Desmond Phillips (left) and Michael Grant posing with a massive sunfish which they caught in the Portland waters yesterday. – photo by gareth davis By Gareth Davis Sr—- After fighting a huge fish for more than one and a half hours, two Portland fishermen landed the catch of their lives and brought ashore a huge sunfish, which is probably unknown to Jamaican waters. The fish, which is without scales, was caught off the coast of Boston Bay in the parish shortly after 10 … Read entire article »

By Cecelia Campbell-Livingston— WITH a father as famous as Alton Ellis, singer Christopher Ellis certainly has big shoes to fill. But the rocksteady legend’s youngest son is making strides of his own. On Tuesday, Ellis’s debut EP, Better Than Love, will be released by the Marley-owned Ghetto Youths International label. Christopher Ellis   Produced by Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley, Ellis says the five-song piece is a blend of reggae, R&B and rocksteady. It contains the songs Roller Coaster, Left Unsaid … Read entire article »

By Cecelia Campbell-Livingston—- GOSPEL singer George Banton’s song, Joy Down in My Heart, is featured in the hit movie Bad Grandpa which stars Johnny Knoxville. Banton wrote the track which is from his album Leave Me At The Altar. BANTON… When I think about so many songs in the world, mine got selected Speaking with the Jamaica Observer from his home in Toronto, Canada, he said producers of Bad Grandpa contacted administrators of his publishing company, GPL, and expressed … Read entire article »

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Champion jockey Dane Nelson rode six winners in the nine races run at Caymanas Park on Sunday. Nelson who started the day five winners behind leader Omar Walker in the race for the jockeys’ championship enjoyed his best day in the saddle since becoming a jockey nine years ago. Walker was winless on the day. Champion jockey Dane Nelson   Nelson’s tally of winners now stands at 94 with Walker on 93.       … Read entire article »

By Kevin Jackson— IT has been seven years since Tessanne Chin came to national attention with the hit song Hideaway. Co-produced by drummer Paul Kastick and guitarist Rudy Valentino, the rock-reggae song made local charts and regional lists in the United States. It was also featured on VP Records’ popular Reggae Gold compilation series. Top: Jimmy Cliff. Bottom: Tessanne Chin’s Hideaway has benefited from her exposure on the top-rated NBC talent show, The Voice. Chin is enjoying renewed popularity … Read entire article »

  They did it! Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce were named the 2013 Athletes of the Year, making it the first time a Jamaican duo has copped the prestigious title and only the third time in the history of the award. The only other athletes to have done this are Americans Carl Lewis and Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1988 and Colin Jackson and Sally Gunnell of Great Britain in 1993. Fraser-Pryce (left) and Bolt, 2013 Athletes of the Year This … Read entire article »

Members of Just For Peace International, Keron Rowe (seated), and from left: Rutino, Logical and Dan Kabal. – Contributed By Curtis Campbell— Spanish Town-based peace initiative outfit Just For Peace International, has been making progress in parish capital’s inner-city communities through the idea of using entertainment. According to Keron Rowe, the entertainment manager of Just For Peace International, talent from the inner city is joining the movement. The members, he says, have been positively impacting others through clean … Read entire article »

Chuck Fenda—   By Curtis Campbell– Several local artists are releasing digital copies of their albums, pointing out that with the decline in sales of vinyl records and CDs, digital albums are proving a far more cost-effective venture. Stein, an up-and-coming dancehall artist who recently released his debut album, All Or Nothing, said he would not have been able to release an independent album, had he not gone the digital route. “I went digital because music is not selling physically again. Only in Europe and Japan … Read entire article »

2 Chains   By Davina Henry— With just a little over five weeks until the 30th anniversary of the greatest one-night show on earth, Ricky Chin, CEO of Ricardo Chin Production Services, is already promising that the event will mirrorfestivals staged internationally. Chin, who, outside of its founders, has the longest association with the show, has dedicated 24 years of production services towards building Sting into the show it is today. “Because this is the 30th anniversary and because of the … Read entire article »

Ernie Smith— By Mel Cooke– Ernie Smith recorded I Can’t Take It as a ballad at Federal Studios in 1967. Eight years later, Johnny Nash did it over as a lovers’ rock track, naming it Tears on My Pillow. It was, for Smith, an unfortunate title change, as that was the name of a Little Anthony and the Imperials hit. It was, for Smith, an unfortunate coincidence, as there was a mix-up in royalties. However, there is no taking … Read entire article »