Reggae music lost a stalwart on February 8 with the death of Carol Bruno, co-founder of Reggae On The River, one of the leading music festivals in northern California. John Bruno, her husband of over 40 years, confirmed that his wife succumbed to breast cancer at age 72. Carol Bruno and co-founder Nancy Shelby were on the board of directors for the Mateel Community Center in 1984 when it was decided to stage a reggae concert to … Read entire article »

By Erica Virtue/Senior Gleaner Write—t Dr Janet Cain-Walters, of Northern Caribbean University, gestures while addressing journalists at a Gleaner Editors’ Forum last Thursday.— Despite cohabiting in decades-long, satisfying relationships, most women are still hoping to get a marriage proposal from their spouses and sealing the deal with a wedding ring, research from the mid-island Northern Caribbean University (NCU) has shown. However, men, the research revealed, hold deep-seated reservations against tying the knot, citing commitment fears and hang-ups about … Read entire article »

Niambe McIntosh— Can’t Blame The Youth is the title of one of a plethora of controversial hit songs from late reggae singer Peter Tosh, and it has been selected as the theme for a campaign designed to inspire young people, using the legacy and messages of the firebrand reggae legend. Using Reggae and Black History Month as the backdrop to bring this vision to life, the Peter Tosh Foundation has partnered with the Peter Tosh Museum to get … Read entire article »

BY RICHARD JOHNSON–Observer senior reporter— Former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller — The life and work of former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller comes to the big screen next Sunday, February 24 with the première of the biopic Journey: Break Every Rule at Carib 5 in St Andrew. Written and directed by by local filmmaker Lennie Little-White, the work traces Simpson Miller’s life from the formative years in Woodhall, St Catherine to her ascendancy to the highest political office … Read entire article »

Lou Gooden — The thanksgiving service for the life of broadcaster, sound system operator and author Lou Gooden, takes place today at House of Tranquility Funeral Home Chapel, Orange Street, Kingston. Gooden, who had a long career in the music industry, died February 7, at age 81, at Kingston Public Hospital. Citing privacy, his family did not give the cause of death. Born in Kingston, Gooden started as an understudy sound system selector to Thomas “Tom The Great Sebastian” … Read entire article »

R Kelly—  The lawyer representing a porn star in a legal battle with US President Donald Trump said Thursday his office has previously-unreleased footage of R&B superstar R Kelly having sex with a young girl. Michael Avenatti said his team discovered the graphic tape as representatives of multiple clients linked to accusations against the American singer, who has faced allegations of sexual assault for decades. In a statement Avenatti said he gave the “new critical video evidence” against … Read entire article »

Reggae Group Morgan Heritage has just won their 2nd Grammys at the 61st edition of the prestigious award held last weekend at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Jamaican ‘Royal’ Reggae Group in a tweet says…. Group Member, Gramps Morgan in an interview with Entertainment Journalist Elorm Beenie says, “it was truly an amazing day we had a show in Long Beach California and got off the stage and got the news. Was very happy for Shaggy; … Read entire article »

By Kediesha Perry—Observer writer— WHEN reggae meets romance, the result is usually raw passion. Today being Valentine’s Day, lovers will undoubtedly be listening to their favorite songs. Three of Jamaica’s top artistes spoke to the Jamaica Observer about their favourite love songs. For Marcia Griffiths, they are: These Streets (Tanya Stephens), Wanna Be Loved(Buju Banton), Is This Love (Bob Marley), For You (Dennis Brown), My Man (Etana), Tonight (John Holt), You Look Like Love (Cynthia Schloss), I’m in love With You (Beres Hammond), So I’ll Wait for You (Freddie McGregor), and I Wanna Wake Up … Read entire article »