Sunday, December 29, 2013
Friday, October 25, 2013
REMEMERING GREGORY ISAACS
OCTOBER 25th, 2010 -
Gregory Isaacs, Jamaican reggae artist, dead at 59
By Terence McArdle
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, October 25, 2010; 10:30 AM
Gregory Isaacs, 59, the Jamaican-born reggae singer who was known as the "cool ruler" for his smooth, romantic singing style and who popularized the reggae subgenre known as lover's rock, died of lung cancer Oct. 25 at his home in London.
Unlike so-called roots rock singers Bob Marley and Burning Spear, who popularized songs that reflected world politics and the Rastafarian culture, Mr. Isaacs was best known for his love songs, many of which he wrote.
With his seductive style, he often pleaded for love or begged a lover for understanding. Nattily attired with his fedora hats and sports jackets, Mr. Isaacs conveyed a combination of prowess and vulnerability that invited comparisons to American rhythm and blues singers Tyrone Davis and Marvin Gaye.
Writing in the New York Times, music critic Milo Miles called Mr. Isaacs "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae," adding that "his lustful songs are not simple seductions or sexual boasts but sensuous daydreams, escapes from tribulation that invite the listener along."
With the success of his release "Night Nurse" (1982), which he co-wrote, Mr. Isaacs was poised for international stardom.
"Night Nurse," with its sly innuendo - "I don't wanna see no doc. I need attendance from my nurse around the clock. There's no prescription for me, she's my only remedy" - was a club hit for Mr. Isaacs in 1982.
That same year, he was sentenced to six months in a Jamaican prison for possession of unlicensed firearms.
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Mr. Isaacs maintained that he owned the guns for protection from robbers and political violence, which had engulfed Jamaica in the late 1970s, "just like you have a jacket to protect you from the cold."
It was later reported that he had been arrested 27 times, mostly on drug charges - a fact that may have accounted for his reluctance to give interviews.
Gregory Anthony Isaacs was born July 15, 1951, in the impoverished Denham Town neighborhood of Kingston, where he listened to American rhythm and blues balladeers Sam Cooke and Ben E. King.
After winning several talent shows as a teenager, he first recorded in a duo with singer Winston Sinclair in 1968 and joined a vocal trio, the Concords, that recorded in the era's popular rock steady style.
In 1973, Mr. Isaacs struck out on his own. He started a record company, African Museum, with another Jamaican singer, Erroll Dunkley. There he had several hits in Jamaica with "My Only Lover" (1973), sometimes cited as the first lovers rock record, "Love Is Overdue" (1974) and "All I Have Is Love" (1976).
A prominent company, Island Records, started releasing his recordings in the United States in 1982. Mr. Isaacs was so prolific that the Web site All Music Guide estimated he had appeared nearly 500 albums released in Jamaica, the U.S. and the U.K.
Mr. Isaacs appeared in the 1978 subtitled Jamaican film "Rockers," a plotless, episodic comedy sometimes described as the "A Hard Days Night" of reggae music. He played a local locksmith haggling with two tourists over the price of unlocking their car and is later seen performing in a night club.
Mr. Isaacs was married multiple times, and a complete list of survivors could not be confirmed.
He continued to record and tour throughout the 1990s. However in 2007, the London Daily Telegraph reported that addiction to crack cocaine had caused the singer to lose his teeth - a problem that affected his singing.
That year he told the Daily Telegraph, "It was the greatest college ever, but the most expensive fee ever paid - the Cocaine High School. I learnt everything - and now I've put it on the side."
Gregory Isaacs, Jamaican reggae artist, dead at 59
By Terence McArdle
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, October 25, 2010; 10:30 AM
Gregory Isaacs, 59, the Jamaican-born reggae singer who was known as the "cool ruler" for his smooth, romantic singing style and who popularized the reggae subgenre known as lover's rock, died of lung cancer Oct. 25 at his home in London.
Unlike so-called roots rock singers Bob Marley and Burning Spear, who popularized songs that reflected world politics and the Rastafarian culture, Mr. Isaacs was best known for his love songs, many of which he wrote.
With his seductive style, he often pleaded for love or begged a lover for understanding. Nattily attired with his fedora hats and sports jackets, Mr. Isaacs conveyed a combination of prowess and vulnerability that invited comparisons to American rhythm and blues singers Tyrone Davis and Marvin Gaye.
Writing in the New York Times, music critic Milo Miles called Mr. Isaacs "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae," adding that "his lustful songs are not simple seductions or sexual boasts but sensuous daydreams, escapes from tribulation that invite the listener along."
With the success of his release "Night Nurse" (1982), which he co-wrote, Mr. Isaacs was poised for international stardom.
"Night Nurse," with its sly innuendo - "I don't wanna see no doc. I need attendance from my nurse around the clock. There's no prescription for me, she's my only remedy" - was a club hit for Mr. Isaacs in 1982.
That same year, he was sentenced to six months in a Jamaican prison for possession of unlicensed firearms.
ad_icon
Mr. Isaacs maintained that he owned the guns for protection from robbers and political violence, which had engulfed Jamaica in the late 1970s, "just like you have a jacket to protect you from the cold."
It was later reported that he had been arrested 27 times, mostly on drug charges - a fact that may have accounted for his reluctance to give interviews.
Gregory Anthony Isaacs was born July 15, 1951, in the impoverished Denham Town neighborhood of Kingston, where he listened to American rhythm and blues balladeers Sam Cooke and Ben E. King.
After winning several talent shows as a teenager, he first recorded in a duo with singer Winston Sinclair in 1968 and joined a vocal trio, the Concords, that recorded in the era's popular rock steady style.
In 1973, Mr. Isaacs struck out on his own. He started a record company, African Museum, with another Jamaican singer, Erroll Dunkley. There he had several hits in Jamaica with "My Only Lover" (1973), sometimes cited as the first lovers rock record, "Love Is Overdue" (1974) and "All I Have Is Love" (1976).
A prominent company, Island Records, started releasing his recordings in the United States in 1982. Mr. Isaacs was so prolific that the Web site All Music Guide estimated he had appeared nearly 500 albums released in Jamaica, the U.S. and the U.K.
Mr. Isaacs appeared in the 1978 subtitled Jamaican film "Rockers," a plotless, episodic comedy sometimes described as the "A Hard Days Night" of reggae music. He played a local locksmith haggling with two tourists over the price of unlocking their car and is later seen performing in a night club.
Mr. Isaacs was married multiple times, and a complete list of survivors could not be confirmed.
He continued to record and tour throughout the 1990s. However in 2007, the London Daily Telegraph reported that addiction to crack cocaine had caused the singer to lose his teeth - a problem that affected his singing.
That year he told the Daily Telegraph, "It was the greatest college ever, but the most expensive fee ever paid - the Cocaine High School. I learnt everything - and now I've put it on the side."
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Reggae Quick Facts 3
Quick Facts:
NAME: King Yellowman
OCCUPATION: Musician
BIRTH DATE: January 15, 1956 (Age: 57)
PLACE OF BIRTH: Kingston, Jamaica
AKA: King Yellowman
AKA: Yellowman
Full Name: Christian Winston Foster
ZODIAC SIGN: Capricorn
Best Known For:
King Yellowman is a Jamaican dancehall reggae performer whose stage name references his white skin due to albinism, a genetic defect causing an absence of the pigment melanin.
NAME: King Yellowman
OCCUPATION: Musician
BIRTH DATE: January 15, 1956 (Age: 57)
PLACE OF BIRTH: Kingston, Jamaica
AKA: King Yellowman
AKA: Yellowman
Full Name: Christian Winston Foster
ZODIAC SIGN: Capricorn
Best Known For:
King Yellowman is a Jamaican dancehall reggae performer whose stage name references his white skin due to albinism, a genetic defect causing an absence of the pigment melanin.
New Stephen Marley Tour Dates
NEW STEPHEN MARLEY TOUR DATES
Stephen Marley Postpones Fall Celtic Woman TourYou can forget about seeing Stephen “Ragga” Marley this fall on one of the many shows planned for his October-November tour. The eight-time Grammy winner and son of the late reggae master Bob Marley has rescheduled the fall outing for spring 2014.
Word from Marley’s representative is that the artist has moved the tour to next year because the release date for his new album, Revelation Part 2: The Fruit Of Life, has changed. Today’s announcement did not include the new release date, but did mention two new singles – “Bongo Nyah” featuring Spragga Benz & Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and “You & Me Attract” featuring Busy Signal. Check them out here and here.
Although Marley has moved his tour to spring he will still appear at two Florida music fests – MagnoliaFest in Live Oak Oct. 18 and Miami Reggae Festival/One Love Nutrifest Nov. 23.
Here’s the new schedule:
April 12 – St. Petersburg, Fla., Jannus Live
April 13 – Atlanta, Ga., Center Stage Theater
April 15 – Wilmington, N.C., Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre
April 17 – Washington, D.C., Lincoln Theatre
April 18 – Philadelphia, Pa., Trocadero Theatre
April 19 – New York, N.Y., Best Buy Theater
April 20 – Providence, R.I., Fete Lounge
April 23 – Boston, Mass., Paradise Rock Club
April 25 – Chicago, Ill., Park West
April 26 – Madison, Wis., Barrymore Theatre
April 27 – Minneapolis, Minn., First Avenue
April 29 – Englewood, Colo., Gothic Theatre
April 30 – Boulder, Colo., Boulder Theater
May 2 – Aspen, Colo., Belly Up Aspen
May 6 – Seattle, Wash., Showbox At The Market
May 7 – Portland, Ore., Wonder Ballroom
May 9 – San Francisco, Calif., The Regency Ballroom
May 14 – Solana Beach, Calif., Belly Up Tavern
May 16 – West Hollywood, Calif., House Of Blues
May 20 – Albuquerque, N.M., Sunshine Theatre
May 24 – New Orleans, La., House Of Blues
Stephen Marley Postpones Fall Celtic Woman TourYou can forget about seeing Stephen “Ragga” Marley this fall on one of the many shows planned for his October-November tour. The eight-time Grammy winner and son of the late reggae master Bob Marley has rescheduled the fall outing for spring 2014.
Word from Marley’s representative is that the artist has moved the tour to next year because the release date for his new album, Revelation Part 2: The Fruit Of Life, has changed. Today’s announcement did not include the new release date, but did mention two new singles – “Bongo Nyah” featuring Spragga Benz & Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and “You & Me Attract” featuring Busy Signal. Check them out here and here.
Although Marley has moved his tour to spring he will still appear at two Florida music fests – MagnoliaFest in Live Oak Oct. 18 and Miami Reggae Festival/One Love Nutrifest Nov. 23.
Here’s the new schedule:
April 12 – St. Petersburg, Fla., Jannus Live
April 13 – Atlanta, Ga., Center Stage Theater
April 15 – Wilmington, N.C., Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre
April 17 – Washington, D.C., Lincoln Theatre
April 18 – Philadelphia, Pa., Trocadero Theatre
April 19 – New York, N.Y., Best Buy Theater
April 20 – Providence, R.I., Fete Lounge
April 23 – Boston, Mass., Paradise Rock Club
April 25 – Chicago, Ill., Park West
April 26 – Madison, Wis., Barrymore Theatre
April 27 – Minneapolis, Minn., First Avenue
April 29 – Englewood, Colo., Gothic Theatre
April 30 – Boulder, Colo., Boulder Theater
May 2 – Aspen, Colo., Belly Up Aspen
May 6 – Seattle, Wash., Showbox At The Market
May 7 – Portland, Ore., Wonder Ballroom
May 9 – San Francisco, Calif., The Regency Ballroom
May 14 – Solana Beach, Calif., Belly Up Tavern
May 16 – West Hollywood, Calif., House Of Blues
May 20 – Albuquerque, N.M., Sunshine Theatre
May 24 – New Orleans, La., House Of Blues
Reggae Quick Facts 2
Reggae Quick Facts:
NAME: Burning Spear
OCCUPATION: Musician
BIRTH DATE: March 01, 1945 (Age: 68)
PLACE OF BIRTH: Saint Ann's Bay, Saint Ann, Jamaica
Nickname: Burning Spear
Full Name: Winston Rodney
ZODIAC SIGN: Pisces
Best Known For:
Reggae musician Burning Spear, also known as Winston Rodney, OD, is a Bob Marley protégé whose hits include "Door Peep" and "Slavery Days."
NAME: Burning Spear
OCCUPATION: Musician
BIRTH DATE: March 01, 1945 (Age: 68)
PLACE OF BIRTH: Saint Ann's Bay, Saint Ann, Jamaica
Nickname: Burning Spear
Full Name: Winston Rodney
ZODIAC SIGN: Pisces
Best Known For:
Reggae musician Burning Spear, also known as Winston Rodney, OD, is a Bob Marley protégé whose hits include "Door Peep" and "Slavery Days."
Reggae Quick Facts
REGGAE QUICK FACTS:
NAME: Jimmy Cliff
OCCUPATION: Songwriter, Singer
BIRTH DATE: April 01, 1948 (Age: 65)
EDUCATION: Kingston Technical High School
PLACE OF BIRTH: St. James, Jamaica
Originally: James Chambers
AKA: El Hadi Naïm Bachir
AKA: Jimmy Cliff
ZODIAC SIGN: Aries
BEST KNOWN FOR:
Jamaican musician Jimmy Cliff is best known for introducing reggae to an international audience.
NAME: Jimmy Cliff
OCCUPATION: Songwriter, Singer
BIRTH DATE: April 01, 1948 (Age: 65)
EDUCATION: Kingston Technical High School
PLACE OF BIRTH: St. James, Jamaica
Originally: James Chambers
AKA: El Hadi Naïm Bachir
AKA: Jimmy Cliff
ZODIAC SIGN: Aries
BEST KNOWN FOR:
Jamaican musician Jimmy Cliff is best known for introducing reggae to an international audience.
A LIGHTER SIDE OF THE LAW - JAMAICAN COMEDY SERIES
A Lighter Side Of The Law - Squaddie:
BY CECELIA CAMPBELL-LIVINGSTON Observer staff reporter livingstonc@jamaicaobserver.com
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
SQUADDIE, a comedy series starring Darielle Cummings, Randy McLaren and Chris Hutchinson premier's this weekend on Flow TV.
The half-hour-long show is based around Hutchinson and McLaren's characters Touchie and Scrapings who are rookie cops. Darielle Cummings plays their superior, the intimidating Superintendent Bigga Blacks.
( Randy McLaren and Chris Hutchinson play rookie cops in the comedy series Squaddie.
[Restore Description}
Squaddie is the concept of e-Media Interactive's
CEO Tyrone Wilson, who came up with the idea after hearing humorous tales about life in the Jamaica Constabulary Force from a friend who is a member.
Cummings says it was Wilson who brought him into the Squaddie fold after seeing him dancing with the Untouchable Squad in Vybz Kartel's music video, Peanut Shell.
"It was my first time in acting. They gave me a shot and I took it. I found it interesting because it gave me the chance to create a different personality," he said. "The character is in total contrast to me."
The Linstead-born Cummings made a name for himself with the Untouchable Squad which won the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's World Reggae Dance Championship in 2010.
In June, he graduated from the University of Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree in registered nursing.
Eventually, he hopes for a career in the mental health field, but for now making Squaddie a hit is priority.
"I am just going with the flow and seeing if I can make a little headway in my entertainment career. My shelf life in entertainment is not very long, while
nursing is a lifelong career path," he said.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/A-LIGHTER-SIDE-OF-THE-LAW_15306942#ixzz2iWnQbQBf
BY CECELIA CAMPBELL-LIVINGSTON Observer staff reporter livingstonc@jamaicaobserver.com
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
SQUADDIE, a comedy series starring Darielle Cummings, Randy McLaren and Chris Hutchinson premier's this weekend on Flow TV.
The half-hour-long show is based around Hutchinson and McLaren's characters Touchie and Scrapings who are rookie cops. Darielle Cummings plays their superior, the intimidating Superintendent Bigga Blacks.
( Randy McLaren and Chris Hutchinson play rookie cops in the comedy series Squaddie.
[Restore Description}
Squaddie is the concept of e-Media Interactive's
CEO Tyrone Wilson, who came up with the idea after hearing humorous tales about life in the Jamaica Constabulary Force from a friend who is a member.
Cummings says it was Wilson who brought him into the Squaddie fold after seeing him dancing with the Untouchable Squad in Vybz Kartel's music video, Peanut Shell.
"It was my first time in acting. They gave me a shot and I took it. I found it interesting because it gave me the chance to create a different personality," he said. "The character is in total contrast to me."
The Linstead-born Cummings made a name for himself with the Untouchable Squad which won the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's World Reggae Dance Championship in 2010.
In June, he graduated from the University of Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree in registered nursing.
Eventually, he hopes for a career in the mental health field, but for now making Squaddie a hit is priority.
"I am just going with the flow and seeing if I can make a little headway in my entertainment career. My shelf life in entertainment is not very long, while
nursing is a lifelong career path," he said.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/A-LIGHTER-SIDE-OF-THE-LAW_15306942#ixzz2iWnQbQBf
A lighter side of the law - Entertainment
www.jamaicaobserver.com
SQUADDIE,
a comedy series starring Darielle Cummings, Randy McLaren and Chris
Hutchinson premier's this weekend on Flow TV. The half-hour-long show is
based around Hutchinson and McLaren's characters Touchie and Scrapings
who are rookie cops.
Friday, October 18, 2013
"Welcome To Jamrock Reggae Cruise" World
"Welcome To Jamrock Reggae Cruise" World
Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley
Stephen Marley
Julian Marley
Sean Paul
Shaggy
Etana
Tarrus Riley
Jah Cure
Busy Signal
Morgan Heritage
Jo Mersa Marley
Wayne Marshall
Christopher Ellis
Black-Am-I
Mon 10/20/14 Miami, FL Norwegian Cruise Line - Norwegian Pearl
Tue 10/21/14 Miami, FL Norwegian Cruise Line - Norwegian Pearl
Wed 10/22/14 Miami, FL Norwegian Cruise Line - Norwegian Pearl
Thu 10/23/14 Miami, FL Norwegian Cruise Line - Norwegian Pearl
Bob Marley and Rasta T-Shirts
Fri 10/24/14 Miami, FL Norwegian Cruise Line - Norwegian Pearl
Sat 10/25/14 Miami, FL Norwegian Cruise Line - Norwegian Pearl
Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley
Stephen Marley
Julian Marley
Sean Paul
Shaggy
Etana
Tarrus Riley
Jah Cure
Busy Signal
Morgan Heritage
Jo Mersa Marley
Wayne Marshall
Christopher Ellis
Black-Am-I
Mon 10/20/14 Miami, FL Norwegian Cruise Line - Norwegian Pearl
Tue 10/21/14 Miami, FL Norwegian Cruise Line - Norwegian Pearl
Wed 10/22/14 Miami, FL Norwegian Cruise Line - Norwegian Pearl
Thu 10/23/14 Miami, FL Norwegian Cruise Line - Norwegian Pearl
Bob Marley and Rasta T-Shirts
Fri 10/24/14 Miami, FL Norwegian Cruise Line - Norwegian Pearl
Sat 10/25/14 Miami, FL Norwegian Cruise Line - Norwegian Pearl
Monday, June 17, 2013
New Bob Marley and Rasta Items 2013
New Bob Marley and Rasta Items 2013
www.reggaeplanet.com
www.reggaeplanet.com
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