, She Want Money. Born in Linstead, St. Catherine, Hill was typical of the budding musicians who came to Kingston, seeking fortune in the 1960s.  He started out as a percussionist with the Soul Defenders band at Studio One, and played on fellow Linstead native Freddie McKay's smash hit, Hanging on The Wall.  In 1975, at the height of Marley-mania, he started Culture with cousins Albert Walker and Kevin Dayes and hit the mark the next year with (Jah Jah) See Dem a Come.

Source: Fijitimes

6th, Stephen Marley. NEW YORK (Billboard) - For the past 10 years Stephen Marley has balanced touring responsibilities with a hectic production schedule largely determined by his brothers' projects, which include Dam