In an industry where names are everything, a name like Lawgiver the Kingson from Kingston is a lot of things – a mouthful, a conversation piece, and even fodder for the always-hungry trolls. But for Oneil Phoenix, who was born in Kingston, his name...
Looking as if they shared a secret which they had a hard time keeping to themselves, the incomparable and always-fabulous Myrna Hague and the illustrious Jimmy James, seated side-by-side and holding hands, opened last Saturday’s concert at the...
Kevin ‘Sanchez’ Jackson, simply put, is the singer’s singer. Blessed with a voice that has oft been described as “golden”, Sanchez is as adept at smoothly hitting the highest note on the scale as he is at riding a precarious dancehall ‘riddim’ like...
An incredible milestone that has been achieved by few film festivals in Jamaica is how Dr Olivene Burke, executive director, Mona Social Services/UWI Community Film Project, hailed the 10th anniversary of GATFFEST. The Caribbean’s largest community...
Veteran singer Tinga Stewart, who has been ailing from a debilitating illness that doctors have not been able to diagnose, surprised many at the thanksgiving service for his wife, Andrea, which was held at the New Life Assembly of God Church on...
The children of dancehall legend Rodney ‘Bounty Killer’ Price were only too happy to share in their father’s big 50th birthday at the party in downtown Kingston at Digicel Headquarters parking lot on Sunday. His son, Javar, who is very rarely seen...
Any conversation surrounding the great OG (original) bad boys of reggae music must include names like Junior Byles, whose Beat Down Babylon provoked the ire of Babylon; Inner Circle, whose Bad Boys mega hit needs no introduction; Freddie McGregor,...
In celebration of its 60th anniversary this year, the Soroptimist International of Jamaica, Kingston Club, will stage a special ‘Classics in June’ showcase on June 16, under the patronage of Ambassador of France to Jamaica Olivier Guyonvarch and...
Renowned artistic director Trevor Nairne was the person with the most names at Jambiz International – among them ‘Trevs’, ‘Nears’, ‘Missa Nears’, ‘Missa Muir’, ‘Trevorn’ and ‘Bossie’ – and he answered to all 10 of them “with a smile”. Such was the...
It could very well be called Project 180, but regardless of the official name, the idea is groundbreaking in dancehall circles. An emerging artiste is currently taking a crazy shot at success by a releasing nothing less than a trailer load of songs...
The year was 2019, and Orville ‘Shaggy’ Burrell, without any trace of cockiness, told The Gleaner, “I was born for greatness. I come from a Rae Town tenement, but I understood that you can’t form fool when you are ‘the chosen’. Man is just a tool...
For veteran soundman Winston ‘Wee Pow’ Powell, the term golden jubilee has a “nice sound”, in fact it is music to his ears. The indomitable Stone Love, a sound system which is renowned internationally as an ‘institution’, is this year celebrating...
The family of the late Sugar Minott has been making preparations to celebrate what would have been his 66th birthday today, with the annual Sugar Minott Day tribute at his Robert Crescent headquarters in St Andrew. But they are also now plunged...
You can’t keep a good man down, especially if he’s a renowned batsman who has ventured into music and has chosen to go by the moniker, Universe Boss. As Chris Gayle, he is used to hitting big runs on the cricket pitch and, without missing a stride...
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...
