With his 60th birthday approaching, Junior Reid has assembled a stellar lineup of artists to help him celebrate his latest ‘earthstrong’. Dubbed One Blood Family Fest, the event is scheduled for June 3 at Plantation Cove in St. Ann parish, Jamaica.
Stephen Marley and his brother Julian are part of the cast. So too Jahmiel, Chezidek, I Wayne, Bushman, Big Youth, Cedric Myton of The Congos, Winston McAnuff and Warrior King.
“Is jus’ a ‘oneness’ an’ unity wi want to si among everyone, ’cause when people hear ’bout show inna Jamaica is nothing but bad vibes. We want to show di fans everywhere dat yuh still have artist who deal with peace,” said Reid.
The singer is best known for songs like One Blood, Original Foreign Mind and Rappa Pam Pam, marks his 45th year as a recording artist in 2023. He debuted in 1978 with Speak The Truth, produced by fellow roots singer Hugh Mundell.
Reid’s music has earned him a strong base in Europe, Japan and the United States West Coast. His collaborations with rappers The Game and MIMS won him fans in the hip hop arena.
One Blood, released in 1990, is his greatest statement. A cry for peace among restless youth in Jamaica, it draws raucous reaction at Reid’s live shows and has been embraced by pop acts such as Alicia Keys.
Reid grew up in Waterhouse, the gritty Kingston enclave where groups like The Wailing Souls and Black Uhuru are from. For a while, he was a member of the latter, singing lead on hits like Great Train Robbery and Fit You Haffe Fit.
While he is satisfied with his achievements, Reid does not believe reggae gets the recognition it deserves from major record companies. “I don’t feel wi get di right justice dat wi supposed to get, but di power of di music keep it going,” he said.
You must log in to post a comment.