Rocksteady drills down to the roots of reggae

In the style of Buena Vista Social Club, Rocksteady: The Roots of Reggae reunites old-timers behind great records to revisit their hits in the studio and, ultimately, to perform a live show

There are at least a couple of versions of how rocksteady came to be. A common account involves scorching conditions in Jamaica during the early part of 1966, which might have called for a slightly slower musical tempo, more conducive to dancing than the fast-paced ska beat.

Beenie Man King of the Dancehall indeed

In what was probably the biggest dancehall night turnout in the 17-year history of Reggae Sumfest, Beenie Man proved that he was indeed the king of the dancehall.

The wiry deejay, who was earlier in the morning officially crowned dancehall king by the Sumfest organisers, effectively justified why the honour was bestowed upon him.

Sisters doing it for themselves

You know those artists who release a ridiculously catchy song, you end up hearing it constantly on the radio and you learn the lyrics off by heart, yet you never know who the song is by?

Chances are one of those songs belong to singing siblings Brick & Lace, whose biggest hit Love is Wicked (Google it; we bet you’ve heard it) has been doing the rounds on every major radio station in the region.

Reggae legend Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry brings the bottom end to ByWard

Asked the origin of his enduring nickname, Lee Perry is inclined to say, “All things start from Scratch.”

It is a characteristically blustery if uncharacteristically coherent pronouncement from the certifiably loopy septuagenarian. And it is a boast not without merit. The influential producer honed his skills nigh five decades ago under the tutelage of Jamaican pioneers Duke Reid and Joe Gibbs, and ultimately took his native land’s music to places neither mentor could have imagined.

Sumfest feeling economic pinch – But top American acts boost profile

Even though he has almost 20 years experience as a show promoter under his belt, Johnny Gourzong believes this month’s production of Reggae Sumfest will be the most challenging to date.

Jamaica has not escaped the rigours of the worldwide recession that started in August 2008, and Gourzong says Sumfest, which runs from July 19-25 in Montego Bay, has felt the pinch.

Elephant Man’s swagger rocked stadium

Elephant Man, dancehall’s self-styled “Energy God,” commanded a multitude to the Providence National Stadium, where he swept up fans with his “swagger” into the early hours of the morning.

He lived up to the top billing he received at the Digicel’s D’ Summer Flex concert on June 27. The trifecta of Jamaican headliners was rounded out by soulful reggae star Tanya Stephens and up and comer Tessanne Chin who delivered strong performances, after the local opening acts x2 and B-52 whetted the crowd’s appetite and firmed up their credentials.

Marley more popular in non-white world than MJ

Reggae icon Bob Marley was more popular than Michael Jackson in most of the non-white world based on web searches up to the time of Jackson’s death.

Blacks, Latin-Americans and many Asians were searching for Marley over pop icon Jackson with China and India as notable exceptions, due to limited reggae exposure.
Splash utilised Google Trends which compared as a ratio the search activity for each artiste over time.

The Itals keep on keepin’ on

Picture a bus full of Rastafarians high in the mountains of Colorado.

At the wheel is their leader, a man who many credit with keeping roots reggae alive through the dance hall years, through the days when the music itself seemed threatened with the extinction, lost amid rapid beats and DJ’s and the electronic pulse of a newer and considerably less soulful sound. Keith Porter has been on the road for as long as he can remember. As the leader of the Itals, he is one of the last remaining links to the very foundations of reggae music. And he is nowhere near stopping.

Roots-reggae pioneer keeps it ‘Real’

As one of the pioneers of roots-reggae music, Winston Rodney, a Bob Marley protege better known as Burning Spear, has long been a respected figure in music, counting everyone from Bono to B.B. King as fans.

Unfortunately, years of business mismanagement and record-label creative struggles plagued the man behind such classics as “Door Peep’’ and “Marcus Garvey.’’ Spear, as he calls himself, seized control of his career earlier this decade and has since launched his own Burning Spear record label, on which he released “Jah Is Real,’’ this year’s Grammy winner for best reggae album.

‘Mi vehicle cyaan dearer than mi house,’ says Flippa Mafia

When flossing king, Flippa Mafia, scored number one last year with the hit single Dem Yah and Dem Yah, it was the signal that this deejay was one of those “to watch”. And he has proved that this success was no fluke.

“It was a song that everybody liked instantly and it just took off and set my career on the right level,” recalls the deejay, whose single Unfinished House is kicking up a storm musically and otherwise.