Yasmine Peru - Sunday Gleaner Writer

Ernie Smith is captured in a June 18, 1971, file photograph with his guitar in hand.
April 19, 2026 by Yasmine Peru - Sunday Gleaner Writer

Ernie Smith hailed as pioneer and master storyteller

Following the passing of beloved singer, songwriter, and storyteller Ernie Smith last Thursday in Florida, his friends, business associates, and fans have been sharing the stories of how great a musician and a human being the Ride on Sammy legend truly was.

Read more
Legendary guitarist Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith at the Count Ossie Centennial Grounation held on Thursday, March 26, at House of Dread in St Andrew.
April 5, 2026 by Yasmine Peru

100 years of pioneering Rasta drummer Count Ossie

In the history of Jamaican music, there have been some outstanding counts, among them Count Matuchie, Count Shelly, Count C, and Oswald ‘Count Ossie’ Williams. A seminal figure in the development of…
Queen of Reggae Marcia Griffiths marvelled at the newly refurbished Tuff Gong Studio.
March 8, 2026 by Yasmine Peru

Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt hail new era at Tuff Gong

Last Thursday evening, there was definitely “a natural mystic blowing through the air” at Tuff Gong International, located at 220 Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston. Guests were invited to the launch of…
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange challenged students to a dance-off on stage during the opening of the Island Music Conference on Wednesday.
March 1, 2026 by Yasmine Peru

Grange unveils plans for institute for cultural practitioners

At Wednesday’s opening session of the Orville ‘Shaggy’ Burrell-led Island Music Conference (IMC), held at the Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and…
Marlon D. Simms takes the lead as Kumina King and Keita-Marie Chamberlain Clarke, the Queen, in the Rex Nettleford-choreographed ‘Kumina’ at the Remembering Rex showcase at the Little Theatre last Tuesday.
February 15, 2026 by Yasmine Peru

Remembering Rex a ‘phenomenal’ and ‘bittersweet’ affair

“It’s phenomenal... I’m very emotional. There’s nothing like this in the world,” declared world-leading composer, Professor Shirley Thompson, after experiencing the National Dance Theatre Company…
Dancehall and reggae artiste I-Octane says understanding the music industry’s “numbers game” has been key to the sustained chart performance of ‘God & I’.
January 4, 2026 by Yasmine Peru

I-Octane talks ‘God & I’, mending fences and new outlook

Of the scores of reggae and dancehall albums that were released in 2025, there is one that made its presence felt consistently for eight months on the iTunes Top 100 Reggae Albums charts. The album…
International superstar, Alex Clare, performing at the Evening of Light, Music and Giving –One Love, One Light Hurricane Melissa relief benefit concert hosted by Chabad Jamaica on December 21 on the lawns of King’s House.
December 28, 2025 by Yasmine Peru

Alex Clare shines at An Evening of Light, Music and Giving

Internationally acclaimed British singer and songwriter Alex Clare has special ties to Jamaica, the island where he recorded some of the tracks for his début album, The Lateness of the Hour, which was…
Comedian Christopher ‘Johnny’ Daley, whose deep love for the art form has fueled the growth of the Johnny Live and Comedy Bar brands.
December 21, 2025 by Yasmine Peru

Johnny Daley serious about stand-up comedy

If there’s one thing that Johnny Daley is serious about, it’s comedy ... specifically stand-up comedy. He can literally talk for hours extolling the merits of this “beautiful art form” in which he has…
Minister Marion Hall is marking 10 years since her baptism in December 2015.
December 18, 2025 by Yasmine Peru

10 years after ditching Lady Saw, Minister Hall remains committed

A conversation with Minister Marion Hall, the former Queen of the Dancehall, who ditched her raunchy Lady Saw alter ego 10 years ago today when she got baptised, is peppered with the refrain “I bless…
Contributed photos Xana Romeo is preparing to release her third full-length album in January.
December 9, 2025 by Yasmine Peru

Xana Romeo honours father Max Romeo’s legacy with ‘The Divine Blueprint’

Reggae chanteuse Xana Romeo exudes a girlish excitement when talking about her new album, but there is still a bit of nostalgia that seeps through. However, the singer, who is among her siblings…