Westchester County has traditionally been a stomping ground for Jamaicans and reggae music. It’s only natural then, that most of the attendees at the May 29 Westchester Reggae Festival are expected to be from ‘yaad’.
The third staging of the show is scheduled for the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester. Dubbed ‘Legends in Concert ‘, it features Marcia Griffiths, Leroy Sibbles and Johnny Osbourne.
Andrea Bullens, CEO and founder of the event, says projections show fans coming in from in and around Westchester County as well as New Jersey and Connecticut.
They will see three acts whose careers started during the 1960’s. All recorded hit songs for the legendary Studio One label. “As we celebrate Jamaica’s 60th (year of independence) we celebrate these legends who are pioneers of the reggae music business,” Bullens noted.
The Capitol Theatre has a 1,500-seat capacity which Bullens is confident will be filled mainly by a “mature community” from areas such as The Bronx, White Plains, Mount Vernon, Yonkers and New Rochelle.
“We’re not only trying to target the mature community; we would like to present entertainment packages that attract the entire family,” she said.
Beverley Kelso, a founding member of The Wailing Wailers alongside Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, will be honored by the promoters. She is a longtime resident of Brooklyn.
Westchester County and adjoining boroughs of The Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens have been home to massive Jamaican settlements for over 50 years.
Many of the early immigrants, like singer Denroy Morgan and record store owner Earl Moodie, helped put reggae on the map in New York City.
You must log in to post a comment.