By Cecelia Campbell-Livingston—- Most players looking to get their break in the music business are excited about scoring that big song. Unfortunately, a lot of artists lose out in the all-important areas of copyright and publishing. There are many stories of pioneer performers who had numerous hit songs in their heyday, but have nothing to show for that success. WEBLEY… one of the most common mistakes by Jamaican copyright holders is failure to formalise their creations   Many are struggling … Read entire article »

By Cecelia Campbell-Livingston—– In commemoration of Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of Independence from Britain, the Jamaica Observer’s Entertainment section recognises 50 persons who made significant, yet unheralded, contributions to the country’s culture. This week we feature Claudelle Clarke. THE year was 2005. The event was ‘It Soon Be Done’ at Cinema II in New Kingston, where veteran gospel singer Claudelle Clarke gave a captivating performance. CLARKE… gospel queen is a trailblazer   She brought the house down with standards like That’s … Read entire article »

By Basil Walters—– CANADA-based reggae artist Tasha T is the 2012 musical ambassador for the Read Across Jamaica (RAJ) Foundation. The project, which seeks to enhance children’s literary skills, has adopted her latest single Educate Yourself as its theme song for the year. This is the third year an overseas-based reggae artist has been chosen to be musical ambassador. According to RAJ, their music has to be “empowering and uplifting”. The other two were Princess Thundah and … Read entire article »

WESTERN BUREAU: A male passenger who had to be subdued by other passengers aboard an American Airlines flight from Montego Bay to Miami this morning appeared to be “disoriented”, says the airline spokesman Dori Lopez. Responding to Gleaner queries, Lopez, who said it was a company policy not to give out information on its passengers, said the man who was on flight 320, stood at his seat in the main cabin as the aircraft landed and was … Read entire article »

    POLICE are now hunting for a man who brutally stabbed a teenager to death for laughing at him when he fell from his bicycle. The dead teen has been identified as 17-year-old Shayheim Marsh. The incident happened in the community of Waterhouse in St Andrew on Wednesday. Police report that Marsh was watching a football match in area known as the Gaza when the man fell from a bicycle. Marsh and his friend laughed loudly which infuriated the … Read entire article »

‘Beenie was brave’ — festival promoter lauds deejay By Howard Campbell—– A spokesperson for the Rototom Sunsplash festival says Beenie Man’s olive branch to gays last week took “incredible courage” and is calling on Jamaican artists to follow the deejay’s lead by mending fences with the homosexual community. Filippo Giunta is CEO of the show which has its 19th renewal August 16-22 in Benicassim, Spain. Beenie Man, one of the headline acts, reached out to gays in a … Read entire article »

Picking up a Sony Gold award last week, BBC Radio 2 DJ David Rodigan is winning all sorts of praises as the UK’s ambassador for reggae. Ambassador for reggae: David Rodigan plays to crowds around the world.  Photo: Michael Bowles / Rex Features By Bernadette McNulty He may be a mere whippersnapper compared to radio’s current golden girl duo of Beryl and Betty, but when DJ David Rodigan picked up a Sony Gold award on the same night last week … Read entire article »

Dancehall artist ‘Busy Signal’ being escorted to court this morning – Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer … Read entire article »

  By PAUL HENRY Crime/court co-ordinator—– DANCEHALL artist Busy Signal was denied bail when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning. Resident Magistrate Stephanie Haisley said Busy — who is facing extradition to the United States — is a fugitive from justice and she had to take that into consideration. Dressed in full black, a handcuffed Busy was greeted by a throng of supporters who showed up at the court house. The popular entertainer, real name … Read entire article »