Shaggy and Friends adds a touch of gospel
Grammy Award- Winning gospel vocalist Deniece Williams will be bringing something new to Saturday's Shaggy and Friends concert on Saturday.
The sounds of gospel are not usually associated with a show involving Shaggy but there is nothing normal about Williams who will be joining several international acts billed to perform on the lawns of Jamaica House.
Born June Deniece Chandler, Williams began making her mark in music during the 1970s when she became a backup vocalist for legendary musician Stevie Wonder.
In 1975 she signed to Columbia Records and one year later released her debut album entitled This Is Niecy which featured the chart-topping hit single Free. Her next hit Too Much, Too Little, Too Late which went No 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart came in the form of a duet alongside pop sensation Johnny Mathis.
To date, Williams, who started off as a secular R&B singer and later made the transition into gospel, has released a total of 13 studio albums and has received four Grammy awards between 1983 and 1999.
Her illustrious catalogue of hits include So Glad I Know, I Surrender All, Do You Hear What I Hear and We Sing Praises.
Joining Williams on the 2012 line-up will be Lauryn Hill, Eve, Gyptian, Maxi Priest, Cocoa Tea, Assassin, I-Octane, Half Pint, Mr Vegas, Wayne Marshall, Tami Chynn, Romain Virgo and the diamond-selling reggae superstar himself, Shaggy.
Shaggy & Friends 2012 is sponsored by The Gleaner Company Ltd, Scotiabank, Lime, The Wisynco Group, Wray and Nephew , Digicel, KFC, Stewarts Auto, Flow, Caribbean Airlines/Air Jamaica, Best Dressed Chicken, Sun Island, Atlas Protection, Tent City, Palace Amusement, New Era Fencing, Phoenix Printery, I Print, Get Caught Media, Jacqui Tyson ... From Thought to Finish, Ranch Entertainment, Panache Entertainment Jamaica, Starlight Production, Lorraine Fong, Tru Tone, John Swaby, MC Décor, The Jamaica Observer, Irie FM, MegaJamz, Pan Caribbean, Hype TV, Phase 3 and CVM TV.