There were many moments in 2012 that, in years to come, will count as integral parts of Jamaican music history. Maybe some of those are moments the island that has produced probably the most and biggest music stars per capita will want to forget. But, for what it’s worth, here are some of those moments. Look out for more in the days to come.
January
14. The 19th Rebel Salute festival is held at Port Kaiser Sports Club, St Elizabeth for, maybe the last time. Tarrus Riley, Queen Ifrica, DamianMarley and Capleton are among the many performers.
26. The Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival celebrates Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of Independence with performances by Marcia Griffiths, Shaggy, Yellowman, Lloyd Parkes and We the People Band, Derrick Morgan, John Holt and Maxi Priest. Damian Marley is on the closing night, January 28.
February
8. Damian ‘Jr Gong’ Marley is appointed a brand ambassador for telecommunications provider LIME. Under the arrangement, his single Affairs of the Heart is provided on a platform for LIME users across the Caribbean, the first of a set of exclusive materials to be made available through the portal.
12. Stephen Marley wins the Best Reggae Album award at the Grammy Awards for the album Revelation Pt 1: The Root of Life. The other nominees were Monty Alexander (Harlem-Kingston Express Live!), Israel Vibration (Reggae Knights), Ziggy Marley (Wild and Free) and Shaggy (Summer In Kingston).
26. Ivy Williams, deejay Bounty Killer’s mother, whom he has continually honoured in song as simply ‘Miss Ivy’, dies. Bounty Killer tweets “RIP to the world’s greatest mother, because she gave the world the greatest man. Miss Ivy Williams 1941-2012.”
June
2. The low-budget film Blind Shotta, directed by Diavallan Fearon, debuts at the Stages Theatre, New Kingston.
24. Sheldon Shepherd of the No-Maddz poetry group wins the Best Actor Award at the American Black Film Festival, held in Florida, for his role in Better Mus’ Come.
July
1. International Reggae Day, started in 1994 by Andrea Davis, is celebrated.
6. Vybz Kartel’s book, The Voice of the Jamaican Ghetto, is officially launched close to the Horizon Remand Centre where he is incarcerated. It is co-authored by Michael Dawson. By late September, Aisha Stewart, merchandising manager at Whirlwind Entertainment Group, says that some local stores have rejected the book. She claims that there is good feedback from “Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Bulgaria, Chile and Amsterdam”. Dawson says “the book sold more in Europe than in Jamaica, and it’s more successful in the US than Jamaica”.
7 Real Born Jamaican by Abbygaye ‘Abby’ Dallas is voted the 2012 Festival Song.
TO BE CONTINUED!
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