Roots Reggae Star Jah Cure Ranks Number 1 on Billboard Reggae Chart
Jamaica’s roots reggae artiste Jah Cure has taken the top spot on Billboard’s Reggae Chart for his album “The Cure”. The album has been listed on the charts for 37 weeks, but this is the second time it has been ranked Number 1 since its August 2015 release. The album’s success has sparked hope among […]
VIDEO: Alicia Keys Reggae-Influenced Single “In Common” Called Latin Beat & Tropical Vibe
The new Alicia Keys single “In Common” has been classified as “Latin Beat & Tropical” when it is, in fact, influenced by dancehall and reggae, as is much of the new music performed today, including “Work” from Rihanna and “Sorry” from Justin Bieber. Billboard Magazine described the new single as “Latin infused.” “In Common” is […]
Beyonce, Pearl Jam to Cover Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”
Beyonce and Pearl Jam plan to release an acoustic cover of “Redemption Song” by Bob Marley later in 2016. Beyonce partnered with Eddie Vedder at the Global Citizens Festival in New York in 2015, and performed the classic there. Now, the cover is slated for inclusion in the band’s pending, annual holiday release. According to […]
Peter Tosh Museum to Open in Kingston
The newest museum in Kingston will open in the summer of 2016 and honor the late reggae icon Peter Tosh. Tosh was a social activist and advocate for the Rastafari religion as well as a musician. He died during a home invasion in 1987 at the age of 42. Tosh taught himself to play the […]
7 Great Reggae Covers of Prince Songs You Need To Listen To – Remembering a Music Icon
Today it would be a challenge to find a musician who wasn’t influenced by Prince in some way. With a career spanning almost 40 years, Prince Rogers Nelson died Thursday morning in Minneapolis at the age of 57. Many reggae artists have been impacted by his music as well. Prince also seemed to be a […]
Top 12 Jimmy Riley Songs – A Slice of Jamaica Music Life
Reggae Rock Steady icon Jimmy Riley was born Martin James Norman Riley (22 May 1954 – 23 March 2016).He began his music career as a member of The Sensations and The Uniques but ended it as recording solo artist with many hit songs through four decades. He was the father of reggae singer Tarrus Riley. […]
Review: Maxi Priest and Morgan Heritage at the Broward Center for Performing Arts
Fresh off winning a Grammy, Morgan Heritage headlined the spring concert on Fort Lauderdale’s fashionable Las Olas Boulevard on April 2nd, 2016. The exclusive Broward Center for the Performing Arts was the venue for a night of roots rock reggae and positive vibes. The crowd was a wonderful mix of cultures and people of all […]
50th Anniversary of Jamaican Rocksteady Music
In honor of the 50 years of Jamaican rocksteady, VP Records is releasing a special box set on vinyl of 14 classic rocksteady hits. The release will be an exclusive on Record Story Day on April 16, 2016. Rocksteady mixes elements of R&B, jazz, ska, and African and Latin American drumming. It was a precursor […]
8 Music Genres You May Not Know Were Created & Influenced by Jamaica
Jamaican music is known worldwide but many people are unaware of just how much this tiny island has contributed to the industry, and not just Reggae. Recent hit songs released by Rihanna (Work) and Justin Bieber (Sorry) undoubtedly fall within the genre of Jamaican reggae/dancehall music, a sign of how our music has become mainstream. […]
Jimmy Riley, joins Slim Smith and Lloyd Charmer in Uniques Heaven
As a young music collector and undergraduate student-journalist in the 1980s, I was introduced to lover’s rock singer Jimmy Riley via his big hits “Love and Devotion” and “My Woman’s Love,” produced by Sly and Robbie on their Taxi label. Love and Devotion was personal to me because the lyrics expressed what I was experiencing […]