By Rhonda Campbell—- Denise Jones ——- Jamaica’s JAMBANA Festival, Caribbean Swing and Jamaican Rhythms are a few of the events Denise Jones and her team at Jones & Jones Productions have helped produce. Jones co-founded the Canada-based company in 1987. Over the years Jones & Jones Productions has become one of Canada’s premier music promotions, marketing and management companies, booking more than 150 performing artists annually and receiving a number of accolades for its work. Realizing the rewards of working with … Read entire article »

  Code Red Band exploded on the scene ten years ago and quickly became the number one reggae show and backing band in South Florida. Now they have the number one song to match. They sit atop the South Florida Reggae Charts with their new hit single “Unconditionally”, an original piece, written and produced by bandleader Zemroy “Zimma” Lewis. Bobby Rose, the band’s newest member did a fantastic job on lead vocals and has women going … Read entire article »

Phyllis Diller, an actress and comedian best known for her stand-up comedy act, isdead at age 95. TMZ reports that the comedian passed away at her Los Angeles home at 9:30 a.m. Monday in the company of her family. Diller’s agent Fred Wostbrock confirmed the news to NBC, telling its news website, “It is a great loss today… She was a true pioneer and the first lady of standup. She paved the way for Chelsea Handler, Roseanne Barr, Joan Rivers … Read entire article »

BY BASIL WALTERS——- THE inaugural Marcus Garvey Day in Jamaica was widely celebrated with music on the National Hero’s birthday last Friday. It was fitting that before the day was over, deejay Capleton, who appeared on the three main events, was recognised for his contribution to music at the fourth annual Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) Marcus Garvey Awards, at the East Lawns of Devon House. Enid Courtney (second left), lady president of the Universal Negro Improvement Association … Read entire article »

Clement ‘Sir Coxson’ Dodd—- One of the most interesting and intriguing features of early Jamaican music was the prevalence of verbal clashes between artistes. In Jamaican parlance at the time, it was referred to as ‘throw word’ or ‘musical wars’. Quite different from what’s happening in today’s Jamaican music scene, it sometimes started out acrimoniously, then peters out to friendly confrontations, devoid of physical combats by the performers. These throw words, which were conveyed in the actual … Read entire article »

BY SIMONE MORGAN—— DANCEHALL music would not be complete without dancers. Inner-city choreographers like Bogle were as popular as deejays Bounty Killer and Beenie Man back in the 1990s. In recent years, names like Ice, Ovamarz, Ravers Clavers, MOB, and Bermuda Squad followed in Bogle’s footsteps and became easily identifiable in the dancehall. But there are some in the movement such as Dance Xpressionz’ Orville Hall and Marlon ‘Ovamarz’ Hardy, who do not think Jamaicans are appreciative … Read entire article »

Performers dance while fireworks burst into the sky during Jamaica’s Golden Jubilee Grand Gala on Independence Day. Photo by Gladstone Taylor—- By Davina Henry——- Entertainment activities have been in state of constant flux for a few years now, and there are those who are concerned that the industry is in trouble. In 2011, for instance, entertainment activities were negatively affected by lower employment levels which resulted in reduced expenditure on recreational activities. But, according to the Economic and Social Survey 2011, published by … Read entire article »