By Richard Johnson—-

SHAGGY & Friends — the annual charity concert which raises funds for the Bustamante Children’s Hospital — will not be staged this year.

According to Sharon Burke, a member of the event’s organising team, there has been a revamp of the show.

SHAGGY… involved with the Bustamante Children’s Hospital since 2001

“A decision was taken to stage the concert every other year,” Burke told the Jamaica Observer yesterday. Burke was unable to divulge any other details.

Grammy-winning reggae star Shaggy is the main person behind the show. He has been involved with the hospital since 2001 when he staged a Christmas treat there. Over the years, the concert has attracted a number of international stars.

At its first staging in 2009, American pop act Macy Gray was headliner, supported by Sean Paul, Marcia Griffiths, Etana and Shaggy.

The following year, reggae acts Mykal Rose, Tarrus Riley, Queen Ifrika, Baby Cham, and Trinidad and Tobago’s soca star Machel Montano performed free of cost. American artistes Boyz II Men, Joe and Mario Winans added a pop flavour.

The rescheduled 2012 staging, which was shifted to accommodate the December, 2011 general election, was perhaps the most anticipated. The January 7, 2012 event at Jamaica House in St Andrew had many patrons anticipating the performance by headliner and multiple Grammy-winning act Lauryn Hill.

Hill’s late arrival and demands during her performance threatened to mar the event. Some patrons left during her set.

Shaggy later announced that the next show, which was set for this year, would be a tribute to Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of Independence from Great Britain and feature an all-Jamaican line-up.

So far, the event has raised more than $90-million for the hospital.

Shaggy presenting check to hospital administrators.
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