CLINTON LINDSAY

Amina Blackwood Meeks— Educational institutions are being urged to share knowledge of actress, broadcaster and folklorist Louise Bennett-Coverley, popularly known as Miss Lou, with Jamaican children and young people to ensure that future generations are brought to knowledge of their culture and heritage by those of us who know the stories of our past. In what is the centenary year of her birth, one local organisation, the Centre for Value Based Arts, is putting her work on … Read entire article »

BY KEVIN JACKSON—Observer writer— Fayuca— One Drop, a six-piece band from San Diego, California, debuts at number two on the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart this week with their EP, Far From You, which sold 91 copies in its first week. One Drop’s music embraces classic roots reggae and dub, as well as rhythm and blues and rock. According to the band’s bio, their influences include Steel Pulse, Gregory Isaacs and The Police. Far From You was released October 10 by Neptune … Read entire article »

On November 22, 2019, VP Records will celebrate the 60th edition of one of the label’s staple compilation brands, with the release of Strictly the Best Vol. 60 . The set includes current and breaking hits from some of the top artists in roots reggae and dancehall.  As a kick-off to the label’s 40th Anniversary celebrations, a first ever live show “Strictly The Best – Live Montego Bay” was broadcast in January from Usain Bolt’s Tracks and records in Montego Bay. … Read entire article »

From: CaribbeanNationalWeekly— As a youth, Bamm Holt keenly listened to the classic songs of his grandfather, legendary reggae singer John Holt. But though “Gramps” is one of his biggest influences, Bamm wanted to make his musical mark to a different beat. On October 25, reggae fans will get to hear Bamm officially for the first time on Money Problems. His debut song is produced by Gold and Goals Production, a Jamaican company. “Mi call my kinda music reggae-fusion. … Read entire article »

BY RICHARD JOHNSON—Observer senior reporter— Jawara McIntosh aka Tosh 1 The Jamaican public was given an update on the progress being made by Peter Tosh’s son Jawara, more popularly known as Tosh 1, who was left in a coma for over a year after being beaten in a New Jersey jail, reportedly at the hands of a fellow inmate. Peter Tosh His sister Niambe told the audience at the Peter Tosh Music Festival held at the Pulse Centre in … Read entire article »

By Claudia Gardner —- Reggae/dancehall icon Sizzla is currently hospitalized following a motorcycle crash. Get-well wishes have begun to pour in for the reggae star after he reportedly sustained a broken ankle, following a motorcycle accident on Saturday. Sources inside Sizzla‘s camp confirmed with Urban Islandz on Tuesday that the singer was ‘out and stuntin’ on one of his motorcycles along Mona Road in Kingston when he lost control and broke his right ankle. Source says that Sizzla Kalonji’s injury was … Read entire article »

A sign for the Department of Justice hangs in the press briefing room at the Justice Department, in Washington. (Photo: AP)— WASHINGTON, DC, USA (AP) — The Trump Administration is planning to collect DNA samples from asylum seekers and other migrants detained by immigration officials, and will add the information to a massive FBI database used by law enforcement hunting for criminals, a Justice Department official said.The Justice Department yesterday issued amended regulations that would mandate … Read entire article »

BY SHANAE STEWART—Observer staff reporter— Twenty-three year old Matthew Gordon who was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer on October 12. Nine years ago, Matthew Gordon suffered the pain of losing his father to colon cancer. Now, the 23-year-old’s life is being threatened by the same disease. On October 12 he got the dreadful diagnosis — the cancer eating away his body is at stage four. Gordon, who is now in Black River Hospital, is to learn from his doctor this … Read entire article »

BY BALFORD HENRY—Observer senior reporter— Patrick Roberts— Losing his job as a technician at Stax Electronics in Kingston 34 years ago was perhaps the best thing that could have happened to Patrick Leroy Roberts. In his search to earn a living, Roberts called on the skills he learnt while at Stax to create the Shocking Vibes Crew, which defined inner-city dancehall music and became one of the genre’s most powerful labels. Roberts’ original cast included Beenie Man and his … Read entire article »