“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...
From dishwasher to owner of the top black-owned restaurant in Baltimore, Maryland, sums up in one sentence the sweet success of Jamaican restaurateur, Chef BobbyD. His eponymous fusion restaurant is flavoured with the finest Jamaican seasonings...
Tributes are pouring in for Dr Carlton ‘Pee Wee’ Fraser, the Twelve Tribes of Israel member who was physician to many of the island’s entertainers, as well as the Reggae Boyz. He passed away at 4 a.m. on Sunday at the Florida Medical Center in Ft...
Next Tuesday, November 23, will be a big day in music. The Recording Academy announced that nominations for the 64th Grammy Awards will be revealed by CEO Harvey Mason Jr during a live stream. All the artistes whose songs and albums were placed on...
The entire Merritone family is today saluting ‘the big man himself’, Winston ‘Merritone’ Blake, on what would have been his 81st birthday. It will be three glorious days of ‘Merri’ music, fun and frolic as a whole slew of DJs have been assembled...
Subscription-based music streaming service, Pandora, on Tuesday released its ‘Artistes To Watch picks for 2022: The Pandora Ten’, but this year there is a slight difference. In addition to the cross-genre main list, there are lists by genres....
Rexton ‘Shabba Ranks’ Gordon and Windell ‘Gyptian’ Edwards were earlier this year named as the recipients of the Jamaica Heritage Award from the consul general in New York. At a ceremony last Friday, held at the consulate in Manhattan, a nattily...
Koffee is definitely on a roll. Last month she dropped off new music, a breezy, celebratory track titled West Indies, which came with a cool video shot in Negril and has racked up millions of views. West Indies is the first single from her début...
A quirky collection of poems, songs, essays and on-the-go rambling – some sarcastic, some serious, others bland, and the rest just plain humorous – sums up My Corona Year in Sweden 2020, the first book from reggae singer Eek-A-Mouse. ‘Mouse’, as...
Michael Wilson, the son of veteran singer Ernest Wilson, is reeling from the shock of his father’s sudden passing last Tuesday, after being admitted to the Kingston Public Hospital the previous day. The singer, who was one half of the Clarendonians...
Chairman of the Entertainment Advisory Board (EAB), Howard McIntosh, sees the Government’s recent decision to put measures in place to allow vaccinated fans to attend the World Cup qualifier game between the Reggae Boyz and the USA at the National...
Percussionist and musicologist Alvin ‘Seeco’ Patterson, a pioneer who is often hailed as one of the foundation members of Bob Marley and the Wailers, has died. Patterson, who was admitted to the University Hospital of the West Indies two weeks ago...
Keith ‘Bob Andy’ Anderson, acknowledged as one of reggae’s most influential and enduring singers and songwriters, would have celebrated his 77th birthday today. Andy, who was born on October 28, 1944, died of cancer on March 27, 2020. He was 75....
School mottos must surely rank in the top 10 most unifying forces ever, just ask any Kingston College or St George’s College student, whether old or new. And, it is with a full understanding of this assignment that Peter Henry has formed One House...
Azizzi Romeo, the son of veteran reggae artiste Max Romeo, may not have his father’s iron shirt to put on to chase the devil out of the Earth, but he is nonetheless fully armed and ready to slay all that is evil. His weapon of choice is love, and...
Kadie Gordon, a micro influencer with an engaging personality, has been selected as the face of The SMC Group’s upcoming digital series, Brands and Talent. Gordon, who came out on top following an extensive search, is excited about all that awaits...
Lloyd ‘Gitsy’ Willis, the genius guitar player and producer who distinguished himself as part of the Treasure Isle group of musicians and also Sly and Robbie’s Taxi Gang, has died. His widow, Shakira Willis, told The Gleaner that he passed away...
