Adija ‘Vybz Kartel’ Palmer –— A Home Circuit Court jury has been directed to rule that dancehall entertainer Vybz Kartel is not guilty of the murder of St. Catherine businessman Barrington ‘Bossy’ Burton. However, Kartel will remain in custody because he has another murder case pending against him. The jury has also freed Kartel’s two co-accused, Lenburgh McDonald and Nigel Thompson. Supreme Court judge Bryan Sykes instructed the 12-member jury to return the verdicts after the prosecution informed the … Read entire article »

BY SIMONE MORGAN—–  SINGER Anthony Cruz is in the final stages of recording an album as tribute to Garnet Silk. Cruz, who is a nephew of the late singer, says the set hears him covering 15 of Silk’s songs including Mama, Seven Spanish Angels and Nothing Can Divide Us. (L-R) Anthony Cruz and Garnet Silk Anthony “I am really enthusiastic about this project as he (Garnet Silk) had a great influence on my music style,” Cruz told the Jamaica … Read entire article »

After beginning her three-month jail sentence on July 8 for failing to pay about $1 million in taxes over the past decade, the 38-year-old Grammy-winning singer wrote a letter to fans, thanking them for their support and opening up about her experience in prison so far. Hill’s team shared the message on her Tumblr page, explaining that she can’t personally answer all the fan mail she’s received. “Ms. Hill has received a lot mail, and would like to let … Read entire article »

Adijah ‘Vybz Kartel’ Palmer — By Barbara Gayle—- Supreme Court judge Bryan Sykes has turned down the application to accept two witness statements at the murder trial of dancehall artist Vybz Kartel. Justice Sykes handed down his ruling a short while ago. He said he was not convinced that the prosecution took enough steps to locate the witnesses. Justice Sykes says the jury will now be directed to return a formal verdict of not guilty. The 12-member jury is to return … Read entire article »

Tourism interests in St Ann are reporting that Ocho Rios is seeing a marked decrease in tourist harassment. Addressing the recently held annual general meeting of the St Ann Chamber of Commerce, former president Kumar Sujanani said the reports of harassment have dropped. While not providing figures, Sujanani said the positive improvement is due to the work of the police, with support from the tourism ministry and the business sector. Tourist harassment has been an ongoing problem in Ocho … Read entire article »

  GOSPEL artist Stefan Peninsilyn is continuing his musical ministry with his self-produced album God’s Angel. Released in April, the 16-track set is on his Medikation Camp label. PENINSILYN… the album is for any and everyone who will listen   “The album is for any and everyone who will listen. I hope it will warn, encourage, strengthen and heal this and the next generation to come,” said Peninsilyn, who is now residing in Florida. The set features God’s Angel and Fada … Read entire article »

By Donna Hussey-Whyte—- THERE has been an outpouring of sympathy and offers of assistance for 39-year-old Olympian Olivia McKoy who — after representing Jamaica at the national level for 20 years and placed second at the National Senior Championship in June — has been living on the streets and forced to sell bag juice to survive. Following a Sunday Observer story, which highlighted the javelin thrower’s situation, several individuals have expressed their desire to help the struggling … Read entire article »

By Amy Pavuk, Orlando Sentinel A 31-year-old man was killed during an altercation outside the Citrus Bowl during a reggae event late Sunday night, Orlando police said. Detectives would not say how Karl Bess died, but have ruled it a homicide. Police said there was an “altercation” at Festival Field about 10 p.m. Sunday during “Hyped Reloaded Reggae,” which was advertized as a family event. Bess, who was at the event with friends, was injured and transported to a local … Read entire article »

  REGGAE icon Bob Marley broke into the top 10 of Billboard’s Social 50 chart last week. The Social 50 ranks the most popular artists on electronic media YouTube, Vevo, Facebook, Twitter, SoundCloud, Wikipedia, Myspace and Instagram. Bob Marley   The chart’s methodology blends weekly additions of friends/fans/followers along with artist page views, song plays and reactions as measured by music analytics company, Next Big Sound. According www.billboard.com   Marley, who died in May 1982 of cancer, ascended from 34 to … Read entire article »

Peter Tosh—- One of the noticeable features of many early outstanding entertainers is their short lifespan. Bob Marley lived for only 36 years; Bobby Darin survived for a year longer; Roy Hamilton managed to make it to 40, while Nat King Cole died at age 45.  Jamaica’s child prodigy and the dean of reggae, Delroy Wilson, survived for two years longer than Nat King Cole, while Jamaica’s singing sensation duo of the 1960s, The Blues Busters – Phillip … Read entire article »