There was mayhem at the Harare International Airport Friday afternoon after Jamaican dancehall king, Sean Paul touched down aboard a British Airways plane as hordes of fans breached the security cordons and scrambled to touch the mega star.
“Akuuya! Akuuya! (He’s coming! He’s coming!),” a fan cried out as Sean Paul approached the terminal exit.
Riquey Bingham making strides at home and aboard
The Reggae brand continues to have an impact both locally and overseas. One of the newest kids on the block seeking to make a name for himself on making such an impact is Riquey Bingham.
His video for his single, Your Body Girl, was released on local TV just over a month ago. According to the artiste, the video is currently getting steady rotation on Hype TV and on CVM’s Hitlist. It is also getting good rotation in New York via CIN and other Tri-state Caribbean Network, Riquey notes.
Toussaint’s Reggae Soul, on Black Gold.
The music business is populated by many more people who knock around its fringes than by stars who make a handsome living. On occasion, hustle and hard work push someone with talent from the margin to another plane. Witness Toussaint, the stage name of Paul Barrett, a 30-year-old singer out of Muncie, Ind., who cut his teeth in the choir at the Baptist church where his mother sang and his father preached.
Lee “Scratch” Perry and the Golden Age of Roots: ‘War Ina Babylon’
The producer occupies a unique place in the crowded and intricate world of Jamaican music. Making sense of the countless singers, engineers, and instrumentalists who could be involved in any given song requires the kind of expertise enjoyed by few casual listeners, but in some cases the studio at which a recording was made is a convenient shortcut. The producer, after all, was frequently responsible for bringing the contributors together, as well as for creating the atmosphere of the record—a deciding factor in the message and the impact of reggae music. Auteurs like Joe Gibbs, Keith Hudson, and Augustus Pablo were the men who shaped a final product from the diverse forces guiding Jamaican music, forging an individual legacy from the talents of a host of musicians, songwriters, and engineers.
He Is celebrated and revered for his uplifting musical messages, delivered through songs including Sweep Over My Soul and What We Need Is Love. He was even awarded the Order of Distinction by the Government in 2007.
But earlier this year, reggae star Luciano hit the headlines in a shocking story that brought his reputation into question. Following a shoot-out between a gunman and police officers at Luciano’s home in in March, the reggae star was charged with harbouring a fugitive.
Troubled reggae festival can’t stop the sheriff
Ottawa’s Reggae Festival had already been off to a bad start when news ricocheted Saturday that Bob Marley’s son, Ky-mani, had pulled out as its headliner.
Then, at around 7 p.m., as some lined up to get in, while others were demanding refunds, a provincial sheriff, accompanied by Ottawa police, came for the cash receipts at the front gate.
International dancehall artiste Mr Vegas recently completed a handful of musical projects before embarking on his current tour of North America and Europe.
Vegas has also released Boy Shorts, Sweet Jamaica, Can’t Even Walk and Cutie. Boy Shorts was produced by Billboard chart-topping producer Rohan ‘Sno Cone’ Fuller.
Biopic on reggae legend Bob Marley
British director Jenny Ash has announced making a biopic about reggae music legend Bob Marley.
Ash is developing a project about the reggae artist, focusing on the time he spend living here, reports contactmusic.com.
Ce’Cile mines ‘gold’ in the UK
Ce’Cile has been consistent in churning out hits locally (her most recent include Anything and Black Coffee), she has managed to score most of her mainstream successes outside of Jamaica.
Last year, she topped the German R&B Singles chart with Hot Like We and a few weeks ago Talk Talk mouthed its way to number 10.
Caribbean entertainers are really becoming worthy of international recognition with each passing day. And Jamaican artistes, producers, public relations experts, and management must be given props for their industrious work and their ethic in ensuring the artistes, and essentially the island, receive the attention required. Kavelle Christie of Blueprint Publicity and Promotions approached the T&T Guardian on behalf of the 27- year-old son of Freddie McGreggor, Daniel “Chino” McGreggor, who revealed some of the amazing things that have been happening in his career.