By Balford Henry, Staff ReporterThis is a new angle for marketing reggae and I feel very positive about it," said tour manager, Copeland Forbes, about the recently concluded Reggae Cruise.
"The response was great. There were people from all over and it has shown us a new angle of touring and attracting new audiences as well as new people from all walks of life to reggae music," Forbes added.
The 'Big Ship Sailing On The Ocean' reggae cruise was organised by Terry Austin and the 809 Posse, as well as Oliver Milwood's Melody Productions in Philadelphia. It took place last month and was such a success that the promoters have now decided to make it an annual event and there is likely to be three cruises.
There were 2,600 people aboard the Carnival Lines vessel which started off in San Juan and travelled to St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands), St. Maarten, Dominica, Martinique and Barbados over the next seven days.
It featured Freddie McGregor and Dean Fraser and the 809 band. Three shows were staged during the cruise, including one on board in St. Thomas and a third onshore in Barbados.
Milwood, a Jamaican-born promoter based in Philadelphia and the 809 Posse from the same city - loyal fans of the now defunct 809 band led by part-time travel agent Austin - came up with the idea and decided to stage the event.
Milwood told Showbiz that another cruise has already been finalised for September 22 to 29, 2001 and will include Jamaica. It will start in Miami and visit Mexico and the Cayman Islands. On the Jamaican leg, the cruise will stop in Ocho Rios, where passengers will have the option of disembarking and staying at the Renaissance Jamaica Grande Hotel for two days.
Tuff Gong Int'l still operating
Tuff Gong International says it is concerned that recent reports about the closure of Tuff Gong Records may have created a mix-up in the public's minds.
In a statement clarifying the issue, Tuff Gong International said:
"Despite recent rumours in the media to the contrary, Tuff Gong International, which is based at 220 Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston, Jamaica, is alive and kicking. Owned and operated by Bob Marley's family, Tuff Gong International, it remains an integral and active record company on the global music scene."
The statement pointed out that the misunderstanding stemmed from the recent court settlement between the Marleys, the estate of Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer involving another company, Tuff Gong Records Limited, "which has not carried on any business for many years. The company should have been removed from the register years ago, but was kept there by Bunny Wailer," the statement said.
According to attorney for the Marley estate, Michael Hylton of Myers, Fletcher and Gordon: "The result of the settlement agreement between the Marleys, the Tosh estate and Bunny Wailer is that all rights in the Tuff Gong name and to any Tuff Gong masters belong to Tuff Gong International. Tuff Gong Records had to be wound up in order to ensure that the public was not confused by the existence of two companies with the same name.
"The Court's order will not affect the present operations in any way and no 'doors' are to be 'closed.' The Marley family and Tuff Gong International will continue to provide the same services and products to Marley fans and the public generally."
