New York TV Station to Honor Saxophonist Cedric ‘IM’ Brooks for Black History/Reggae Month
Bronx, NY: As part of this year’s Black History and Reggae Month celebrations, Caribbean Lifestyle TV; (CLM TV) – CIN TV, channel 73, WNYC TV in New York will pay tribute to one of Jamaica’s foremost saxophonists the great Cedric “IM” Brooks at the station’s 4th anniversary gala and awards ceremony on February 28, 2011 in Manhattan.
Brooks is known for his solo recordings and being a member of the internationally acclaimed Skatalites Band. He was admitted to the Bronx Lebanon Hospital in NY in February 2010 in an unconscious state. He remains in a semi-comatosed state at a Nursing Home in Queens.
Linkage Awards kicks off on March 5th
The 2nd Annual Linkage Award Show for Reggae Disc Jockeys and Artistes will take place on Saturday, March 5th 2011. The Awards will be held in Mount Vernon at The Macedonia Center, 103 West 2nd Street. The Red Carpet Ceremony begins at 5pm and Showtime kicks off promptly at 6:30pm.
The award show will pay tribute to, and honor djs, artistes and journalists who have made a significant contribution to the media and entertainment landscape in 2010. Nominees in the top reggae categories include Ernie Smith, Freddy McGregor, Shaggy, Beenie Man, Tony Rebel, Tarrus Riley, Luciano, Frankie Paul, I-Octane Stephen Di Genius, Fambo, Vybz Kartel, Chino, D’Angel, Macka Diamond, Queen Ifrica, Lisa Hype, Lady G, Mystic Bowie, Khago, Twin of Twinz, and Tifa.Nominees in the gospel categories are Papa San, Hopeton Lewis, Christopher Laing, Jabez, Carlene Davis, and Shelly Thunder while nominees for the Journalist Category include Patrick Maitland (Street Hype Newspaper), Anthony Turner (NA Weekly Star) and Claude Mills (from Jamaica). Nominees for special awards include Johnny Wonder, Derrick Barnett and the Statement Band, Ruff Stuff Band, Isaiah Laing, Ragamuffins Productions and Flames Productions – Tony Rebel. Disc Jockeys from over thirteen radio stations within the tri-state area and Jamaica will be honored for their contribution to the music industry.
Usain Bolt, Jamaican Olympians to be outfitted by Bob Marley’s daughter
Usain Bolt and the rest of his Jamaican track and field teammates will be representing Jamaica at the London 2012 Summer Olympics, sporting a uniform designed by Cedella Marley, daughter of the reggae icon late Bob Marley. “We both break records,” Marley told The Associated Press yesterday in a telephone interview. “Cedella Marley, the first-born daughter of Bob and Rita Marley, is a singer, author and fashion designer. She was picked by athletic apparel company Puma, the Jamaican team’s sponsor, to create the clothes that the athletes will wear on the track, on the podium and in the ceremonies. “I can’t think of a better person to design our Olympic outfits than Cedella,” Usain Bolt said in a statement. Usain Bolt will be defending his Olympic titles in the 100 and 200 meter dashes next year.
Ziggy Marley Welcomes Baby No. 3 with Wife Orly
Ziggy Marley has something new to sing about! The 42-year-old reggae singer and his wife, Orly — who is the former vice-president of William Morris Agency — welcomed their third child together on January 26 in L.A. Named Abraham Selassie Robert Nesta Marley; the newborn joins older siblings Judah, 5, and Gideon, 4. “All are healthy and happy,” Ziggy’s rep tells UsMagazine.com in a statement. The singer has three other children — Daniel, Justice and Zuri — from previous relationships.
New Bob Marley film, by Director Kevin Macdonald
Hollywood Titans producer Martin Scorsese and Jonathan Demme failed in their attempt to bring reggae King, the late Bob Marley to the big screen. Oscar-winning director Kevin Macdonald is directing a new documentary about the Jamaican reggae pioneer. The documentary has been rumored online since the fall. The director has secured permission of the Marley family and will be free to include material from the archives of the spiritual-minded singer-songwriter.
Titled “Marley” and set for a release this summer, the movie will examine the brief, creative life of the reggae pioneer (who died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 36) by interviewing many of the figures in and around him as well as using the archival material. The film will examine “the life, legacy and global impact of a true legend,” said a statement from the producers, Tuff Gong Pictures, Shangri-La Entertainment and Cowboy Films. Macdonald added in a statement that “what made Bob tick is probably unanswerable, but viewers will certainly feel that they know him a little better after seeing our documentary.” Sources latimesblogs.latimes.com
Sean Kingston Earns Libby Award
Reggae fusion artist Sean Kingston has won the award of the Most Animal-Friendly hip hop Artist in 2010 at the 5th Annual Libby Awards. The award is sponsored by peta2, the world’s largest youth animal rights organization.
Tony Anthony Nominated For JUNO AWARD in Canada
Toronto: Tony Anthony’s debut album “Million Chance” on February 1st was nominated in the “Best Reggae Recording of the Year” category of the 2011 Juno Awards to be held on March 27th in Toronto, Canada.
Released in April of 2010, “Million Chance” has topped several charts including the #1 spot in Jamaica on the Richie B top Ten Album Chart, and the Canadian Reggae Countdown. It peaked at #5 on the Top 50 Recommended Reggae Album Chart in Europe and is currently on the New York and South Florida Top 20 album charts.
The single “Torn” from the album gave Tony Anthony his first #1 hit in Jamaica, and Canada. “Bad News” the second single is #1in Canada, #13 on the Richie B’ JMC Top 25 Reggae Music Chart in Jamaica, #19 on the New York Top 30 Reggae Singles Chart and #16 on the Caribbean Top 30 Music charts in the Virgin Islands.
The JUNO Awards will be held at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on March 27th and televised live across Canada. The event will be hosted by Canadian rapper Drake. Other nominees in the reggae category are Elaine ‘Lil Bit’ Shepherd, Tonya P, Lyndon Johnson (LJX) and Dubmatix.
Beenie Man to do remix with Nicky Minaj/Busta Rhymes
According to a report a remix of Beenie Man w/Fambo’s breakout club banger Rum and Red Bull is in the works with US rappers Busta Rhymes and Nicky Minaj. The ‘King in Control’ album will reportedly feature a remix of Beenie Man’s combination with Fambo, Rum and Red Bull. On major urban radio stations such as HOT 97the single is already generating 500 spins per day.
Richie Spice: ‘Book Of job’. New Album in Stores on March 15
Reggae culture sensation Richie Spice is back with a brand new collection of signature hits on his new album Book of Job, in stores and online on March 15, 2011. This, his fifth studio effort, is packed with 12 tracks of socially conscious roots reggae tunes that have made the entertainer an international staple for reggae lovers worldwide.
Spice chose Book of Job as the title because of his commitment to creating uplifting music, which is as unwavering as Job’s faith was while enduring his many hardships. “A whole heap of things reach Job, he lose wealth, he lose him family, him lose everything, but because he was praising God, he regain,” Spice explains. “It’s the same thing with the music – it is righteousness me declare to the fullest and me nah go switch.”
Teaming up with acclaimed reggae producer Donovan Germain for the majority of the album, including the smash singles “My Life” (“Street Life”) and “Jah Never Let Us Down,” Spice also enlists the talents of other top producers such as Shane Brown for “Serious Woman” and Stephen “Lenky” Marsden on “Yap Yap.”
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Read Stan Evan Smith Weekly Entertainment News / Commentary & Reggae Report Online:
Entertainment Writer, Westindiantimes.net (Norfolk Beach VA)
Senior Music Writer, Jamaicans.com. (Fl.)https://blogs.jamaicans.com/seebreeze/2010/04/
Contributing Editor, Everybodys Magazine (NYC)
Music Writer, Jahworks.org (Oakland CA)
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