GUEST RUNDOWNS | CLINTON LINDSAY

BRITISH-BASED DUB POET LINTON KWESI JOHNSON, TO RECEIVE JAMAICA’S NATIONAL AWARD!

August 19th, 2014 | Add a Comment

By Howard Campbell– Linton “Kwesi” Johnson– IN 1970s Britain, the sounds of Marley, Burning Spear and Linton Kwesi Johnson were the soundtrack for militant black youth protesting racism in that country. On October 20, Johnson will receive the Order of Distinction for his contribution to the development of Jamaican music. The OD, Jamaica’s fifth highest civic honor, will be awarded during the annual National Honours and Awards ceremony at King’s House. Johnson was born in Clarendon but moved to Britain as an 11-year-old in 1963. Widespread racism and social indifference toward blacks inspired his recordings in the early 1970s, which many musicologists cite as the genesis of dub poetry. Some of Johnson’s most potent work such as Five Nights of Bleeding (For Leroy Harris), Doun De Road, Song of Blood and It Dread Inna Ingland (For … Read entire article »

Filed under: GUEST RUNDOWNS

“SOUL IN THE SUN” COMES TO MONTEGO BAY OCTOBER 10-12!

August 19th, 2014 | Add a Comment

The quintessential tourist destination in the Caribbean is now home to another huge music festival. Come October 10-12, Montego Bay will play host to another such festival with the staging of Soul in the Sun, a two day music Festival and a beach party on the Sunday featuring a slew of US based R&B icons enhancing an already robust entertainment calendar in Jamaica. Soul in the Sun will see Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill, and 90s boy groups Dru Hill and Silk taking to the stage on Friday, October 10, the first night of the Festival. The excitement peaks on night two, Saturday, October 11 with Peabo Bryson, Regina Belle, Jeffrey Osborne, Freddie Jackson and Howard Hewitt expected to delight fans who are expected to pour into The Aqueduct in Rose Hall, venue for the event. Junior … Read entire article »

Filed under: GUEST RUNDOWNS

SINGER/SONGWRITER NESBETH HITS IT BIG WITH “OLE GANGA LEE!”

August 18th, 2014 | Add a Comment

By Balford Henry— Nesbeth— SINGER/songwriter Nesbeth is riding the charts with Ole Ganga Lee, which has renewed interest in the term made famous by deejay Louie Culture 22 years ago. Nesbeth says the song was actually inspired by Louie Culture’s hit of the same name. “The Louie Culture song is about standing up for what one believes so I incorporate that message in my song,” he told the Jamaica Observer. According to Nesbeth, Ole Ganga Lee was recorded 18 months ago but recently released. On the heels of its success is the follow-up single, Taste Victory, released two weeks ago. Both songs are on his new label, Entertainment Soul, headed by New England-based producer, Shanika ‘Eccentrik’ Dobson. Nesbeth believes the partnership is what he has been waiting for since starting in the business in 2003. His first … Read entire article »

Filed under: GUEST RUNDOWNS

POLICE AND PROTESTERS CLASH IN FERGUSON, AUTOPSY SHOWS MICHAEL BROWN WAS SHOT SIX TIMES!

August 18th, 2014 | Add a Comment

Yamiche Alcindor— (Photo: Getty) FERGUSON, Mo. — Missouri Governor Jay Nixon early Monday ordered the National Guard into Ferguson hours after police said escalating violence led to shootings, arrests and “pre-planned” acts of aggression by protesters. Nixon made the announcement following another night of clashes between police and protesters in the suburb of St. Louis. Sunday night and early Monday morning, protesters shot at police, threw Molotov cocktails at officers, looted local businesses and carried out a “coordinated attempt” … Read entire article »

Filed under: GUEST RUNDOWNS

US-BASED REGGAE SINGER ORIEL, AIMS FOR INTERNATIONAL STARDOM!

August 18th, 2014 | Add a Comment

US based Reggae singer Oriel is working assiduously to establish himself on the international Reggae scene. The soft spoken singer who originally hails from the Caribbean island of Dominica recently performed alongside Ziggy Marley at an event which was held at the famed Carnegie Library Music Hall in Homestead, PA. The event which also featured the Pittsburgh based Reggae band Truths & Rites was a part of Ziggy Marley’s Fly Rasta Tour. “I recently performed alongside Ziggy Marley on the Homestead leg of his tour. It was an awesome experience, Ziggy is a great artist, and it’s a real honor to share the stage with him. I also did a show recently with Luciano, this was another great experience. It’s always good to work on the same bill with artists like Ziggy Marley … Read entire article »

Filed under: GUEST RUNDOWNS

CLANCY ECCLES THE PERFORMER, THE PRODUCER!

August 17th, 2014 | Add a Comment

Clancy Eccles— In many ways, the late Clancy Eccles epitomised the consummate performer, merging the dual tasks of vocalist and record producer. He emerged in the late 1950s with the distinction of being one of the first artists to record on the Coxson label, owned by Clement Dodd. Eccles was in the company of persons like Owen Grey, Lascelles Perkins and Delroy Wilson, who recorded their early works at Federal Studios along Foreshore Road (now Marcus Garvey Drive), as Dodd had not yet established his Studio One at Brentford Road (now Studio One Boulevard) in St Andrew. These early forays saw Perkins recording Lonely Moments, Chuck and Dobby doing Du Du Wap, Alton and Eddy performing Muriel and My Heaven, and The Jiving Juniors rocking with Over the River. Theophilus Beckford boogied with Easy Snapping, while Eccles came on strong with the blues-based ska song Freedom and … Read entire article »

Filed under: GUEST RUNDOWNS

ALAINE OPENS FOR TARRUS RILEY IN THE U.K. WHILE PREPARING FOR HER NEXT ALBUM!

August 17th, 2014 | Add a Comment

Alaine -File Alaine revels in tour response ahead of third album– By Davina Henry— With two studio albums, including Sacrifice (2007) already under her belt, singer Alaine recently completed her first tour of the United Kingdom (UK) and is looking forward to the release of her next full-length set. The stint, which was also in support of the upcoming album, Ten of Hearts, saw Alaine as guest performer on Tarrus Riley’s Love Situation tour, which made stops in Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, and London. “It was my first time in the UK and the vibe was out of this world. I’ve been working with Tarrus for about five to six years. We’ve written songs together such as Gimme Likkle One Drop and Forever Mine, so when I was contacted by the promoters in the UK to be a part of his tour I was extremely happy. It was really … Read entire article »

Filed under: GUEST RUNDOWNS

OCHO RIOS-BASED DEEJAY FIRE BUBBLES IS LOOKING FOR THAT “ELUSIVE BREAKTHROUGH HIT!”

August 17th, 2014 | Add a Comment

Fire Bubbles-photos by Carl Gilchrist— By Carl Gilchrist— Fire Bubbles has been in the music business for more years than he cares to remember. Despite not yet making it big as a deejay, he is still confident that he will score that elusive breakthrough hit. Born in Somerton, St James, and named Barrington Allen, Fire Bubbles has made St Ann his home for the past three decades. Many days, he can be seen hanging out in Ocho Rios, chanting his lyrics, preparing for what he expects to happen for his music career in the near future. Among the tracks that he has recorded recently are Performance,Chung Chang Cheng and Real Gideon. While getting only limited airplay, they have served to keep him relevant. Fire Bubbles’ enthusiasm remains unwavering, as he told The Sunday Gleaner that he is still searching for a … Read entire article »

Filed under: GUEST RUNDOWNS

AS ENTERTAINERS PURSUE PROFITS OFF THE STAGE, THEY FIND IT HARD TO STICK TO THE BUSINESS!

August 17th, 2014 | Add a Comment

Romeich (left) wirth Tarrus Riley, for whom the designer has done work on a T-shirt line.-Contributed By Sadeke Brooks—- From time to time, singers and deejays start business ventures outside of music with a splash. Within a few months, however, many times, those businesses are nearly non-existent. Producer and designer Romeich Major says the key to keeping the venture going is being businesses-oriented. “It is sustainable if you do it on a business level. A lot of them don’t follow up on it because it is not something that you get a lump sum of money from,” Major told The Gleaner. “I am part of Konz 876 (sneakers) and they do well because Konshens is a businessman. You need to be a business person, or have someone on your team who is business-minded.” Major has worked on T-shirt lines … Read entire article »

Filed under: GUEST RUNDOWNS

JAPANESE COUPLE PITCHES CLOTHE-LINE TO DANCEHALL ARTISTS!

August 17th, 2014 | Add a Comment

Deejay Bouny Killer sports Answer. Sizzla also wears the label.—- Clothes make the man, so the adage goes. A Japanese husband-and-wife team hopes it applies to their line of casual wear which has been endorsed by some of reggae’s biggest acts. Kengo Fukai, 35, and his 39-year-old wife Tomoko are in Jamaica pitching products from their Answer Dyeworks company to dancehall personalities. They are also re-recording the famous Answer ‘riddim’ for a compilation album to complement their shirts, T-shirts, merinos, pants and hats. Sizzla, Bounty Killer, Ninjaman, Chronixx, Yellowman and Stone Love selector Rory Gilligan have donned Answer’s clothing which are manufactured in the Fukai’s hometown of Osaka. Kengo Fukai says their products are sold in Japanese retail stores. The company has been around for nine years and also produces compilation albums showcasing dub … Read entire article »

Filed under: GUEST RUNDOWNS