By Swan Southern World Arts News— There was a time when much of the music from Jamaica seemed to have hit rock bottom, and Sharon Gordon was among those disturbed by the plunge. Was this really what reggae had come to – songs showing a near-total lack of creativity, with vulgar and derogatory messages?  Gordon, a Jamaican media expert living in New York, decided to do something about the issue. With her partner Carlyle McKetty, she founded the Coalition to Preserve Reggae (CPR) in 2005 with the aim of promoting talented musicians and restoring respect for the music. Her efforts have done much to boost reggae, and earlier this year she was rewarded with the 2014 Woman of Great Esteem Emerald Award, an American prize that honours outstanding women who have “excelled beyond … Read entire article »