Miami Broward One Carnival dodges wicked weather This weekend’s wicked weather was no match for carnival. Thousands of revelers turned out to Sun Life Stadium Sunday to experience South Florida’s take on the age-old tradition. Despite the drizzle, the annual parade of masquerade bands — with its dancers in sequined costumes and feathered headdresses, steel [...]
The Aggrolites get down to reggae’s heart and soul Jesse Wagner grew up in a musical family. Both his father and uncle played in soul bands during the ’60s, performing Stax and Motown standards, which became the music of Wagner’s youth. When he was a teenager, looking for modern music and his own identity, he [...]
Kartel’s arrest could be first of many in Jamaica music industry, Police say The surprise arrest of controversial Dancehall artiste, Adidja “Vybz Kartel” Palmer could be the first of many within the Jamaican music industry as police claim more artistes are under investigation for various murders. Kartel was arrested at his New Kingston hotel room [...]
Gambia: Dancehall Warrior On the Spotlight King Zai, better knowned by his music sobriquet -Dancehall Warrior, is no doubt one of the hottest rising dancehall-reggae artist in the whole of Brikama. The talented youngster, who was inspired into music because of his love for music, started his solo career way back in 1998, with a [...]
Story of the Song: ‘Too Experienced’ written on a bus Bob Andy attaches no specific meaning to the song Too Experienced is one of Bob Andy’s more popular songs, not only with audiences but also with those who have covered his songs. Barrington Levy, Eddie Lovette, Los Pericos (from Argentina), Ms Dynamite and Winston Francis [...]
Lover’s rock: the story of reggae’s Motown In 1979, Janet Kay’s piercing falsetto was one of the defining sounds of the summer. Silly Games, her bittersweet ode to a faltering relationship, enjoyed heavy radio play, thanks in part to a subtle arrangement by songwriter/producer Dennis Bovell, a distinctive drum pattern from Aswad’s Angus Gaye and [...]
‘Do not rush to judge’ – New York gets behind Denroy Morgan during legal woes Last week Thursday, New Yorkers woke up to the shocking news that beloved reggae artiste and hit machine Denroy Morgan, 66, had been arrested in the Bronx, New York and charged for possession of some 25 pounds of marijuana. ‘NYPD [...]
Catch music-heavy documentary Le Premier Rasta Le Premier Rasta could be Rastafarianism 101 for people whose knowledge of it doesn’t go much beyond dreadlocks, ganja and Bob Marley. The first Rasta of the title is Jamaican Leonard Percival Howell (1898-1981). Howell was the first to say that Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I was the Messiah [...]
Plug pulled on Third World At least 400 locals can consider themselves lucky in having the opportunity to witness a world-class show by reggae ambassadors Third World on Friday night at Churchill Park, Lautoka. Promoter Yusuf “Max” Khan pulled the plug on a second show scheduled for Suva last night ù admitting regret at having [...]
Freddie McGregor believes reggae suffers from abundance of overnight celebrities FREDDIE McGregor is a man who always speaks the truth as he sees it. His sentiments may not always be favourable among everyone in the reggae fraternity, but McGregor isn’t afraid to speak his mind. And frankly, with a career that has spanned more than [...]