Bob Andy: One of Reggae’s last great soldiers

One of my greatest honours in life was being able to introduce Bob Andy at Sunsplash – Roger Steffens, US reggae lecturer/historian.
Andy. one of the prime movers in the world of reggae music

Steffens is one of many influential persons in reggae to have accorded status of brilliance to the works of Keith Anderson, the legendary Bob Andy, one of the prime movers in the world of reggae music.

Men for sale?

Perched on the edge of her sunlounger, the young Jamaican man picks up the woman’s hand and lavishes it with kisses. “You is very beautiful, you know that, girl?” he says. The ‘girl’ giggles as she sips her cocktail. Somewhere in her early 40s, she hardly qualifies for the description. Nor is her beauty strikingly obvious.

In fact, on this occasion, it is the woman – 42-year-old Carol, an office administrator from Birmingham – who is in the driving seat. And, as she confides to a girlfriend, there are “plenty more where he came from”.

UB Irie

In 1978, England’s unemployment soared to new heights as railroad and coal-mining strikes paralyzed the economy. Birmingham’s disenfranchised youth gathered at church dances where DJs played the latest Jamaican reggae and at blues dances throughout the city and at uptown clubs such as the Rainbow and the Mecca Ballroom. That same year, a band formed in Birmingham, calling itself UB40 — a reference to a British unemployment form. In Jamaica, meanwhile, a producer named Tony Johnson revolutionized the reggae world with the inaugural Reggae Sunsplash.

Marley brothers spread ‘One Love’

When reggae icon Bob Marley died 25 years ago, he didn’t just leave behind a legacy of music that transcended the globe with songs of revolution (“Get Up, Stand Up,”), love (“Waiting in Vain,”) and pride (“One Love”).

He inspired his children, equally devoted to fulfilling an overwhelming desire to bring a message of peace and love to the masses through song.

My first time at Reggae or “A yot a-yook, but d’ yood no ‘nough.”

It all started when Northern Lights Editor Jarad Petroske asked me around 5:30 p.m. Friday to go down to the infamous hippie-fest Reggae on the River.

“Hasn’t it already started?” I asked, trying to come up with an excuse.

Cruzing into music – Anthony Cruz bio

With his cute baby face, captivating eyes, sexy physique, soulful voice, classy attire, shy-guy demeanour, fun-loving attitude and slick stage act, Anthony Cruz is regarded as one of the most charismatic entertainers around. And boy, does he make the ladies weak!

Even in death Miss Lou smiles

Jamaicans from all walks of life yesterday streamed into the National Arena in Kingston to pay their last respects to Jamaica’s cultural icon Louise ‘Miss Lou’ Bennett-Coverley whose body is on view for two days before an official funeral tomorrow.

Sunsplash returns with daylight dancehall

Before falling off the concert calendar in 1997, Reggae Sunsplash was famed for its daylight endings. On its return to the expansive seaside Richmond Estate in Priory, St. Ann, on Thursday night, it was back to sunlight endings for the bmobile Reggae Sunsplash.

MC Richie B sent a substantial audience, which grew dramatically from tiny beginnings earlier, home from Dancehall Night at 6:47 a.m.

Reggae hits full stride

Event officials said 15,000 people were spread from French’s Camp to Dimmick Ranch. This is the first year the even has been held at its new location, Dimmick Ranch.

And contrary to what some may believe, Reggae on the River is a family friendly event.

Massive marathon on Sunsplash’s Int’l Night

At 11:40 p.m. on Saturday when Steel Pulse was called on to lead the billed British Invasion of bmobile Reggae Sunsplash’s International Night, the very sparse audience in front of the stage had a remarkable growth spurt.

After paying attention to Etana and Kamau from the main stage then moving across, persons returned from watching Inner Voice’s strong showing on the seaside amphitheatre stage, as well as the booths on the perimeter and various points around the massive ground, to form a critical cheering mass for the band from Handsworth’s 60-minute set.