Rastafarian film-maker Barbara Makeda Blake-Hannah wears many hats – journalist, festival organiser, cultural consultant, and author. Blake-Hannah, whose work has distinguished her over the years, has an armful of trophies and awards to show,...
Planet Earth, ecstatic to see the back of 2020, ushered in 2021 with fervour. The creative sector was chanting freedom from lockdown and ready and eager to embrace the staging of live, legal events, and “eat a food”. Unfortunately, that didn’t...
From cultural icons to poets and reggae and dancehall pioneers, the year 2021 marked the end of a legacy-filled journey for several stalwarts in the entertainment fraternity, and many tears were shed at their passing. Today, we pause to remember...
Jamaicans and reggae music have long had a love affair with country music, and it is this kindred spirit that Gramps Morgan taps into with his Grammy-nominated set, Positive Vibration. “On a Sunday when yuh a cut up the scallion and the thyme for...
When Sharon Marley stepped out with Just One More Morning, it was the first time fans were seeing her in real singing mode since her Melody Makers days. Clearly, it had to be something of great importance for her to carve out the time to make her...
It is really not hard to see why Ralston Barrett is affectionately called ‘Big Rallo’, and it is a moniker that the Westmoreland-based entrepreneur has embraced. Over the last three decades, he has proven his strength as a publicist, music producer...
Multi-instrumentalist, musical arranger and record producer, Mikey Chung, passed away Tuesday night at the University Hospital of the West Indies, his brother, Chalwa ‘Charlie’ Chung, confirmed. He was 71. Chung was reportedly ailing from myeloma...
Foundation singer Leo Graham, who began his recording career as the lead vocalist of the Jamaican trio known as the Bleechers, has died. His son, Daweh Congo, told The Gleaner that Graham, who was being treated for cancer, passed away on December...
On the Jamaican theatre landscape, Boxing Day is synonymous with the premiere of the annual pantomime, which has been produced by the Little Theatre Movement (LTM) for decades. On Sunday, despite entertainment still on lockdown, panto continued it...
From Johnny Reggae to Reggae Son, and now Rebel K, the LTM pantomime has evolved, and this evening at 6 o’clock — COVID or not, lockdown or not — 'panto' will have its annual Boxing Day premiere. The only difference is that it will be in the...
Some registered members of the entertainment, culture and creative industries will get their $60,000 COVID-19 grants from the Government’s $90-million special support package in time for Christmas. Chairman of the Entertainment Advisory Board (EAB...
In a COVID era when entertainment, locally, remains on lockdown, the virtual space continues to fill the void, and even a simple church service with powerful singing takes on a whole new meaning. Such was the case last Saturday afternoon at the...
Jamaican jerk chicken can be found on menus across the globe and has been described as many things – spicy, fiery hot, well-seasoned, smoky – but never as a dance. That is, until Brutus Perry ‘Thorny’ Thornapple, the main character in the popular...
Popular actor and director Garfield ‘Bad Boy Trevor’ Reid and Stede ‘Jookie Jam’ Flash, who made his name in the Shebada plays, have brought more than their fair share of drama and laughter to the theatre scene. But, it’s not all fun and games for...
Disappointment seems to be the name of the game for the contestants and all those involved in this year’s 70th staging of the Miss World competition, and there is also a bit of déjà vu. Last year, the decision was taken to postpone the competition...
The celebration of life ceremony for Dr Carlton ‘Pee Wee’ Fraser will be held this Saturday, December 18, in Florida, not Jamaica, as many of his Twelve Tribes of Israel brethren were hoping. The venue for the service will be the Forest Lawn...
“The story of legendary bass player Phil Chen is perhaps one of the greatest untold stories of Jamaican music. This little Chiney boy played with the most famous singers and musicians in the world. Think Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton, The Doors, Peter...
Four decades after it was first released, the track, through VPal Music, is ensuring that a whole new generation will be impacted. In 1981, when Tommy Cowan wrote and composed the song, he knew he was on to something, but he didn’t quite predict...
Following a dispute, the estate of the late Frederick ‘Toots’ Hibbert has settled with the members of his former backing band, the Maytals, over the use of the name, and the band is now using a new name — O’Bessa. A press release with the headline...
Rocking a huge Afro, Sharon King oozes a personality that’s as big as her ‘fro. The daughter of Herman ‘Woody’ King, the man known as Jamaica’s “first uptown Rasta”, King certainly does not stand on ceremony. Perhaps it’s the actress in her. She...
The passing on Wednesday of Robbie Shakespeare, one half of Jamaica’s internationally famous Riddim Twins, Sly and Robbie, has left the music industry in a sombre mood. The 68-year-old legendary bass player had been ailing from kidney-related...
Robbie Shakespeare, one half of the powerhouse rhythm duo of Sly and Robbie, has died. A close associate confirmed his passing to The Gleaner a short while ago. Shakespeare had reportedly been ailing for some time and had undergone surgery...
Spotify Wrapped, the streaming giant’s annual list, which summarises the most played artistes and songs of the year in various territories, including Jamaica, features one Jamaican artiste in the Top 10 of the Most Played Songs list and three in...
The Barbados government announced on Monday, at an event welcoming its new status as a republic, that pop star and business mogul Rihanna is now the island’s 11th national hero. Even as congratulations have been flowing across social and...
Legendary guitarist Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith will dedicate this month’s groundation to Twelve Tribes of Israel physician, Dr Carlton ‘Pee Wee’ Fraser, who died on November 21 at the Florida Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale. Smith, the leader of the...
