VETERAN dancehall deejay Brigadier Jerry and foundation sound system Jah Love will be among several acts scheduled for the global concert Play for Change Day at Irie River in Ocho Rios, St Ann, on September 20.
According to Michael Cacia, event producer, this is the first time the show will be held in Jamaica.
“It will be one of over 300 shows across six continents on that day. But, Jamaica’s will be the biggest,” he said.
The proceeds from the concert will be invested back in the community.
“We intend to raise money for a school where kids could come learn music education and computer skills,” he told the Jamaica Observer.
Cacia said a plot of land has been identified near the concert’s venue for the project.
“Nine schools have been built across the world including South Africa, Ghana, Mali, Rwanda, Nepal and Thailand,” he said.
Cacia, who has managed reggae act Toots and the Maytals for the past 20 years, said all the artists scheduled will be “donating their time”.
He said it wasn’t difficult getting the Brigadier ‘Briggy, The General’ Jerry, who is now based in America and known for his cultural lyrics, on the show.
“I’ve been close to him since the 1980s. He was one of several artists, on a live dancehall album I produced at Skateland in Half-Way-Tree in 1982 entitled DJ Explosion on the Heartbeart Record label,” he said. “I called him and he offered his services.”
Brigadier Jerry, whose given name is Robert Russell, rose to prominence in the 1980s as a sound system deejay. He was known for his clean, uplifting and spiritual lyrics. His is known for hits including Pain and Gwan a School.
Cacia said cultural sound system Jah Love hasn’t performed in a while so patrons sound come out in their numbers for some clean family fun.
Other acts slated to perform include: Bushman; Big Youth; Cherine; Garnett Silk Jr; Ernie Smith; Karen Smith; Kiddus I; Al Pancho; Live Wyah Band; as well as Australian artiste Natalie from Blue King Brown.
Created a decade ago by American producer/engineer Mark Johnson in California, Playing for Change Day concert is aimed at inspiring, connecting and bringing peace to the world through music. It has gotten the thumbs up from international artistes over the years who shared the stage including Rolling Stones, Bono from U2, Toots and the Maytals, Taj Mahal, Stephen Marley, Keb Moe, Los Lobos.
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