CLINTON LINDSAY » BREAKING NEWS, Featured » THE JAMAICA FOLK SINGERS FOR “MISS LOU FULL 100!” IN SOUTH FLORIDA, SEPTEMBER 6-7!

THE JAMAICA FOLK SINGERS FOR “MISS LOU FULL 100!” IN SOUTH FLORIDA, SEPTEMBER 6-7!

August 10th, 2019 | Add a Comment

Music lovers in South Florida are in for a very special
experience – the Jamaican Folk Singers are coming to South Florida.
They will give two concerts only, one in Palm Beach on Friday September 6, the other in Coral Springs on Saturday September 7. The Miss Lou Full 100 concerts are presented by the Louise Bennett Heritage Council,
as part of their homage to the late Louise Bennett-Coverley – Miss Lou-
Jamaica’s beloved cultural icon, in this her centenary year.Miss Lou,
a poet, actor, comedienne and activist, popularized all aspects of Jamaican folklore including songs, dances and children’s games.
The Jamaican Folk Singers have received international acclaim and
numerous awards for the range and depth of their repertoire and their
harmonious multi-part vocals accompanied by guitar, drums, flute and
rhumba box. The combination of singers and musicians and their
simple, yet expressive choreography makes for a moving and
unforgettable musical experience.

Jamaican folk music grew out of West African traditional music with
some European influences combined with the unique Jamaican dance,
song and instrumental form – mento. The Folk Singers have an extensive repertoire of over 200 songs. Christine McDonald-Nevers leads the group, now in its 52nd year of delighting audiences at home and abroad.
The group will present folk songs arranged by their founder, classically
trained musician and ethnomusicologist, the late Dr. Olive Lewin who
was appointed by the Jamaican government in 1966 to research and
collect Jamaican folk music. The musical forms include Bruckins,
Jankunnu, Kumina, Quadrille, Tambo and Gerreh. A new feature of the
Folk Singers’ repertoire, is Pull up the vibes. This section features folk
songs performed in the hugely popular, more urban idioms of ska and
dancehall.

The Folk Singers take their mandate to pass on their music to the younger generation seriously while also celebrating the older generations who handed down the songs, dances and religious rituals that are woven into
Jamaican folk culture.
Jamaica folk music, stemming as it does out of the experience of slavery,
is multi-layered. The songs include work songs, lullabies, laments, songs
used in religious and secular rites, social commentary songs that poke
fun at some unfortunate and the double entendre songs of flirtation and courtship. Jamaicans love and cherish their folk music and it is easy to
see how ska, rock steady and reggae grew out of this rich musical
heritage, with reggae, in particular, becoming a world-wide
phenomenon.
Folk music is special and personal because it comes from the heart of the people. The songs tell of troubles and joys, fears and hopes. They send
out a musical invitation to visit and sit awhile and get to know a culture
intimately. South Florida audiences will have just two opportunities to
accept this special invitation to enjoy and celebrate Jamaica’s rich folk
heritage. A highlight of the Miss Lou Full 100 concert is a performance
by poet, broadcaster and actress ‘Dat Bumpy Head Gal’ –Joan Andrea
Hutchinson who, following in Miss Lou’s footsteps, writes and performs in Jamaican patois. An accomplished communicator with 3 books,
and 7 CD’s to her credit, she is also a stellar performer, engaging her
audience with her hilarious observations on Jamaica and Jamaicans.
Also featured are Malachi Smith and Maxine Osbourne with their take
on Miss Lou and her stage partner Maas Ran, and the Tallawah Mento
Band.

Miss Lou Full 100 featuring The Jamaica Folk Singers will be held on
Friday, September 6, 7:00pm, at the Royal Palm Beach Community High
School, and on Saturday September 7, at 7:00pm at Coral Springs Center
for the Arts. For tickets and information visit www.louisebennettheritage.com………………………………..Media Contact: Christine Craig at
954-579-0067email: lbc.councilinfo@gmail.com
‌The Jamaican Folk Singers, heading to South Florida to celebrate
Miss Lou’s 100 birthday anniversary with two performances.