New York:
JANUARY
– Federal Bureau of Prisons’ website reported Buju Banton’s new release date is December 8, 2018
– Rebel Salute‘s 24th successful staging at the Richmond Estate in Priory, St Ann.
– Bob Marley and the Wailers’ “The Legend Live: Santa Barbara Country Bowl“, recorded November 25th, 1979, held the# 1 spot on the Billboard reggae album chart.
– Convicted murderer Vybz Kartel’s “King of the Dancehall” album (release June 2016) was the top-selling dancehall cd for 2016. Nielsen Music figures report the album sales tapped at a poor 3,800 in the US since its.
– For the second time in his career dancehall DJ Tommy Lee Sparta wanted was person of interest by the police. Tommy Lee Sparta, was also denied entry into Dominica in 2016
– Ziggy Marley, self-titled cd was nominated for Best Reggae Album of 2016 by the French Reggae Awards,
– Sean Paul and Sia’s #1 single “Cheap Thrills” nominated for three awards by iHeartradio Music Awards for 2017. The categories are Song of the Year, up against Drake and Justin Timberlake, Best Lyrics, up against Rihanna, Blake Shelton, Drake and Justin Timberlake, and Best Collaboration.
– British singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran dropped dancehall flavored single. “Shape of You.”
– Rebel Salute’s Festival-saw X-rated DJ, formerly known Lady Saw display her new incarnation as a gospel act as Minister Marion Hall. Hall performed for the first time in Jamaica since converting to Christianity December of 2015.
– The Rita Marley Foundation scheduled to honor drummer producer and vocalist Grub Cooper (Fab5) with the Rita Marley Award MUSIC Grub Cooper for his contribution to Jamaica’s musical heritage.
– Dancehall DJ Busy Signal received a travel visa to enter the United States. Five years after being extradited back Jamaica after serving a six month sentence in the United States. He visited NY this month.
– Songwriter Boris Gardiner’s “Every Nigger is a Star” is featured on the soundtrack for the American film Moonlight. The song was first featured in the 1973 film “Every Nigger is a Star”, (made popular by Big Youth in the 1970’s) which starred Bahamian actor Calvin Lockhart. Moonlight won Best Motion Picture – Drama at the 74th Golden Globe Awards. In 2015, the song was sampled by rapper Kendrick Lamar in the song Wesley’s Theory, which is featured on his platinum-selling, Grammy-winning album “
– The Wailers did two night at the Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
– Inaugural filming of the new TV entertainment program “International Reggae Train” in NY featuring Shaggy & Rayvon, Easy Star All-stars, New Kingston, and Gary Pine.
– Grammy-winning artiste Sean Paul donated $1.5 million to the Alpha Institute Music Technology Department. The department is to be renamed Sean Paul Henriques Media Center. The money will be used to develop a new studio and rooms. This center will provide skills training for the students in media and technology. The department. music technology program.
– Tuff Gong Records in a joint venture with US company Sunpress Vinyl will restart vinyl manufacturing after years of inactivity. Vinyl Record sales hit a 25-year high in 2016 as sales of vinyl records grew for the ninth consecutive year in 2016. With more than 2m LPs sold in the UK. More than 3.2m LPs were sold last year, a rise of 53% on last year and the highest number since 1991. LP sales up by 53% on 2015. This was also the first year that vinyl sales outstripped digital downloads. In Britain UK artists command a record 17.1% share of the global market Vinyl sales, bigger than YouTube for British artists.
Five of the global top 10 were British acts, also including Ed Sheeran, One Direction, Sam Smith, and Coldplay.
–Iration “Lost & Found” Winter Tour with special guest Protoje, and Zach Deputy begin, January 24th 2017
– Mykal Rose “Rasta State” is currently on the top of the billboard charts.
– DJ Ding Dong Sixteen-year-old track “Badman Forward Badman Pull Up” was featured on Fox TV television series seriesf Lethal Weapon.
– Popcaan single “Should’ve Been Me” (Virgin Records UK) featuring British DJ/producer Naughty Boy’s and Kyla keep riding up International Charts. The song reached No # 73 in the UK (up from last week’s number 99 position); No. #47 in Scotland, No. # 78 in Ireland, No.# 27 in Hungary, and No.# 35 in Belgium. -The Marley family has reportedly slapped a cease and desist order on a New Orleans-based The NOLA Caribbean Festival preventing them from using the name and likeness of Marley to promote their inaugural Marley Gras Jerk Chicken Festival. The festival which takes place February 11has been renamed the NOLA Jerk Chicken Festival.
– American R&B singer John Legend teamed with dancehall artiste dj Stylez on Light Up the Night. Produced by Phat Boi, the track is due for release on February 3rd 2017.
– Jamaican producer Dwayne ‘Supa Dups’ Chin-Quee and Latin producer Tarik ‘Rvssian’ Johnston as producer on reggaeton artiste Nicky Jam’s new album Fenix. They produced “Amor Prohibido” featuring Sean Paul and Konshens. Supa Dups produced I Can’t Forget You and “No Te Puedo Olvidar.” Chin-Que has worked with Eminem, Nina Sky, Shakira, SOJA and Usher.
– Jamaican music lost one of it musical legend. Trombonist Nambo Robinson died.
– SINGER/SONGWRITER RONNIE DAVIS, OF THE TENORS AND THE ITALS, IS DEAD AT 66!
Billboard Reggae Chart:
American reggae group Rebelution’s “Falling into Place” is in its 31st week on the Billboard Reggae Chart. The group Stick Figure’s “Set in Stone” has spent 60 weeks on the chart.
Billboard Top Ten Reggae Albums:
No.1 Falling into Place- Rebelution (32,385 units)
No.2 Transition- Jemere Morgan (436 units)
No.3 Wash House -Ting J. Boog (4,135 units)
No.4 Revelation Part II: The Fruit of Life- Stephen Marley (11,182 units)
No.5 Set in Stone -Stick Figure’s (24,321units)
No.6 A Dollar Short, A Minute Late-. Landon McNamara (1,147)
No.7 Live at Red Rocks- Rebelution
No.8 The Legend Live: Santa Barbara Country Bowl November 25th 1979 by Bob Marley & the Wailers
No.9 Release The Bound Matisyahu (17,889units)
No.10 Get Ready! Live in Columbus- Brett Wilson from Roots Creation
iTunes Top 10 Reggae Albums:
No.1 Legend (Remastered)- Bob Marley & The Wailers
No.2 Falling into Place- Rebelution
No.3 Distant Relatives- Nas & Damian ‘Jr Gong’ Marley
No.4 Welcome to Jamrock- Damian ‘Jr Gong’ Marley
No.5 Exodus (Remastered)- Bob Marley & The Wailers
No.6 Kaya Remastered)- Bob Marley & The Wailers
No.7 Legend (Deluxe Edition)- Bob Marley & The Wailers
No.8 Hot Shot- Shaggy
No.9 Best of Shaggy: The Boombastic Collection- Shaggy
No.10 A Dollar Short & a Minute Late- London McNamara’s
