WASHINGTON, DC, USA — Jamaican-born Dr Claire A Nelson, founder and president of the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS), will be honoured by the White House today as a ‘Champion of Change’. Dr Nelson is one of nine Champions of Change being honoured in Washington, DC as “leaders who have exemplified extraordinary successes and efforts toward the development of, and diplomacy with, their countries or communities of origin”. She will be recognised for her work with the … Read entire article »

Iconic dancehall DJ Shabba Ranks set the stage ablaze on Reggae Sumfest’s International Night 1 when he invited the soulful and sultry singer Cherine to join him in front of the thousands of reggae and dancehall lovers. Cherine takes time to interact with the fans at Reggae Sumfest 2012 The young Dancehall – Soulstress wasn’t scheduled on the festival line up but was brought out by Ranks and together they created a chemistry that rocked the house; setting social … Read entire article »

Over the last 4 years or so International Reggae Group Bonafide has been making serious inroads in the local market place, with their trademark blend of lovers rock and roots reggae sounds along with up-tempo dancehall tracks such as Bumpa which was done in combination with Busy Signal. The Las Vegas based group which is comprised of drummer Donovan ‘Junior Roots’ Stephens and Keyboardist Robert Stephens, bass player Wayne Stevens and deejay Kerry ‘Kerry Ranks’ Bell … Read entire article »

Dancehall hitmaker Beenie Man is getting some flagging from dancehall fans for sidestepping legendary dancehall star Shabba Ranks. In a recent interview with Anthony Miller of ER, Beenie Man was asked for a comment on the massive turn out of fans to welcome Shabba at the airport. “No comments,” Beenie Man said, before adding “what I am going to say yes no.” According to the self proclaim dancehall king, any other artistes could have gotten the same turn if they paid … Read entire article »

The cover of one of Dr Donald Shirley’s recordings.—- –   By Herbie Miller—- I first became aware of Don Shirley around 1963 through one of my mentors, a proofreader at The Gleaner, and at different times, in the newsrooms of both RJR and JBC. He had lived in Harlem, New York, from the late 1940 through 1950s and seemed to have known everything. In addition to the acclaimed artistry of Enrico Caruso and Maria Callas, the creative brilliance and … Read entire article »

  Chairman of the Civic and Community Affairs Committee of the Trelawny Parish Council, Phillip Service, says the parish is facing a shortfall of $2 million in its budget for staging the Trelawny brand of Jamaica 50, and is making a special appeal to the culture ministry and the local business community to help in making up the shortfall. Speaking at a media briefing Monday in Falmouth to outline the events planned for Trelawny in celebration of Jamaica 50, service said $3 million allocated to … Read entire article »

Event is labor of love for organizers If you go What: 17th annual Monterey Bay Reggae Fest When: Friday through Sunday Where: Monterey County Fairgrounds, 2004 Fairground Road, in Monterey. Cost: $30-$50, plus a can of food to donate for area food banks. Tickets and information: 831-394-6534 or www.mbayreggaefest.net or visit the Monterey Bay Reggae Fest page on Facebook.com.   Thousands of fans are expected to flock to the 17th annual Monterey Bay Reggae Fest this weekend. The three-day festival is dedicated to roots reggae, a genre of music that enjoyed … Read entire article »

An 11-year-old English boy who ran away from his mother during a shopping tripheaded straight to Manchester airport to catch a flight to, well, anywhere but there. Liam Corcoran was able to board a flight to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport by “mingling with families” going through security, without having a passport or boarding pass, according to the BBC. Corcoran ran to the nearest departing flight gate and was able to evade a head count before getting on a Jet2 flight. … Read entire article »

  BY CECELIA CAMPBELL-LIVINGSTON ——- SIX albums by Bob Marley are included in a Top 50 Reggae Albums list compiled by Jamaican disc jockey Clinton Lindsay and his colleague Marlon Burrell. The list was done in commemoration of Jamaica’s 50th anniversary as an independent nation which will be officially celebrated on August 6. MARLEY… died in May 1981 at 36   Marley’s Exodus is number one on the Lindsay/Burrell table. The 1977 album, largely recorded in England and distributed by Island … Read entire article »

BY HOWARD CAMPBELL—— Next month, it will be 50 years since Jamaica gained Independence from Britain. Today, the Jamaica Observer’s Entertainment section reflects on the influence Jamaican pop culture has had on that country in REGGAE BRITANNIA, a weekly feature leading up to the Golden Jubilee. THE hundreds of Jamaicans who immigrated to Britain during the 1950s made the taxing trip with their Top: Maxi Priest, Bottom: Musical Youth culture intact. It was not long before Jamaican restaurants began popping … Read entire article »