Expand Photo The Wailing Souls is one of the last original reggae bands. Risen alongside Peter Tosh and Bob Marley, the Jamaican duo has been there since the beginning. They’ve grown and changed with the genre, but they continue the tradition with a wholeheartedness rarely found in any form of music. They believe in its power. After all, reggae is a music of love. Lloyd “Bread” McDonald spoke with Lake Tahoe Action about the roots of … Read entire article »

By Cecelia Campbell-Livingston—- ONE of the leading songwriters from the rock steady era believes the days of composing good songs all but lost to Jamaican pop music. Renford Cogle, who wrote several classic songs for The Melodians, was one of the speakers at the Coalition for the Preservation of Reggae (CPR) forum recently in New York City. Renford Cogle makes a point at the CPR songwriting forum recently held in New York City. He bemoaned the lack of good … Read entire article »

Gucci Flavour—– By Curtis Campbell—– Dancehall artist Gucci Flava is celebrating Child Month by dedicating his song Mi Love Mi Kids Dem to children worldwide. The father of four said the song is already inspiring fathers to show more respect for their offspring. He hopes to spark a change in Caribbean men’s approach to fatherhood. “The words flowed so easy, because it’s my life. The process seemed supernatural and I believe that is why it’s already having a positive impact,” he said. “I … Read entire article »

  From ChatyChaty.com —- Jus Wicked, the debut album from the band YAHBA, is being hailed as “one of the sweetest reggae albums around”. The album features legends  including Jackie Mittoo, Mikey Chung, Dean Fraser, Robbie Lyn, Boris Gardner, Willi Williams, Brian Atkinson, Spread Bedassie, Pam Hall and others. YAHBA calls their music reggae soul and it includes a variety of tunes that give the listener a little ska, a little easy listening, a little Jazz and even dub-wise. The first track, Everyday … Read entire article »

Frederick ‘Toots’ Hibbert. – — THE HEAD injury that Frederick ‘Toots’ Hibbert, who performs as Toots & the Maytals, suffered just over a week ago is affecting him more severely than it initially appeared. Hibbert has cut an acoustic tour of the United States (US) short and returns to Jamaica today for tests. The tour started in New York a day after he was hit by a bottle flung by a patron at the Dominion Riverrock Outdoor Sports and Music Festival in Richmond, … Read entire article »

RICHMOND, VA— A Henrico County teen has been charged with assaulting the leader of the reggae band Toots and the Maytals during Saturday’s Riverrock festival. “Toots” Hibbert spoke exclusively to 8News about the incident. “It was a terrible accident. But I’m still here, I’m strong.” Frederick “Toots” Hibbert remained positive after the incident. Hibbert was hit by a glass bottle thrown from the crowd Saturday night as the band was performing at the Dominion Riverrock outdoor sports … Read entire article »

By Erik Magni—– Scandinavia Reggae Festival is a new two-day reggae festival based in central Copenhagen, Denmark, only a ten minute walk from the world famous Christiania. The festival will take place in a former industrial area, an area well-known in Denmark since it often hosts festivals and large concerts. Located by the sea, the area is a hybrid of concrete, trees and fields that will host three stages – a main stage, a big tent stage and a … Read entire article »

By Balford Henry—— VETERAN producer Winston ‘Niney’ Holness, principal of the Observer Soundbox Studio, said he is going to unleash a new sound in the Jamaican marketplace. His comments came at the official opening of his Lyndhurst Road-based studio. Veteran producer Winston ‘Niney’ Holness greets Sharon Ffolkes- Abrahams (right), minister of state in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, while Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, Opposition spokesperson on culture, looks on. The occasion was the opening of Holness’s Observer … Read entire article »

BY KEVIN JACKSON—- MARLEY brothers, Damian and Stephen, recently worked on a ‘one drop’ remix of rock legend Eric Clapton’s latest song Every Little Thing, taken from his current album Old Sock. According to Scott Seine, general manager of Surfdog, the company that manages Clapton, the collaboration emerged from a business relationship with Damian. Top: Stephen Marley, Bottom: Eric Clapton “I reached out to Damian because of the obvious reggae connection and history between Eric and Bob Marley and … Read entire article »

   Derrick Morgan ‘King of Ska’ makes immense contribution apart from own songs Last week’s Music Diaries on Jamaican ska singer Eric ‘Monty’ Morris again brought into sharp focus Derrick Morgan’s colossal contribution to the development of Jamaican popular music. During the early 1960s, when the driving rhythm of ska dominated the Jamaican music scene, he was the singer, above all others, whom aspiring artistes sought to emulate. Morgan was so popular that at one time he held the top seven positions on … Read entire article »