Interview with Jamaican Songstress, Marsha Morrison
This month we interview upcoming artist Marsha Morrison. She has toured and collaborated with many of reggaes top acts including Shaggy and Dancehall Diva Lady Saw. We caught up with her as she working on her first album. This Jamaican beautiful songstress & songwriter is multi-talented. She is sure to blaze a trail that we […]
Irie Jamboree Was Irie Vibes, Then…
New York/Maryland :Jamboree 2k9, the annual Labor Day weekend music festival had all the elements lined up for an auspicious debut of it 7th staging at York College in Queens, NY (also the new home of the IRAWMA Awards). The stars and Mother Nature lined up for what was going to be a perfect Jamboree […]
A Gospel Music Event-The Review
Tonight, Jamaican time took a back seat, as I arrived on time at the night’s event. Claudelle Clarke’s Album Launch/concert was the highlight of the evening of September 26th, 2009, where all roads lead to the Sheraton Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. As guests filed in and took their seats, there was an anticipation of a night […]
Taj Weekes Art Is His Social Conscience: Interview
SS: You have singing since the age of five, by age eleven, you were composing you own calypso songs how and why did you make the transition to reggae? TW: Calypso is the dominant genre in St. Lucia now and was when I was a child so I naturally followed what was being played on the […]
New Star Rising – "Five Minutes with….Courtney "Yogi" John
In the music industry, the term ‘artist’ is often arbitrarily tossed around like a basketball at an NBA finals. In my opinion however, a true artiste, not just as it pertains to music but in any field, is some who possesses the ability to not only pay homage to the genesis or foundations of that art form, […]
Claudelle Clarke-A Pioneer of Jamaican Gospel Music:Celebrating 41 years of Music.
The past four decades have marked the rise of Christian fundamentalist “The Queen of Reggae Gospel”, Claudelle Clarke. This period manifested the distinctive and pioneering talent encapsulated in Ms. Claudelle Clarke, who hails from the parish of Kingston, Jamaica. Claudelle attributes her musical talent and initial musical socialization to her family, particularly, her parents Linda […]
Five Minutes With: Everton Blender
Touted as being amoung the few artists able to successfully find a cohesive synthesis between the often inimical mediums of Dancehall and Culture Reggae, Everton Blender has not only managed to attain international success in a genre where others have struggled to be heard, but established himself as a pioneer in the quest to introduce Culture Reggae, to the mainstream. With an unprecidented slew […]
Interview with Duane…Rising Star
This month I interview Jamaican-American rising star Duane “D-WAYNE” Howard. Being born with a gift is one thing. Recognizing and utilizing that gift to it’s full potential is another. Born in Brooklyn, New York to Jamaican parents Duane Howard, better known throughout the music fraternity as D-Wayne. SS: How long have you been singing? Honestly, I’ve been […]
‘Rompin Shop’ Created and Manipulated Controversy
Did Vybz Kartel create a controversy to manipulate it, I wonder? The use Ne-Yo’s successful single ‘Miss Independence’ hit rhythm by Dance Hall maestro Vybz Kartel on his ‘Rompin Shop’ track may have been a stroke master of genius from marketing perspective given the reported 250, 000 hits on youtube to date. Kartel primary concern […]
Bob Marley, National Hero? Does Jamaica need another one?
Bob Marley’s birthday was February 6 and February is officially month and in Jamaica, the discussion of making him a national hero is heating up. When in 2000 I, as music editor for the New York paper ‘Caribbean Style’ wrote the original cover story raising the specter of Bob Marley being considered for national hero […]