Reggae legend Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry brings the bottom end to ByWard

Asked the origin of his enduring nickname, Lee Perry is inclined to say, “All things start from Scratch.”
It is a characteristically blustery if uncharacteristically coherent pronouncement from the certifiably loopy septuagenarian. And it is a boast not without merit. The influential producer honed his skills […]

Sumfest feeling economic pinch - But top American acts boost profile

Even though he has almost 20 years experience as a show promoter under his belt, Johnny Gourzong believes this month’s production of Reggae Sumfest will be the most challenging to date.
Jamaica has not escaped the rigours of the worldwide recession that started in August 2008, […]

Elephant Man’s swagger rocked stadium
Elephant Man, dancehall’s self-styled “Energy God,” commanded a multitude to the Providence National Stadium, where he swept up fans with his “swagger” into the early hours of the morning.

He lived up to the top billing he received at the Digicel’s D’ Summer Flex concert on June 27. The trifecta of Jamaican […]

Marley more popular in non-white world than MJ
Reggae icon Bob Marley was more popular than Michael Jackson in most of the non-white world based on web searches up to the time of Jackson’s death.

Blacks, Latin-Americans and many Asians were searching for Marley over pop icon Jackson with China and India as notable exceptions, due to […]

The Itals keep on keepin’ on

Picture a bus full of Rastafarians high in the mountains of Colorado.
At the wheel is their leader, a man who many credit with keeping roots reggae alive through the dance hall years, through the days when the music itself seemed threatened with the extinction, lost amid rapid beats and DJ’s […]