Barrington Levy– By Mel Cooke– Barrington Levy’s Here I Come, subtitled Broader than Broadway after part of the refrain, is one of his biggest hits. A sure party energiser, the official video has over three million YouTube views. Written in the first person, Here I Come, which appears on the mid-1980s album of the same name, puts Levy in the persona of a man who is being chastised by the mother of his baby. The setting – Levy singsabout the intercom and … Read entire article »

Classical pianist Orrett Rhoden – File By Arthur Hall— Celebrated Jamaican concert pianist Orrett Rhoden has told Jamaica House that he has decided not to accept the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander Class (CD) this year. On Independence Day, August 6, it was announced that Orrett Dexter Anthony Rhoden would be awarded a CD for his outstanding contribution to the development of classical music in Jamaica. But yesterday, Rhoden told The Sunday Gleaner that he had indicated to Jamaica House that he … Read entire article »

Christopher Martin (‘Sean’) and Karian Sang (‘Lisa’) in a scene from the recently completed film, ‘Destiny’. By Sadeke Brooks— A few artists have tapped into their acting talents in the past and, having cast Christopher Martin, Tifa and Spice in his new film, Destiny, film director Jeremy Whittaker believes artists should be utilised more in local films. In Destiny, Martin plays one of the major roles, while Tifa and Spice did cameos. The lead role is being played by Canada-based actress and … Read entire article »

Delroy Wilson— October 5th marked the 65th anniversary of the birth of the late great Jamaican singer, Delroy Wilson. A legend in his own right, Wilson was perhaps the most important individual to have walked through the gates of Clement ‘Sir Coxson’ Dodd’s revered Studio One (not yet named Studio One when he made that trek in 1962), at 13 Brentford Road in Kingston. Wilson was barely out of short pants and still attending Boys Town Primary School … Read entire article »

  KINGSTON, Jamaica — Kenneth Hoo Kim, one of four brothers associated with the Channel One studio, died on Thursday. His younger brother Ernest, told the Jamaica Observer that he died at his home in Independence City, Portmore, St Catherine, from lung cancer. He was 66 years old. Joseph and Paul were the other siblings who ran the Maxfield Avenue studio which opened in 1972. Paul was murdered by gunmen in nearby Greenwich Farm in 1977. The studio was the heartbeat of … Read entire article »

  A happy Shanique Myrie leaves the Supreme Court after hearing the Caribbean Court of Justice ruling in her case— KINGSTON, Jamaica— The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has ruled that Jamaican Shanique Myrie be awarded a total of Bds$75,000 or $3.6m Jamaican dollars. The ruling by the six-member panel was delivered via a video conference in the Supreme Court. The court declared that the Barbados government breached Myrie’s right to enter the country under article 5 of the revised … Read entire article »

  By Barbara Gayle—- The Supreme Court today threw out a request by lobby group Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) and the Marcus Garvey Political Party to join as an interested parties in the suit brought by gay rights activist Javed Jaghai. Jaghai in his suit is challenging the buggery law. The political party said it was representing Rastafarians. In turning down the application, Supreme Court Judge Lennox Campbell said the applicants did not show that they had sufficient interest in … Read entire article »

Community in action against exorbitant plane fares to Jamaica For the last few years, many travellers to Jamaica have seen a massive increase in airfares and a further reduction of their baggage allowances. The major airlines, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are the only two commercial airlines which fly to Jamaica from the UK, and as a result, they have certainly used this opportunity to their advantage, but in contrast, a major disadvantage to passengers. This … Read entire article »

  KINGSTON, Jamaica — Dominican singer Oriel has just released his debut EP, Confidence. The five-track project is a teaser for his album, scheduled to be out early next year. “The EP was designed basically to give listeners a taste of what is going to be on my album. I just wanted to whet their appetites a bit,” said Oriel. ORIEL…  I have a role to play in the new reggae movement The title song, All By Myself, Crazy Love, … Read entire article »

TWO veteran musicians are among the eight Jamaicans to be awarded Musgrave medals at a ceremony planned for the Institute of Jamaica’s (IOJ) located in downtown Kingston on October 16. Producer/musician Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and guitarist Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith will be presented the Gold and Silver Musgrave medals, respectively. Top: Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith Bottom: Lee “Scratch” Perry The Musgrave Award is one of the oldest awards of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. Awarded for the first time … Read entire article »