Lloyd ‘Judge Diamond’ Ferguson has selected a special song from the Mighty Diamonds’ extensive catalogue to pay tribute to his lifelong friend and group member, Tabby Diamond, at Friday’s thanksgiving service for the life of the much-loved lead...
(The Entertainment Desk continues its weekly ‘Jamaica 60’ feature in celebration of the island’s rich musical heritage.) In August 2020, Faron McKenzie was announced as new head of BBC Radio 1Xtra. At the time of his appointment, McKenzie, whose...
When two brothers, who just happen to be sons of a legend, team up for a song, then obviously, great things are expected. Reggae fusion artiste Zzambo and his brother, Isat Buchanan, who is more well known in the legal field, are excited about...
Reggae singer Tinga Stewart, whose illness has left doctors baffled, is devastated following the sudden death of his wife, Andrea, at the University Hospital of the West Indies early last Thursday morning. Tributes are pouring in for the 41-year-...
In 1996, a young singer named Andrew Black jumped on the Tastee stage, hoping to make an indelible impression with his performance. He sure did. By the end of his stint, not only was he given the usual signs of approbation, Andrew Black was also...
Gratitude is something which roots reggae artiste, Samory I, knows a lot about, having been raised in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, where giving thanks and being grateful to the Creator for blessings is a lifestyle. It is not surprising,...
Reinaldo Marcus Green, producer of the upcoming authorised Bob Marley biopic, has shared that he was “blown away” by the audition tape of Kingsley Ben-Adir, the British actor who has been chosen to play Marley. In an interview with The Guardian,...
A new album, new singles, and a live concert on Thursday at the Bamboo Splash Lawn are among the immediate and exciting plans for dancehall-reggae enigma Tanya Stephens. The spunky Stephens, who some would describe as bellicose, was charming...
One can tell that artistes mean business when they do a collab and then step up their game with a well thought-out, GQ-esque photo shoot to accompany the song. Wayne Wonder and Frankie Sly’s recently released single, Party All Night Long, produced...
It was a dream collaboration between two musical legends which has been in the making for five years and everything finally hit all the right notes last Monday evening at Harmony House studio in St Andrew. It was there that reggae maestro, Beres...
Marketing Director of the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA), June Isaacs, is imploring the music industry to recognise and support the awards handed out annually by the organisation. “Despite all that is being said, the fact is that...
It was inevitable one day that a foreign, white reggae group would win the Grammy in the reggae category, whether or not Jamaicans know who they are. That’s the sentiment of producer Sean ‘Contractor’ Edwards following last Sunday’s shock...
Singer Christopher Ellis is in a Rub A Dub mode. That is the title of his new single which was produced by Damian ‘Jr Gong’ Marley and which is causing a stir. Critics say the song feels like Ellis stepped straight out of the ‘70s directly on to a...
Late singer and sound system owner Sugar Minott, Anthony B, Jesse Royal and Jah9 are among the reggae artistes whose works will form a part of CryptoRastas second non-fungible token (NFT) auction on April 1. CryptoRastas markets itself as “the...
Blogging and vlogging are activities that are usually associated with millennials, but increasingly they are becoming that pastime for the young at heart. Just ask Monte Blake. The charismatic owner of the legendary sound system Merritone, Blake,...
The lawyer for reggae singer Jah Cure, who was ordered to serve six years behind bars, will have a discussion with the artiste on the merits of an appeal. On Tuesday, a panel of three judges in the Netherlands handed down a guilty verdict on the...
The dancehall freedom convoy rolled into Stone Love’s Burlington Avenue HQ on Saturday evening, carrying on board the multitude who rejoiced like sinners set free from the shackles of sin. “Freedom!” was the jubilant shout from the Stone Love...
Elder statesman of reggae music, the legendary Winston ‘Burning Spear’ Rodney, has two major assignments this year. He has been announced for Rototom Sunsplash in August and the Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise in December. Burning Spear, who has...
The headquarters of Romeich Entertainment, located in Waterhouse, St Andrew, was clearly the place to be last Tuesday evening for the by-invitation-only launch of Shenseea’s chart-topping debut album, Alpha. Once one reached the Campbell’s...
Alpha is out and the reviews are in. Not surprisingly, the Shenyeng Princess has found favour with her subjects, with many of them gushing over her versatility and applauding Alpha’s # 1 debut on the iTunes Top 100 Reggae Albums chart. As for the...
With Reggae Month just concluded, one of the messages which was proclaimed loudly was the need for positive messages through the music. This strident call came from Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange, as well as her...
Today, March 9, marks 25 years since rap legend, Biggie Smalls, also known as the Notorious B.I.G., was killed. He was only 24. Signed to Sean ‘Puffy’ Combs’ Bad Boy Records, Biggie, who would have turned 50 this year, is considered one of the...
Dr Richard Kirkwood, a member of Casual-T — the ‘80s singing group comprising medical doctors — has died. Dr Charlie Roberts confirmed to The Gleaner that Kirkwood passed away last Wednesday in hospital in New York. He was 76. “Kirk was recently...
As the first anniversary of the death of Bunny Wailer comes around, his estate is facing challenges as the executors head to court, even as Wailer’s partner of more than 50 years remains missing. Neville ‘Bunny Wailer’ Livingston, a founding member...
In his opening song, Forward March, ska great Derrick Morgan summed up the vibeat Reggae on the Pier, filmed at the Port Authority of Jamaica’s cruise port at the historic Naval Dockyard in Port Royal – “ … because the time has come when you can...
