Just let the music play. without set quotas Large radio stations won’t increase local content to suit the Jamaica Music Society (JAMMS) which says the dominance of foreign music is costing the country millions in royalty payments at the expense of national development. “We are not supportive of giving up flexibility and ability to respond [...]
Many horn players, few opportunities Jamaica has a sterling history of horns in its music, the trumpet, trombone and saxophone giving songs a sparkle onstage and in the studio, and people such as Tommy McCook, Don Drummond, Wilton Gaynair, Lester Sterling, Sonny Bradshaw, Nambo Robinson, Dean Fraser and Tony Greene among those who have played [...]
Blakk Rasta features in Amsterdam’s biggest reggae festival Ghana’s reggae sensation, Blakk Rasta, performs live in Holland, on a platform which has for years been the preserve of Western and American reggae artistes. The concert, which comes off at The Sand in Amsterdam city, is the most popular reggae event in Holland. Blakk Rasta rubs [...]
Gay activists protest upcoming Buju Banton performance at Miami’s James L. Knight Center Several gay-rights groups are protesting a Halloween-night concert at a city of Miami-owned hall by Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton, whose hit song Boom Bye Bye advocates shooting gays in the head and setting them on fire. “”The message is that gay [...]
Errol Bonnick fuels his passion for music The entertainment industry is replete with instances of artistes starting out as a member of a group, then branching out into solo acts. On the international stage there is Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Lionel Richie and Beyonce, while locally such artistes include Bob Marley, Judy Mowatt, John Holt [...]
He might have been giant Despite his near sellout of the Trocadero Saturday night, things could have been better for Buju Banton. The 36-year-old Jamaican roots reggae/dancehall singer and lyricist was once set to follow in Bob Marley’s giant steps. By popularizing dancehall with his innovations of lyrics speaking of social consciousness and his use [...]
Gay groups anger Buju’s management The cancellation of another Buju Banton concert in the United States, due to pressure from gay rights groups, has prompted an angry response from the singjay’s management. Banton was scheduled to perform on October 8 at the Urban Lounge in Salt Lake City, Utah, but the show was cancelled Tuesday, [...]
Jamaican reggae legend Max Romeo Max Romeo. is on the brink of ending his forty year career, but retains much of the vim and vision that made him a pioneer of rude reggae in the Sixties. Today’s World Tracks is an exclusive exchange with one of the monuments of reggae music. This is Max Romeo [...]
Tuff Gong signs distribution deal with Disney A giant of family entertainment has teamed up with the biggest brand name in Caribbean music. Tuff Gong Caribbean Distributors, part of the legendary Marley stable of corporations, has reached an agreement with Hollywood and Walt Disney Records for the exclusive distribution of their catalogue throughout the Caribbean. [...]
Lest we forget Peter Tosh, Free I, Doc Brown Last Friday, September 11, had immense global historical significance. This date is traditionally celebrated in Ethiopia as New Year’s Day according to its ancient Julian Calendar. Since 2001, it took on new meaning in the western world as for the past eight years the calamity that [...]