Why I Play: The Story Behind New Vision’s Winter Reggae Rockers – Listen Now!!!
People who know me personally are probably familiar with the details that will culminate in the story that I’m about to tell. The most important thing to know is the answer to the question. The question is why. Why do I play? The answer is both complex and simple but to tackle the simple side […]
The Top Rock Steady Groups and Their Hits Songs
The Rock Steady music genre served as the bridge between Ska and Reggae. It evolved in 1966, and peaked by late 1968, despite the fact that many rock steady songs were released after 1968. Musically, the instrumentalists of Jamaica, Tommy McCook, Jackie Mittoo and Lyn Taitt, in particular are credited with the creation the classic […]
Four Jamaicans Nominated for 2016 Grammy Best Reggae Album
The 2016 Reggae Grammy nominations include four Jamaicans who are up for the Best Reggae Album of the Year. The National Academy of Recording, Arts and Sciences made the nominee announcement. Vying for the top album award are Morgan Heritage for “Strictly Roots,” Jah Cure for “The Cure,” Barrington Levy for “Acousticalevy,” and Luciano for […]
The 15 Top Female Rock Steady Vocalists
Jamaica’s Rock Steady was heavily influenced by American R&B and Soul. Both R&B and Soul music had a lot of female groups, like the Supremes and Gladys Knight and the Pips, male and female combination duets such as Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell and female solo singers like Betty Wright, Aretha Franklin, and Dionne Warwick. […]
10 Questions with Reggae Selector & Soundclash champion, David Rodigan
David ‘Ram Jam’ Rodigan passion for Jamaican music began watching Millie Small perform her 1964 hit “My Boy Lollipop” at the Ready Steady Go! TV show as a school boy. David Rodigan left school in 1970 and went on to study economics in college and studying drama. During the 1970s and 1980s, Rodigan also worked […]
The Most Successful Top 15 Rock Steady Vocal Groups
The Rock Steady music genre served as the bridge between Ska and Reggae. It evolved in 1966, and peaked by late 1968, despite the fact that many rock steady songs were released after 1968. Musically, the instrumentalists of Jamaica, Tommy McCook and “Lyn” Taitt, in particular are credited with the creation the Rock Steady rhythm. […]
Early Release for Buju Banton Only a Rumor
In spite of reports that reggae singer Buju Banton was getting an early release from prison, those reports have been confirmed as rumors by Rosemary Duncan, who coordinates the Buju Banton Defense Support Committee. In October 2015, the United States Justice Department announced it would release some 6,600 prison inmates early in order to alleviate […]
Bob Marley Ranks 4th Among After-Life Top Sellers
Bob Marley continues to break records. Thirty-four years after his passing, the legendary reggae singer is selling more records than many living. According to Forbes Magazine, the Rastafarian netted $21 million, and is ranked fourth among top money-earners beyond the grave. Only three artists surpassed the reggae superstar – Elvis Presley, cartoonist Charles Schultz and […]
Geejam Resort and Studio Where Drake, Rihanna, Diplo Do Their Recording
The iconic recording venues for Jamaica’s considerable music innovators include Studio One, Trenchtown, and Strawberry Hill, but there are additional, little-known parishes that are also making music history. One of these is located in Port Antonio, about 60 miles from Kingston. Port Antonio was a key port during the island’s 19th-century banana boom, and in […]
Top 10 Rock Steady Singers
Rocksteady, as music genre began in Jamaica 1966-1969. The Duke Reid’s Treasure Isle and Sonia Pottinger Gayfeet Label were the primary labels. Rocksteady fused the musical elements of rhythm and blues (R&B), jazz, ska, African and Latin American drumming with natural Jamaican musical talent. The Rocksteady period produced, arguably the best music in any era […]