Whether Rihanna is quoting his lyrics on Twitter or Drake is retweeting that “Beres Hammond has to sing at my wedding,” Jamaica’s most prolific crooner has influenced some of the biggest stars today. Known to many as the “Otis Redding of Reggae,” Beres Hammond has been producing and pouring out his smoky-sweet voice over every kind of riddim track for over three decades. On November 13, the Grammy-nominated reggae icon will unleash his brand new double-disc … Read entire article »

The food court at a previous staging of the Ocho Rios Seafood Festival—–   The Ocho Rios Seafood Festival, held for the past five years at the Urban Development Corporation (UDC)-owned Turtle River Park, has moved. The event will now be held at the nearby Ocho Rios Cruise Pier under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. “We were originally slated for August 5 but had to be postponed due to rain associated with Tropical Storm Ernesto,” explained the … Read entire article »

By Howard Campbell——– THERE were few hotter reggae bands in the 1990s than the Jahpostles, a Portland six-piece that was roots singer Garnet Silk’s official backing unit. Little has been heard of them since Silk’s tragic death in December, 1994. Bassist Devon Bradshaw, one of Jahpostles’ original members, spoke to the Jamaica Observer last week. He said the band is still around, though not as active as 20 years ago when they backed the biggest artists in … Read entire article »

Well-known academician and international affairs pundit Professor John Rapley says comments made by Zimbabwea’s president Robert Mugabe about Jamaicans should not come as a shock. According to the professor, who up to recently was a research associate at the International Growth Centre at the London School of Economicsand Political Science, it is not the first time that the Zimbabwean president has made unflattering comments about Jamaicans and Rastafarians, in particular. And, although the government has not yet responded … Read entire article »

Dr Omar Davies into research on artists—- By Mel Cooke—— Dr Omar Davies was minister of finance in the P.J. Patterson-led government and is currently minister of transport, works and housing in the political administration headed by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller. His doctorate is in economics and, if the wishes he expressed at the Trench Town Multi-Purpose Building opening on Wednesday are fulfilled, at some point he will be delving deep into probably Jamaica’smost lucrative product – music. Speaking at the official opening … Read entire article »

By Simone Morgan—– WHILE he works in a genre often criticised for monotony, producer/songwriter and percussionist Teetimus says he does not limit himself to a particular sound. This has resulted in him taking on musical projects with a number of hip-hop and R&B acts. Earlier this year, he hit it big with Affairs of the Heart, a catchy song by Grammy-winning reggae/dancehall artiste Junior Gong. TEETIMUS… does not limit himself to a particular sound The 33-year-old told the Jamaica … Read entire article »

By Basil Walters ——– IT is often said that music is to Trench Town what acting is to Hollywood. So, it is only fitting that a cultural facility will be named in honor of one of the community’s great sons, singer Alton Ellis. This was announced Wednesday by Colin Weise, a representative of the Trench Town Development Association (TTDA). ELLIS… died at age 70 on October 10, 2008 of lymphatic cancer Weise says the main hall of the recently … Read entire article »

By Carl Gilchrist—- Jamaican author JJ Thomas, has published his latest book, Black America! Why? on Amazon.com where it has been since August 22. The Trelawny-born writer, who now resides in St Mary, is known locally for his first book Chat Jamaican which was published in Jamaica in 1984. Since then, he has written several books that are yet to be published. Black America! Why? is billed as a thought-provoking perspective on racism, and seems destined to be quite controversial. Thomas spent two years in predominantly black Detroit, in … Read entire article »