By Howard Campbell— Tribute To The Greats 2017 recipient Martin Williams (left), founding member of The Jamaicans performs, with former group member Tommy Cowan. (Photo: Jerry Small) Martin Williams, a member of 1967 Festival Song Contest winners The Jamaicans, died May 24 in New York City at age 85. His wife, Jean Williams, said he passed away at the Montefiore Hospital in The Bronx. Williams was a founding member of the group which was initially known as The Mericoles. … Read entire article »

By Kevin Jackson— Shuga— FORMER Digicel Rising Stars winner Shuga takes over the number one spot on the Foundation Radio Network (New York) Reggae chart with Dear Mr. Government. Dear Mr. Government is a call from the ghetto to the Government to try to make the lives of those living in the ghettos better. The song — written by Shuga (real name Mitsy Campbell) — was produced by Donovan Germain for Penthouse Records. Nicole Burt-Bolt and Donald Anderson provide backing vocals on the … Read entire article »

By Brian Bonitto/Observer Writer— Jimmy Tucker— RENOWNED singer Jimmy Tucker passed away peacefully at his home in Fayetteville, Georgia, Tuesday morning. He was 80 years old. Tucker’s wife of 53 years, Janet, confirmed his death. “Jimmy passed away this (Tuesday) morning at home surrounded by family,” she told the Jamaica Observer. According to his widow, the singer’s health had seen a slight decline in recent times. Janet Tucker remembers her late husband as vibrant and full of energy, and someone who wanted … Read entire article »

By Howard Campbell/ObserverWriter— Guitar maestro Ernie Ranglin— ONE week before the release of Two Colors, his collaborative album with saxophonist Dean Fraser, guitar legend Ernie Ranglin has entered reggae charts in South Florida and New York. De Ranglin, lead single from the set, featuring Big Youth, is number 18 on the South Florida Top 25 Reggae Chart and number 23 on the Foundation Radio Network Chart. Both tables are operated by veteran broadcaster Clinton Lindsay. Two Colors is scheduled for release on … Read entire article »

– By Theresa Goodwin/Antigua Observer— The sound of his very own music, Thank You, blared from the speakers in the theatre room at the Cleveland Clinic in Florida where Antigua and Barbuda’s Reggae Ambassador underwent an eleven-hour procedure to remove a cancerous tumor from his colon. It also marked a significant and life-changing step for the artist who was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer around three years ago. Causion, whose real name is Gregory Colin Bailey, had remained optimistic throughout … Read entire article »