Quickies: Stephenson, Tucker make 'A Better Tomorrow'

International reggae artiste Duane Stephenson and noted record producer Handel Tucker have teamed up to do the song A Better Tomorrow.

Recorded at the Mixing Lab in St Andrew last month, it is a positive tune which blends the distinctive lyrics and voice of Duane Stephenson with the proven production skills of the internationally renowned Tucker. Stephenson, who is currently on tour in the US promotinghis sophomore album Black Gold, says he wrote the song to uplift those facing hard times. "This song is aimed at all those who are having a hard time. When I was writing it I wanted to get the message across that life will not always be difficult. There will be brighter days; there will be a better tomorrow," he said.

Tucker said, "I had no idea what to expect going into the studio with Duane. The collaboration turned out to be an effortless experience. He has an incredible ability to merge melody, lyrics and music to make one powerful statement."

A Better Tomorrow will be released via iTunes in the coming weeks and the accompanying video will be shot in Kingston next week by renowned video director Ras Kassa The Guru.

British documentary for Reggae Film Festival

The BBC has arranged for the prestigious Reggae Britannia documentary to be shown in Jamaica for the first time at this year's Reggae Film Festival. The documentary is a tribute to all Jamaican people, especially those who make music, and shows how Jamaican music has travelled to other countries, whose residents have adopted and embraced Jamaican culture.

The Reggae Film Festival preview of films already entered for the 2011 staging, including interaction with film-makers, takes place at Legend Cafe, Bob Marley Museum, on Friday, February 25, at 7 p.m.

Danglin advises 'Keep on Believing'

Dwayne 'Danglin' Anglin is in the process of promoting his latest single Keep on Believing, which he recorded for the Whattage label on the Jahness riddim. His two other current singles, Heavenly Father and Excuse Me Miss, are reportedly rapidly gaining momentum on radio. In addition, the true-to-life video for Heavenly Father continues to reverberate across reggae communities with its brutally frank and honest portrait of inner-city realities.

Danglin has worked among many of reggae's finest, among them Tarrus Riley, Tony Rebel and Queen Ifrika. He performed at the fifth a nnual EME Awards in 2009, Culture Yard's 64th Annual Bob Marley Birthday Celebration and the former Asylum Nightclub, among numerous other engagements.

The recording artiste first got the call to join The Wailers in February of last year, following the debut of Excuse Me Miss. After having dialogue with the band's members he accepted their invitation and joined them on the tail end of a US tour in Utah. He would later perform on two shows in Redondo Beach, California.

With Bob Marley being his music idol since he was a child, Danglin feels it is quite an honour to help carry on his legacy.

Danglin's love for music was inevitable and perhaps genetic. His father played a lot of Alton Ellis, Bob Marley, Johnny Mathhis and Nat King Cole music, among other legends. "Sunday was music day at home in Guy's Hill, St Catherine, but one could feel the rhythm at home seven days a week", Danglin recalls.

Young ministers for 'Fun in the Son'

The rich sounds of gospel music and ongoing family activities will grace the venue of the ninth staging of the Best Dressed Fun in the Son Gospel Festival. Hosted under the theme 'Kingdom Come', the annual celebration will take place on Saturday, March 19, 2011, at the University of the West Indies' (UWI) Mona Bowl, starting at 10 a.m.

To cater to the growing number of younger attendees, Glory Music will introduce a host of exciting and electrifying young ministers to the Best Dressed Fun in the Son stage, where they will be given the platform to share their testimonies with and minister to the audience. This new generation of internationally and locally acclaimed gospel ambassadors includes Que from Trinidad, James Douglas, Sharon Wiles and Tamara Cushnie from Florida and the Papine High Choir.

James Douglas and Tamara Cushnie are winners of a Florida-based gospel song contest and the Papine Choir was a favourite in TVJ's All Together Sing Competition.

Fun in the Son has earned the reputation of being the premier gospel event in Jamaica and has the ability to bring together tens of thousands of local, regional and international patrons in one location for a day of continued praise and worship.

Katy Perry's mother wants grandchildren quickly

Katy Perry's mother "can't wait" for her daughter to have children. Mary Hudson is pleased that her son-in-law Russell Brand loves kids as she is hopeful the couple - who married last October after a yearlong romance - will start a family soon.

She said: "He loves kids. I just can't wait for them to have babies. Grandma, here we come!" Mary thinks Katy and Russell make a great couple, though she admits she is unsure how they cope with such hectic work schedules. She said, "I don't know whether it's private jets or what, but they make it work."

Katy, 26, recently admitted she and Russell, 35, want to have a baby and insisted her kids will always take priority over her career. She said: "I want to have kids! I'm totally fine with saying that. I think some people are worried it's going to ruin their career, but I want to live a full life."

Kelly Osbourne won't do foot operation

Kelly Osbourne won't have an operation on her feet until she becomes "a cripple".

The star has been plagued with foot problems for years - including painful bunions and flat feet - and had been due to undergo a surgical procedure to correct her ailments but backed out of the treatment after seeing what it entailed.

She said: "I'm putting it off until I become a cripple. There's no way I could it. They're going to break four bones in my feet and some, ligaments. When I saw what was actually involved, I was like, 'no!' It hurts. But I'm not going to do it. I'll just put up with it until I can't put up with it anymore."

Kelly previously admitted taking part in TV talent show 'Dancing with the Stars' in 2009 had made her foot problems worse, and confessed in December she previously put off having an operation because it would have left her unable to walk for several weeks.

She said: "It was going to happen but 'Dancing with the Stars' kicked it up about 10 years. I put it off because I wasn't prepared to not walk for a month."

Katy,
26, recently admitted she and Russell, 35, want to have a baby and
insisted her kids will always take priority over her career. She said:
"I want to have kids! I'm totally fine with saying that. I think some
people are worried it's going to ruin their career, but I want to live a
full life."

Kelly Osbourne won't do foot operation

Kelly Osbourne won't have an operation on her feet until she becomes "a cripple".

The
star has been plagued with foot problems for years - including painful
bunions and flat feet - and had been due to undergo a surgical procedure
to correct her ailments but backed out of the treatment after seeing
what it entailed.

She
said: "I'm putting it off until I become a cripple. There's no way I
could it. They're going to break four bones in my feet and some,
ligaments. When I saw what was actually involved, I was like, 'no!' It
hurts. But I'm not going to do it. I'll just put up with it until I
can't put up with it anymore."

Kelly
previously admitted taking part in TV talent show 'Dancing with the
Stars' in 2009 had made her foot problems worse, and confessed in
December she previously put off having an operation because it would
have left her unable to walk for several weeks.

She
said: "It was going to happen but 'Dancing with the Stars' kicked it up
about 10 years. I put it off because I wasn't prepared to not walk for a
month."