By Keith Caulfield — UB40 featuring Ali, Astro and Mickey—   The top of the Reggae Albums chart greets some familiar faces, as UB40 featuring Ali, Astro & Mickey debut atop the list dated March 17 with A Real Labour of Love. Here’s the interesting wrinkle — there are actually two different groups known as UB40. Ali (Ali Campbell) and Mickey (Mickey Virtue) departed UB40 in 2008, while Astro (Terence Wilson) left the group in 2013. The three record and tour under the name UB40 featuring … Read entire article »

All female reggae band, Adahzeh, will make it an unforgettable night at “The Ultimate Sunday Experience” on March 18th, in Fort Lauderdale. The four member outfit, including Chevanese Palmer on bass, Karissa Palmer on keyboards, Tashana Barnett on drums, and Tara-Dean Williamson on guitar and lead vocals, has graced stages internationally, including at Reggae Sumfest in Jamaica, and the World Reggae Contest in Poland. Their sound fuses reggae, dancehall, rock, R&B and electronic. Their performance … Read entire article »

BY RICHARD JOHNSON Observer senior reporter—-   Pearson remembered for his dedication and commitment to his art. — Tributes have begun to come in saluting the life and legacy of renowned sculptor and ceramist Gene Pearson who died in a Corporate Area hospital on Thursday. The 73-year old who is famous for his sculptures of heads died following a brief illness. His death comes two days after that of his ex-wife Jacquelyne Hussey-Pearson, who died on Tuesday. Both have a 14-year-old … Read entire article »

By Shereita Grizzle— Beyonce Jay Z and Beyonce announced dates for their second On the Run stadium tour on Monday and used a song by a Jamaican to break the news to the world. In a video uploaded to Beyonce’s official Instagram page, she declared that she’s still in love with her husband, and revealed the two would be touring the world together yet again by using a version of I’m Still In Love sung by Jamaican reggae singer Marcia Aitken. Aitken … Read entire article »

BY HOWARD CAMPBELL Observer senior writer—    Leroy Sibbles —   IN a career spanning 50-odd years, there is little Leroy Sibbles has not accomplished. The 69-year-old artiste sang, arranged and played bass on some of rock steady and reggae’s biggest hit songs. Sibbles is now looking to add author to his resume with his autobiography, which he plans to release this year. “It going to have everything, from mi born come straight down the line,” he recently told the Jamaica Observer. Of the … Read entire article »

 NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — — Toys ‘R’ US plans to sell or close all of its US stores, potentially hitting 33,000 jobs, US media reported Wednesday. The debt-plagued retailer, which filed for bankruptcy protection in September, told employees that the retailer planned to file liquidation papers ahead of a Thursday court hearing, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post reported. “We’re putting a for sale sign on everything,” CEO David Brandon said on a conference … Read entire article »

Chief Technical Director, Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Courtney Cole (left), speaking with (from second left), President, JAMPRO, Diane Edward; and Chief Executive Officer, Agro-Investment Corporation, Sylburn Thomas, at the Agricultural Information Forum yesterday. —-   Chief Technical Director, Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Courtney Cole, is calling on Jamaicans to change the culture of identifying agriculture as a vocation, to a primary source of income for the growth of the society. Speaking at … Read entire article »

 LASCO Manufacturers (LASM) says it has reduced the sugar content in its core product line. The company introduced low sugar variants in its flagship LASCO Food Drink range, which it said has “50 per cent less sugar than the original products”. This, LASCO added, translates to 11 grams of sugar per serving — similar to the sugar content of Lasoy Milk Free, which is considered a low sugar product. “LASCO’s Food Drink and now the LASCO low … Read entire article »

 Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange. — Major refurbishing and expansion works, valued at over US$ $40 million, are to get under way later this year at the National Stadium and the Trelawny Multipurpose Stadium. The projects, which are slated to take place over a period of 36 months, are designed to bring the facilities up to international standards. Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, said special consideration will be given to … Read entire article »