New Compilation CD Features ‘The Best Of’ Lucky Dube’s Music

Music fans who mourned the death of reggae icon Lucky Dube in October last year should be pleased to hear his record company has released a compilation of his greatest hits. The 17-track CD is titled Lucky Dube – The Best Of. It features all the hits that made the South African musician a household name across the continent, and abroad. From Harare, reporter Derek Moyo has more.

Billy Ocean Inducted Into International Reggae Music Hall Of Fame

Trinidad & Tobago-born, UK raised singer, Billy Ocean, was Sunday night inducted into the International Reggae & World Music Awards Hall Of Fame.

The singer, whose real name is Leslie Sebastian Charles, was honored for his lengthy years of service to the music industry at the Apollo Theater by organizers of the annual event, Martin’s International & Associates, LLC. Ocean had a string of rhythm and blues-tinged international pop hits in the 1970s and 1980s and last returned to the touring circuit after an absence of 15 years, performing in January at the Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival in Montego Bay, Jamaica. He released his new album, `Wilberforce 200` and the single, `Chained` last month.

Simon, Steffens’ ‘Scrapbook’ a hit

Peter Simon and Roger Steffens were big-time lovers of Jamaican pop culture when they first met in 1981. Last year, the two Americans pooled their knowledge and produced The Reggae Scrapbook which has been getting strong reviews since it was released in November.

On Saturday, Simon and Steffens will get together for the first time since the book was launched, for a promotional signing at the Babylon Falling bookstore in San Francisco.

Japanese make it ‘Jam’-aica

Taking a musical pilgrimage each year, many Japanese nationals travel to Jamaica, the motherland of reggae and dancehall.

With an almost fanatical interest in the culture Japanese visitors eat, sleep and drink in everything Jamaican.

Jamaica: Montego Bay

This North Coast city isn’t just about beaches and all inclusives — it brims with gourmet eateries, swank bars, swishy spas, golf courses, shopping and sizzling nightlife.

Try it on for size, I’m instructed by the affable vendor at the Fort Street Craft Market near Montego Bay’s Hip Strip. With a vibe more like a gracious granny than a savvy entrepreneur, her pitch continues. ”Green is your color,” she says, holding up a batik shirt she notices matches my eyes.

So many dances … all at the same time

What started out as a few street dances in the early 1960s and 1970s has now burgeoned into a barrage of street sessions, where revellers launch out in the early morning, and party until sunrise.

These street dances which have gained some form of copyright legitimacy, coining names like Passa Passa, Weddy Weddy, Japsey Thursdays, Uptown Mondays, Hot Mondays, Flankers Fridays, Feelings Fridays and Beenie Tuesdays, and a host of others, have now come to prominence within the last several years.

UB40 reveal new lead singer: Ali Campbell’s brother Duncan

The feud between UB40, the world’s biggest reggae band, took a further twist when it was announced that lead singer Ali Campbell would be replaced by a new member – his brother Duncan.

The Birmingham group, who topped the charts with Red Red Wine, have sold more than 70 million records over 30 years. But they have parted company with Ali Campbell over contested claims that the frontman, 49, wanted to pursue a solo career.

Good songs, up and down Mello Vibes

Shabba’s X-Rated came in the middle of a set of songs by the ‘big dutty one’. Terror Fabulous’ Position was muffled, as the top end on the recording was low. The same went for Kriss Kross’ Jump. Dollar Wine was played too fast and Colin Lucas sounded like a chipmunk at points.

Giving rocksteady its due

He may have played some of the ‘baddest’ bass lines in Jamaican popular music a but Jackie Jackson is far from a household name. In fact, most persons know him as the husband of singer Karen Smith.

Get Ready To Rocksteady, a film on the beat that preceded reggae, gives musicians like Jackson his due. One month of filming for the project, here is almost complete and it is expected to be released in Europe and North America this year.

Mission In Progress – a complete fusion of pop, rock and reggae

Sibling supergroup Morgan Heritage’s latest album is a conscious effort that seamlessly merges pop and rock sensibilities with the militancy of reggae.

Aptly titled Mission In Progress, the 14-track release features masterful musical and poetic compositions.