Labor Day Weekend in New York, home of the annual West Indian-American Day Carnival Parade – arguably the largest celebration of Caribbean cultures in the world – will get an infusion on reggae this year with a highly anticipated performance from Reggae Ambassadors Third World on Labor Day Saturday, Sept. 2, at the Westchester Reggae Festival.
The event takes place at the Westchester County Center in White Plains. Also booked to perform are singers Luciano and Mikey Spice, who will both be backed by Derrick Barnett & The Statement Band. Third World, with lead singer AJ Brown, is easily one of Jamaica’s most popular crossover reggae acts. With 10 GRAMMY nominations and a catalogue of hit songs including “Now That We Found Love”, ”96 Degrees in the Shade” and “Try Jah Love”, the group has toured the world, delivering extraordinary performances for the past 50 years. “We are still around. That was the mission,” said founding member Stephen “Cat” Coore in a recent radio interview with host Ras Clem in New York. “We have had changes along the way but the brand remains great, always in the hearts of Jamaicans and people in the Diaspora,” he added.
Speaking about some of the stand-out moments for the group, Coore singled out getting to know Reggae King Bob Marley as one of the highlights. “Recording and touring alongside him (Bob) was special…he was recording ‘Exodus’ and we were doing ’96 Degrees In The Shade.’ That was a pivotal moment,” he added. “Playing at Carnegie Hall with Wyclef Jean, Eric Clapton, Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder walking out on stage and playing with us was another pivotal moment” he continued.
The “Reggae Messanjah”, known for celebrated hits like “One Way Ticket,” “Your World Or Mine,” “It’s Me Again Jah” and “Lord Give Me Strength”, said he is excited to visit New York again and promised to deliver a strong performance for his fans. “For my Westchester County fans, I intend to perform to the best of my ability and to really touch their hearts…I intend to give them a good positive vibration, a good inspiration especially after being away such a long time” he said.
Singer Mikey Spice is expected to bring fireworks and a burst of Florida sunshine. It has been a few years since he performed in New York, and fans are eager to see him light up the stage. The singer, who began singing in his father’s church at age 7, plays the guitar, bass, drums, trumpet, piano, saxophone, flute, harp and the clarinet. He took up residency on Jamaica’s north coast in 1984, and quickly established himself as a leading vocalist and guitarist for many of the bands on the cabaret circuit. A successful live date at Reggae Sunsplash in 1993 sparked his Ras Records debut, “Happiness”, followed by “Born Again.”Other popular hits from the artist include “Jah Lifted Me”, which was released in 1997, and “Harder Than Before”, which was issued in 2001.He has also produced “More Than Wonderful”, “I’m So Lonely” and “Home to Zion.”
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