Reggae - In - Motion : Beres ‘Cudjo’ Hammond: The Man, His Thoughts, and His Music Who is Beres ‘Cudjo’ Hammond? The “Reggae Role Model of The Year” in Jamaica according to the Excellence in Music and Entertainment Awards for 2008. Arguably, the most successful songwriter/composer/singer/performer in Reggae music’ since 1990, Hammond is the voice of Reggae soul power. Hammond’s effect on audiences often times defies description, but let me try. ‘Cudjo’ Hammond’ romantic rude boy love songs have women literally lose their minds, and their clothes.
Interview: 'Pepse' Brown - A Gospel Artiste's Uncompromising Faith Lloyd Brown or ‘Pepse’, as he is known, has chosen this name on the premise that he is the ‘one that always pray for just about everything’. This God-ordained name as an acronym means ‘Praying Everyday Persistently Seeking Elohim’. He also jokenly added, “I am also a pepsi drinker as oppose to coke’.
The DUNAMIS Experience Interview: A Dancehall Gospel Artiste Tells All Dunamis: a Greek word which essentially means ‘POWER’. According to Neil Hall, aka Dunamis, “I did not choose the name, the name chose me’. Dunamis is scheduled to have an album launch concert (called the Dunamis Experience) on April 5, 2008 at the Macedonia Center in Mount Vernon, New York. Even though his album (DUNAMIS) has been accessible to the public since June 2006, Dunamis did not have an official celebration of his album. He has shared stage with gospel heavy weights, to name a few, Papa San, Carlene Davis and Grace Thrillers.
Ajaniah Sule- The Rising of A ‘Reggae Prophetic Voice’ in the Wilderness? Ajaniah’s memoir includes being a former informal DJ for various sessions, obtaining a Masters Degree at the University of the West Indies in Applied Mathematics with components of Physics. He is currently a full time Lecturer at University of Technology and part time Lecturer at UWI and Jamaica Constabulary Staff College. The launching of his debut album AJANAIAH-Free Chants of Reggae Chapter One.
Interview with Dennis Thompson Pt2 Dennis Thompson has forgotten more important events in modern music than most people know of. From an early age, it seemed, Thompson was destined for a career in music.
Calibe Thompson, a Fresh Female Singer Calibe isn’t a household name in Jamaican music though she is Jamaican. She claims reggae as her root because that is where she’s from. To get her unique sound Calibe mixes pop and rock and soul and jazz. Flattered though she is by comparisons to female singers like Diana King, India.Arie and Lauryn Hill she says she doesn’t sound like any of them because her voice and style changes with each song. Calibe has toured with Beenie Man and opened Kevin Lyttle. I spoke with this relatively unknown singer.
Reggae Interview Series: Reggae Music In Estonia This month in our series "Reggae Around the World" we interview the group Def Räädu from Estonia. The group's mixture of reggae with dub, trip hop, house, rock steady and jazzy flavored beats has produced hits singles in Estonia and Europe.
Peter Tosh - Reggae's Black Prince The history of reggae music, or the reggae story, and its importance is invariably
and inextricably linked to the Wailers, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer and Bob Marley. They single-handedly transformed what pop music could be used for as an instrument of liberation. As the Wailers, they created a complex music, Reggae music, and redefined in popular culture by shifting the focus to concerns with the realities of the poor and oppressed and their quest for equal rights and justice.
Reggae Interview Series: Reggae Music In Japan This month our series "Reggae Around the World" we interview DJ Tokiya from Black Assassin Sound System in Japan. The have been playing reggae at night clubs, dances and on the radio in Japan for over 15 years.
Dennis ‘De Menace” Thompson: Engineer Extraordinaire - Part 1 What has Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Monty Alexander, Alicia Keys, Missy Elliot, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Buju Banton and Marcus Miller all have in common? They are music legends and great musicians you say, well, the question wouldn’t be asked were the answer quite that easy. Try Dennis Thompson, he has worked with all of them. Dennis Thompson, a Kingston College old boy who migrated to New York City in 1973 is one the worlds best live show engineers.
Judith Gayle……..A Story of How the Sun Shined Again Judith Gayle-Wright was born and raised in Chateau, Clarendon. From ever since she could remember, music has always been her love. She traveled to the Cayman Islands to perform in 1983, and when she was about 14 years of age, she auditioned for the ‘Tastee Talent Competition’. Although she was not selected for the competition, Judith had shown her audience a taste of what is to come.
Reggae Interview Series: Reggae Music In Russia This month our series "Reggae Around the World" we interview Dub Vision a reggae band group from a Russia. “Dub Division” participated in several music festivals in Russia and abroad. There goal is to promote Dub and Reggae in Russia.
Charmaine DaCosta; A Singer With Class in Christ Charmaine DaCosta is a single mother of two beautiful daughters; she has a BA in English Literature and an MBA. Charmaine is also an independent artist and entrepreneur. She is a former member of Worl-A-Girl, the most successful ‘90s reggae/ dancehall girl-group.
Sister Carol-An Artist of Relevance and Distinction With a BSc. in Education Carol East aka Sister Carol has many monikers, Movie star, singer, D.J, humanitarian, certified teacher to name a few. With eight albums to her credit, her critically acclaimed 1996 release, “Lyrically Potent’, described as a “perfect antidote to the lowbrow slackness of female sing-jays… quality in production values and subject matter” earned her a Grammy nomination. She’s appeared in two Hollywood feature films by director Jonathan Demme “Something Wild” and “Married to the Mob” w/ Michelle Pfeiffer, her music can be heard on several Hollywood movie soundtracks including “The Mighty Quinn” w/Denzel Washington, appeared on NBC's David Lettermen and Late Night With Conan O'Brien and was the familiar voice behind Jazz great David Sanborn ‘Night Music” show on NBC.
Reggae Interview Series: Reggae Music In Hawaii This month our series "Reggae Around the World" we interview reggae artist Irie Love. She was born and raised in Hawaii in a little town called Kailua on the island of Oahu. She has the opening for the major reggae acts that would come to Hawaii such as Steel Pulse, Don Carlos and the Marleys, to name a few. She recently signed with Morgan Heritage's production company Gedion Music and has been touring with them.
TessAnne Chin: Out of many One Voices, A big voice. Tess-Anne Chin, the younger sibling of uptown dancehall sensation Tami Chynn. Her current single “Hideaway” featured VP Records Reggae Gold 2007 is burning up the airwaves. Blessed with a big voice clearly suited to her multi-genre sound, Tess-Anne is known to Jamaicans as the lead singer from the reggae/rock band, Mile High. She gained valuable experience as a back up singer for international reggae legend Jimmy Cliff for several years before pursuing her solo career. Her unique blend of music is a mixture of Reggae, Dancehall, Rock and Soul. Tess-Anne Rock/Reggae sound, while not new is an excitingly refreshing addition to Jamaican female music.
Lady G: Musically Taking Control and Still Sexy. Janice Fyffe a.k.a. Lady G, is one determined lady. She has decidedly made her mark as female artist in Jamaican music and has done so on her own terms. With hits like “Nuff Respect” the female anthem of respect, “Me or You Gun” imploring gunmen to chose family over badness, “Roundtable Talk” W/Papa San, “Breeze Off” eschewing male promiscuity, “Hard Ears” and “Girls Like Us” a combination with Chrissy D which entered the British Charts at #5, and “Toll Road” W/Mutabaruka, she has worked with the top producers like Mikey Bennett, Steelie & Cleavie, Winston Riley and Gussie Clarke. She has set a standard for cultural female DJs. Lady G’music has taken her to Europe in countries like Switzerland, England, and Germany, all over the United States, and Japan and throughout the Caribbean.
Erica Newell Joins The Female Reggae Movement Erica Newell has been part of the new female movement in Jamaican music. After years of being a part of the back trio with Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, subsequently joining Two plus One with Sharon & Cedella Marley, she is currently, she is currently launching a solo career and recording her solo album.
Unity Thru' Music: Marcia Davis Interview Looking at the public face of Reggae music, both on record and live performances one could reasonably conclude that musically, the genre is man’s music or a bull boys club. The culture of reggae music is testosterone-driven and, as far as equal representation it is far less accommodating to female artists than their male counter part. The female perspective or presence is not valued enough, nor are they given enough representation. Marcia Davis is a British born, Brooklyn based female reggae singer. She is one of the many female voices in reggae music that the public have not heard. This month she speaks her mind to Jamaicans.com senior music writer, Stan Evan Smith.
An Interview with a multi-talented actress and singer Cherine Anderson Cherine Anderson is an accomplished young lady despite her young age. As an actress, Anderson starred in two feature films, Dance Hall Queen with Paul Campbell and Audrey Reid and the Rasta/Christian love story, One Love with Kymani Marley. A college graduate, Cherine speaks Japanese. We can now add singer to her resume.
Reggae Interview Series: Reggae Music In China Robin Liao is the owner of a bar named Together, which is the first reggae bar in Beijing, the Capital of China. He and his wife Judy started it in Feb 2005. It is now a part of the Beijing culture. Robin's goal, as impossible as it may seem, is to educate the 1.3 billion people in his country about reggae. It is a word more than 99% of the population has never heard..
Reggae Interview Series: Reggae Music In France This Month our series "Reggae Around the World" focuses on Reggae Music In France . We interview Avignon Christine, senior writer on Reggaefrance.com .
Interview with Reggae Ambassador Abijah A Singjay, a songwriter, an Ambassador of Peace, Abijah is one of Jamaica's most promising reggae artist. Following on his first album, this year he is set to release his latest CD. In this interview with Philip Dinham, Abijah speaks his mind about Music, Sprirituality and Life.
Interview with Tami Chynn This month we interview singer Tami Chynn who recently signed with music giant Universal Records. Born into a musical family, Tami's entry into the music world was inevitable. Her mother Christine was in a group called Carnation and her father Richard is a musician who plays drums and the guitar. Tami’s most recent song collaboration “All On Me” is with Sean Paul on his new album Trinity.
Reggae Interview Series: Reggae Music In Czech Republic This Month our series "Reggae Around the World" focuses on Reggae Music In the Czech Republic with an interview with Cernoch the webmaster for the largest reggae music portal in that country.
Interview with Ska king: Derrick Morgan There are many Ska Artists but only one true Ska king. Derrick Morgan started is career at age 17 and has been performing for 40 years. His name is a household name in the Caribbean and many parts of the world.
Reggae Interview Series: Reggae Music In Belgium This Month our series "Reggae Around the World" focuses on Belgium with an interview with Pat Flashman, one of the pioneers of reggae-music in Belgium and a member of the Danish Reggae band, Slo Down.
Reggae Music In Denmark This Month our interview Series "Reggae Around the World" takes us to Denmark and the Danish Reggae band, Slo Down.
Interview Series: Reggae in Italy Our series continue as we explore Reggae music in Italy with an interview with the Italian band, DuBoom.
