By Cecelia Campbell-Livingston– BISHOP Richard McKenzie has endured numerous challenges in his 30-odd years. Many of those experiences inspire his songs. His new single, Dash The Blessing Pon Dem, was released recently on the RAM Ministry label. McKenzie says it is a personal statement. Bishop Richard McKenzie “I was thinking on how blessed I am. Growing up an orphan in the Salvation Army at Hanbury Home for Children in Mandeville, feeling worthless and unhappy after being abandoned by my … Read entire article »

  KINGSTON, Jamaica — It is well documented that drum and bass and reggae go hand-in-hand. For 50 years, the music has produced a number of great rhythm teams. Drummer Immanuel Walsh and bassist Ian ‘Bassheart’ Knight have been playing together for 25 years but it was not until 2011 that they formalised their partnership with the band, Black Blood. Black Blood Walsh and Knight, who spend much of their professional time in Japan, recently released Transfusion, Black Blood’s first … Read entire article »

End of an era for Iconic black radio station By Elizabeth Pears— GONE: Daddy Ernie CHOICE FM have stopped broadcasting under the name listeners know and love. Britain’s first black radio station – licensed specifically to cater to African and African Caribbean audiences – has been renamed Capital XTRA as part of a major rebranding exercise. The end of an era was announced on Twitter on the third day of Black History Month. The secret decision – which has been in … Read entire article »

  Natty B has confirmed that he is to leave Choice FM. Reggae has always faced an uphill struggle to be heard. Almost by its very definition an outsider music, reggae has continually faced problems making an impact on mainstream British culture. Earlier this year David Rodigan MBE left his post at KISS FM, leaving relatively few advocates for reggae in prominent positions. Now Choice FM mainstay Natty B has revealed that he is set to part company with … Read entire article »

   International reggae star Sanchez has inked a distribution deal with New Millionaire Entertainment. Known for his plethora of songs and a voice that translates into perfection each time he sings, Sanchez has been a staple for many huge concerts globally and in the hearts of music lovers around the globe.     Now looking towards a larger platform, Sanchez takes another step in his career and brings New Millionaire Entertainment onboard.  New Millionaire has positioned itself to be … Read entire article »

  HistoryMiami has announced it will host the Bob Marley Messenger exhibition endorsed by the Marley family from Oct.11 — Jan. 5. Miami is the last stop of the traveling exhibition before it heads to the birthplace of Bob Marley, Nine Mile in Jamaica. The unique exhibition, curated by the prestigious Grammy Museum at L.A. LIVE, will open at HistoryMiami, 101 W Flagler St., with a 7 p.m. celebration on Thursday, Oct. 10 featuring local reggae band … Read entire article »

BY HOWARD CAMPBELL— THE resurgence of rock superstar Eric Clapton during the mid-1970s is revisited in a six-CD, multi-track set titled Give Me Strength: The ’74/’75 Recordings. The album, which will be released on November 22, contains four versions of I Shot The Sheriff, the Bob Marley original Clapton covered for his landmark 1974 album, 461 Ocean Boulevard. Top: Eric Clapton Bottom: Bob Marley & Peter Tosh Clapton’s version topped the Billboard magazine chart and sparked a career revival … Read entire article »

Reggae’s powerful sibling quintet, Morgan Heritage, returns with the compelling video Ends Nah Meet. Directed by the band and Maximilian Shelton, the video features a montage of clips from Jamaica. Morgan Heritage’s most recent European tour, as well as historical public domain footage documenting the economic struggle that people of all classes (lower, middle and upper) face on a daily basis. Ends Nah Meet is off the group’s first studio album in five years, Here Come The Kings … Read entire article »

Veronica Campbell-Brown – File Jamaican sprint star Veronica Campbell-Brown has been cleared to resume competition. Today, the disciplinary panel hearing her doping case ruled that she did not use the prohibited substance for performance enhancement. The panel further said this is not one of the most serious offences and it was appropriate that she should be given a public warning. Campbell-Brown returned an adverse analytical finding on May 4 at theJamaica International Invitational at the National Stadium. The two-time Olympic 200-metre gold medallist tested positive for … Read entire article »

LOVERS rock, reggae’s equivalent of smooth jazz, is currently enjoying a revival in the United Kingdom where it had its genesis during the late 1970s. On October 19, the fifth staging of the ‘Giants of Lovers Rock’ show takes place at Indigo2, a department of the O2 Arena in Greenwich, London. Lovers’ rock singer Frankie Paul will be the guest artist on Giants of Lovers Rock’ show which takes place at Indigo2, a department of the O2 … Read entire article »