Published:Tuesday | October 18, 2016 | 12:00 AMRoy Black
Julian 'Jingles' Reynolds, the CEO of the Sound and Pressure Foundation that is responsible for putting on the annual One World Ska and Rocksteady Music Festival, slated for the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre on Saturday, November 26 and Sunday...
Published:Thursday | October 13, 2016 | 12:00 AMRoy Black
They were all big hits: My Girl, I Want A Love I Can See, The Way You Do The Things You Do, Since I Lost My Baby, Don't Look Back - all done by The Temptations; My Guy, You Beat Me To The Punch, Two Lovers, The One Who Really Loves You, by Mary...
Published:Thursday | October 6, 2016 | 12:00 AMRoy Black
Ronnie Dyson was en route to become one of the greatest entertainers of all times, when illness aborted his career at the tender age of 40. An immensely talented singer, he enjoyed both stage and musical recording success before age 19, probably the...
Published:Thursday | September 29, 2016 | 12:00 AMRoy Black
Three distinct phases to his career - two with the Jiving Juniors and one as a solo artiste; two different voices that created hits for nearly three decades. These are credentials that belong to only one man in Jamaica's popular music history: the...
Published:Friday | September 16, 2016 | 12:00 AMRoy Black
The passing of Cecil Campbell, better known as Prince Buster - the legendary Jamaican businessman, singer, rapper, songwriter, record producer, sound system operator, and self-styled 'defender of the underdog' - has left an almost irreplaceable void...
Published:Friday | September 16, 2016 | 12:00 AMRoy Black
Kingston Jamaica, the birthplace of Ska and Rocksteady music, two of the most popular musical genres played around the world today, will host the first annual One World Ska and Rocksteady Music Festival on Saturday and Sunday, November 26 and 27,...
Published:Thursday | September 8, 2016 | 12:00 AMRoy Black
Ska and rocksteady reigned supreme during the 1960s, pulling massive crowds to entertainment venues. The main protagonists were the producers, musicians, and singers. This article will focus on the contributions made by the more prominent players in...
Published:Friday | September 2, 2016 | 12:00 AMRoy Black
While friends, family members and people in the music fraternity were mourning the passing of saxophonist George Headley Francis Bennett (his name as I saw on his passport) on August 21, another set was celebrating the 81st birthday of...
Published:Tuesday | August 30, 2016 | 6:46 AMRoy Black
Saxophonist Felix Headley 'Deadly Headley' Bennett's mid-song solos were largely responsible for the success of several hit recordings, particularly during the ska era of the 1960s. He passed away at his home, 6B Lincoln Road, Franklyn Town, on...
Published:Thursday | August 18, 2016 | 12:00 AMRoy Black
Although he is the most successful reggae artiste of all time, Bob Marley never achieved the success of having a United Kingdom (UK) number one single. The closest he has been was number four with Buffalo Soldier in 1983, while his most fondly...
Published:Friday | August 12, 2016 | 12:00 AMRoy Black
Wherever Johnny Mathis is today, he must be remembering the year 1956, when he was faced with making one of the most difficult decisions anyone could ever experience.Mathis was called to the Olympic trials with the aim of representing the United...
Published:Wednesday | July 27, 2016 | 9:00 AMRoy Black
Kingsley Goodison, who conceptualised the idea of an annual Tributes to the Greats Awards Show, declares that his main inspiration behind the choice of awardees each year has literally been his dreams."I am a dreamer, and sometimes I get these...
Published:Sunday | July 24, 2016 | 8:30 PMRoy Black
Today marks the 10th anniversary since the passing of Jamaica's legendary folklorist, actress, vocalist, comedienne, and social commentator, the Honourable Louise Bennett-Coverley O.M.Considered as Jamaica's most cherished national treasure, she has...
Published:Thursday | July 21, 2016 | 12:00 AMRoy Black
One of the features of early Jamaican popular music has been the transitioning of lead vocalists of singing groups into solo singers. The phenomenon was most prevalent during the ska and rocksteady eras of the 1960s. Many went on to become...
Published:Friday | July 15, 2016 | 12:00 AMRoy Black
Another milestone in Jamaica's popular music has been reached this year with the observance of the 50th anniversary since the emergence of the rocksteady beat - one of the principal genres of the island's popular music, this in late 1966.It was one...
Published:Thursday | July 7, 2016 | 12:00 AMRoy Black
International Reggae Day 2016 saw the largest participation of cities since its inception in 1994. Speaking to Angiel Shaw, co-producer of the main event in Jamaica The 2016 International Reggae Day Conference at The Pegasus hotel on July 1, she...
Published:Tuesday | June 21, 2016 | 12:00 AMRoy Black
Some of the better known personalities in popular music celebrate birthdays in the month of June.The English-born Jamaican-bred businessman and record producer, Chris Blackwell, is one such individual. His contribution to Jamaican music is almost...
Published:Friday | June 3, 2016 | 12:00 AMRoy Black
One of the most commonly accepted inaccuracies in early Jamaican popular music is the story that legendary record producer Clement 'Coxson' Dodd's voice appeared in only one recording.So often we have heard on-air radio presenters, who we would...
Published:Friday | May 20, 2016 | 12:00 AMRoy Black
The month of May is Child's Month. And perhaps it's a good time to look at the contributions made by child stars to the development of early Jamaican popular music.Come to think of it, there were quite a number of them. Some of the names that would...
Published:Tuesday | May 17, 2016 | 12:00 AMRoy Black
The staging of a first-form music competition, in various categories in secondary schools in Jamaica, has perhaps never been previously attempted.However, when St George's College's (STGC) music teacher Jacqueline Dawes, conceptualised the idea in...
Published:Friday | April 8, 2016 | 12:00 AMRoy Black
The late Motown recording superstar, Marvin Gaye, has very ominous connections with April-fools day. It was on that day back in 1984 that he died, following an altercation with his father, with whom he endured life-long turmoil, never grasping the...
Published:Friday | April 1, 2016 | 12:27 PMRoy Black
Apart from being one of the longest serving entertainers in the Jamaica music business, Derrick Morgan has the distinction of jump-starting the careers of Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff and others through his auditioning skills.Now visually impaired, but...
Published:Thursday | March 17, 2016 | 12:00 AMRoy Black
Just a few days ago, we observed the 97th birth anniversary of perhaps the greatest singer the world has ever known - Nat 'King' Cole, father of the late popular songstress, Natalie Cole. Compared to Sam Cooke, who is held in the...
Published:Thursday | March 10, 2016 | 12:00 AMRoy Black
Now that 11 females have won their seats in the recently concluded local general elections, it has again brought into sharp focus, the important role that women have played in the past, and their...
Published:Wednesday | March 16, 2016 | 12:00 AMRoy Black
The results of the February 2016 general elections, perhaps tells us that most people are not so much concerned about the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and who passes tests. They seem to be more interested in having some money in their pockets...
