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CLINTON LINDSAY » GUEST RUNDOWNS

TAKING JERK TO NEW YORKERS JULY 20!

By Howard Campbell– Mario Bignal of Boston, Portland, tends to a grill of jerk pork at the Boston jerk tent, where the authentic Jamaican Jerk flavor is offered to thousands of patrons who flock to Roy Wilkins Park each July for a day of food, family and fun—. AFTER living in New York City for two years, Kingston-born Eddy Edwards moved to sunny South Florida in 1981. He was in The Big Apple long enough, however, to see the emergence of Jamaican jerked foods. Edwards is currently preparing for the fourth annual Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival. A joint production with VP Records, it takes place on July 20 at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens, New York. According to Edwards, who also promotes the annual Jamaican Jerk Festival in South Florida, the New York show … Read entire article »

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ETANA SELECTED AS MUSICAL AMBASSADOR FOR NATIONAL CARIBBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH!

ETANA SELECTED AS MUSICAL AMBASSADOR FOR NATIONAL CARIBBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH!

WASHINGTON, DC — The Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) led by Dr. Claire Nelson is pleased to announce its selection of Jamaican international reggae singer Etana as this year’s Musical Ambassador for National Caribbean American Heritage Month (NCAHM). “We are delighted to appoint ETANA (the Strong one) as Musical Ambassador for 2014. From my first meeting with her when she was just starting out some years ago at one of her early performances at the Pegasus Hotel in … Read entire article »

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“I’M NOT HOMOPHOBIC” INSISTS QUEEN IFRICA!

  Queen Ifrica—- KINGSTON, Jamaica — Reggae singer and deejay, Queen Ifrica, on Monday sought to clear the air regarding her ongoing contentious association with the gay community. Queen Ifrica told OBSERVER ONLINE that she is not homophobic, insisting instead that she has love for everyone in spite of their beliefs. “One thing that a lot of people don’t know about me is that I love people, regardless of their religious, sexual or any other belief they might have. I just love people in general,” she said. The outspoken artist has come under increased pressure in recent times because of anti-homosexual lyrics she used while performing at the 2013 Independence Grand Gala in Kingston. As a result she has been banned from performing at several shows, the latest being an event at the Amazura Concert Hall … Read entire article »

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LONDON’S NEW SENSATION AJ SOULZ IS READY TO MAKE HER MARK!

  North London music sensation AJ Soulz is rapidly making an impression on the music scene. Her sultry sounds, combined with her winning personality are proving to be an irresistible combination. Now promoting her debut single Official and her latest offering Dear No One, this singer shows she is definitely ready for the big times. For her it’s a fulfilling of her life’s dream and that was to do music. “I think it was a love I was born with. I respect the power of music and words,” she said adding that her biggest influence in her development has been her music teacher in high school, other artists and the radio. Although she is chalking up some attention in her side of the world, AZ Soulz is eager for the world to sit up and … Read entire article »

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ASSASSIN AKA AGENT SASCO TO RELEASE TO NEW STUDIO ALBUM!

Agent Sasco By Shereita Grizzle— He has a plethora of hit singles, but only two albums. However, that number is about to increase as Assassin, also known as Agent Sasco, gets ready to release his latest studio album. When The Gleaner caught up with the deejay following his performance at the Best of the Best concert in Miami recently, he revealed that an album is in the works and could be released later this year or early next year. Though all the details have not yet been finalised, the artist says the album will be one fans should look forward to. “It is still early days yet, but I’m always working and making sure that whatever I put out is the best,” he said. Following his stellar performance at the Miami concert, Agent Sasco put on another spectacular show at the Oracabessa Festival in Queens,New York, … Read entire article »

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ACTRESS ANN B. DAVIS, “THE BRADY BUNCH” DEVOTED HOUSEKEEPER ALICE, DIES AT 88!

June 1 (Reuters) – Comic actress Ann B. Davis, who played the devoted housekeeper Alice on the television sitcom “The Brady Bunch” and won two Emmy awards as the forever-single secretary Schultzy on “The Bob Cummings Show,” died on Sunday at age 88, CNN reported.Davis fell and hit her head on Saturday morning, CNN reported, citing a close friend of Davis, Bishop William Frey. She suffered a subdural hematoma and never regained consciousness, Frey told CNN. Davis’ character helped keep a large, blended family functioning on “The Brady Bunch” by offering advice and wisecracks to busy parents and frantic kids, or simply by making meatloaf for eight. She was known for her light blue housekeeper’s uniform with a white apron. Behind the scenes, Davis provided a model of acting professionalism to the show’s … Read entire article »

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HOLLYWOOD STARS CAUGHT BERES HAMMOND IN CONCERT IN TRINIDAD!

  STAR COMPANY: Hollywood actresses, from right, Garcelle Beauvais, Essence Atkins and Malinda Williams with Jamaican reggae icon Beres Hammond in his dressing room prior to his performance at “Redemption—The Concert”, which was held at the training ground of Hasely Crawford Stadium on Saturday night. —Photo: NIGEL TELESFORD By Nigel Telesford Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley and US actresses Garcelle Beauvais, Malinda Williams and Essence Atkins enjoyed the sweet sounds of reggae music on Saturday night, as Tropix Entertainment and Ricky Ragoonanan Group of Companies staged “Redemption–The Concert”, at the training ground of Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain. Beauvais (The Jamie Foxx Show), Williams (Soul Food) and Atkins (Smart Guy) are in Trinidad—along with Terri Vaughn (The Steve Harvey Show)–working on a new film, Grown Girls Getaway. The Hollywood stars assembled along with thousands … Read entire article »

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THE NIKKI Z STORY!

  By Kevin Jackson— NIKKI Z… vision is to bridge the gap between the Caribbean and Caribbean music lovers— NIKKI Z is synonymous with live events in the tri-state region. Now in her late 30s, she (real name Nicole Duhaney) has carved out a niche working in media and show promotion, especially in Connecticut. “I have been working with various promotional companies since the age of 16. I ventured out on my own in the latter part of my 20s,” Nikki Z shared in a recent interview. Born in Hartford, Connecticut to Jamaican parents (her mother is from Kingston, her father was born in St Elizabeth), Nikki Z is deep into her Jamaican heritage. “My whole family is Jamaican born and raised. I was the second in my family to be born on US soil. My … Read entire article »

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WITH VIOLINS, SONS OF MYSTRO REWRITING REGGAE CLASSICS!

WITH VIOLINS, SONS OF MYSTRO REWRITING REGGAE CLASSICS!

By Howard Campbell—- The McNeish brothers, Malcolm (left) and Umoja.— THERE have been different interpretations of Jamaican pop music over the years. Jazz man Grover Washington Jnr covered Marley’s Jammin’ while country legend Willie Nelson put a twang on songs by Toots and The Maytals. The McNeish brothers, Malcolm and Umoja, are not as famous. But, as Sons of Mystro, they used their violins to rework a number of reggae classics. This can be heard on Reggae Strings Vol … Read entire article »

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PON DI ENDS – BACK UP TO THE HILLS WITH NADINE SUTHERLAND!

PON DI ENDS –  BACK UP TO THE HILLS WITH NADINE SUTHERLAND!

BY CECELIA CAMPBELL-LIVINGSTON—- Nadine and her proud father Lenford—- LOCATED in the cool hills of Above Rocks, St Andrew, the district of Long Coconut Tree’s most famous citizen is singer Nadine Sutherland, who first made reggae charts in the early 1980s. As her father Lenford Patrick welcomed the Jamaica Observer team and her manager Ryan Bailey into his home, he spoke with pride about the daughter who fulfilled a dream he never realised. “I felt good when she took … Read entire article »

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