When up-and-coming reggae singer Prophecy penned the single Chance – an anti-violence piece – and sent it off to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) shortly after the untimely death of South African reggae singer Lucky Dube, he had no idea that he had set in motion what would become his chance of a lifetime.
Kingston College (KC) choir in a Yuletide mood
The purple and white gowns worn by the Kingston College Chapel Choir at their Christmas concert on Sunday might have been symbolic, the white indicating the purity of the voices, the purple, the royalty associated with the occasion.
Certainly, the three dozen or so young men in the choir were in good voice. (Thirty-seven members: six basses, tenors an each, with the remainder being trebles, were listed in the printed programme, though not all were present.) And the occasion was a celebration of the birth of King Jesus.
February to be declared Reggae Month, says Grange
The Government is to declare February Reggae Month, minister of information, culture, youth and sports, Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, told guests at the launch of the Reggae Academy Awards last Tuesday at the Hilton Kingston Hotel.
“I really want to say to you that the Government will be announcing, at the highest level, a declaration of February as Reggae Month,” Grange said. “And it will be announced and presented in a manner that will impact not only in Jamaica but across the world.”
Artistes pay big bucks for on-stage impact
It’s not unusual for an artiste to spend megabucks on stage ensemble.
“Me spen’ ’bout one million fe ’bout 20 suit a year,” quips self-professed King of the Dancehall, Beenie Man, explaining that he gives a lump sum to ‘Smilie’ – of dancehall design house WhiteSky – who builds unique creations which fans, over the years, have seemingly anticipated almost as much as ‘The Doctor’s’ entertaining act.
The outrageous demands of music’s superstars
One of the big talking points on November 19 was the Observer story outlining some of the dressing room demands of 50 Cent, including champagne, fine china and silverware. Having been in the entertainment business for many years, the “who the hell does he think he is” and “do promoters put up with this crap?” reactions, prompted me to open up to the public, the weird underbelly of the business.
‘I’ll never marry again’ – ‘There is an icebox where my heart used to be,’ Beenie says
After a much-publicised split from his wife D’Angel and several embarrassing moments, The Doctor’, Beenie Man, says he will never get married again. The deejay, who is currently separated from his wife of less than a year, told THE STAR that he is currently single and is in no rush to enter into a relationship.
‘Burnin’ smokes in US Library of Congress – Friday
Burnin’, the 1973 Island Records album which was the swansong for the core Wailers unit of Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh, has been chosen for perpetual preservation in the United States Library of Congress. A release from Tuff Gong International Ltd. said “Each year the United States Library of Congress selects a small number of audio recordings to preserve for all time in the National Recording Registry, based on their historical, artistic or cultural importance … “
After Beres Hammond recorded the Soul Reggae album for Aquarius, released in 1976, his life changed. Or, at least, his life was changed for him. We pick up on our ongoing series on Beres Hammond at the point where his popularity was really skyrocketing.
With Got To Get Away ruling the airwaves, Beres Hammond said Aquarius was approached “by one or two labels, Warner etc.”. But would have none of it.
Chaka Demus, Pliers – open ‘Front Door’
Singer Pliers chuckles when The Gleaner asks if the new single, Front Door, refers to a vehicle, a house or any other object which requires entry and exit. He just calls it “another kind of door”. And Chaka Demus, his deejay partner in one of the most successful and long-lasting duos in Jamaican music, says “A jus’ straight front door dis ya place have. It no have no back door”.
The Month In: Reggae / Dancehall
As we round up 2007, one certainty is times are changing for reggae and dancehall. Vinyl production in Jamaica is at a virtual standstill, the apparently unstoppable flow of riddim albums on international labels such as VP and Greensleeves has now come to an end, Jah Cure can no longer make records about being in jail, and some of the best roots music of the year has been made by white people.