Concert Review: Ruth Ann Brown Creates Reggae History at the Strathmore
As a music critic I appreciated the opportunity to witness a fresh new female reggae artist on the rise. I must say the historic ‘Friday Night Eclectic’ two set 45 minutes set with Ruth-Ann Brown at The Mansion at Strathmore was a breath of fresh air. As an upscale venue in the Maryland suburbs of Bethesda […]
Interview with Jamaican songstress Denyque
We interview rising Jamaican songstress Denyque. Her song “Summer Love” was one of the reggae hits of the year and has been burning up the charts. She first broke on the scene at age 11 when she won medals in the Jamaica National Festival song competition. At 20 years old, this singer/songwriter has reached a […]
My Top 25 Songs by Gregory Isaacs, the Cool Ruler of Lover’s Rock
When the history books document the many accomplishments of Reggae Singer, Songwriter and Performer Gregory Isaacs the titled of “King of Lover’s Rock” will be one on his enduring accomplishments Not many reggae artist of note can lay claim to have created or earned a piece of reggae music. Names such as Bob Marley, Dennis […]
Concert Review: Bushman And His Friends Deliver @ Club Amazura
He is black, a Rasta man and he’s reputedly part Japanese and hails from the parish of St Thomas, Jamaica. His vocal style evokes shades of reggae’s cultural messenger Luciano, but is from the school of reggae’s Crown Prince, the late Dennis Brown– arguably the most influential vocalist in reggae music–but with a deeper baritone […]
‘Lonely Soldier’ Gregory Isaacs Dead at 59
Gregory Isaacs — a legend in his own time, one of the most popular and versatile reggae singers of the late-Seventies, and the smooth-voiced dancehall crooner behind the genre’s landmark 1982 LP Night Nurse — passed away this morning at his London home following a year-long battle with lung cancer, the BBC reports. Isaacs was 59. ” Isaacs’ […]
Richie Loop’s ‘My Cupp’ overflow with vibes, skills
Everytime he sings “My Cupp”, you know it’s clean. Like the energy god, ‘Elephant Man’ he admires, Richard Raquesh “Richie Loop” Webb is all that and more in creating an alarming buzz with his single My Cupp. He’s hot, full of talent and burning with a desire to do good for Jamaica musically, yet he […]
Memories of my friend; the Great Don Drummond
Arguably the best trombone player Jamaican ever produced DON “D” was what most people called him. Some of them didn’t know his name. Others never saw him in person or seen him perform, but most people who were connected to any kind of music in Jamaica during the fifties and sixties would probably know about […]
The State of Reggae
The New York reggae scene – specifically concerts, promoters and the paying public seem to be in a flux. The last spate of shows did not go well. Does the problem lie at the feet of greedy promoters, lackadaisical artists or a jaded public? Recently held local events failed to generate the kind of buzz […]
Jamaica Day 2010 Outdoor Reggae Music Fest Come Of Age
Arundel County Maryland: The DC tri-state area (Washington/ (Virginia/Maryland) Jamaican community kicked of its celebration Jamaica’s 48th year of independence, in spectacular fashion, with the fourth staging of the annually Jamaica Day Outdoor Reggae Festival celebration at Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds in Maryland. The concert presented by Jamaica Promotions Company is the brainchild of Carlos […]
“See Me in Me Heels and Thing” Fashion and the Best of the Best Concert 2010
This year’s “Best of the Best concert” in Miami, Florida, took place at Bicentennial Park on Sunday, May 29th and included an impressive array of diverse reggae dancehall artists as well as some hip-hop and calypso performers. Some patrons were concerned that Jamaica’s recent wranglings with the United States over the extradition of alleged drug […]