The Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAVAA) will close its sixth anniversary celebrations by mounting the pictures of its inductees on the walls of the TransportationCenter in Half- Way-Tree, St.Andrew. This is schedule to take place on Saturday July 11, 2009 at approximately 10am. The Hall of Fame will have the images of inductees along with a synopsis of their contribution looming 20 feet high above the ticketing area.
Those inducted at the last anniversary celebrations include Lord Flea, Vere Johns, Count Ossie, The Wailers, Alpha Boys’School, Miss Lou, Olive Lewin, Sir Coxsone Dodd, The Skatalites, Duke Reid, Ernie Ranglin and Derrick Morgan. Those slated to be inducted next Tuesday at the Jamaica Pegasus are Sonny Bradshaw, Bob Marley, Otis Wright, Jimmy Cliff, Alton Ellis, Byron Lee, Merritone Music, Prince Buster, Stanley Motta Studio and the Frats Quintet. There is room in the center for eight to ten more years of inductees.
“We want it to be a tourist attraction. We want people to do research. Jamaica music has done too much to not have a HALL OF FAME,”Frankie Campbell chairman of JAVAA told the Gleaner. He was also noted saying that the association’s intention is to make induction into the Jamaica Music Hall of Fame meaningful, with the attendant respect due to those who have made contributions to Jamaica’s music.
“We did not want to put them in a museum downtown somewhere where young people would not see it,” Campbell explained. “We want them to see it and eventually ask questions when they see it over and over. They will ask who they are and what they did.”
Air Jamaica’s in-flight magazine SkyWritings, recently won two awards, further cementing its reputation as one of Jamaica’s most established magazines.
SkyWritings was named “Magazine of the Year” at the Advertising Agencies Association of Jamaica (AAAJ) Media Awards. The magazine also won the award for “Best Overall Feature” in the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Annual Caribbean Media Awards for the story “The Mystical, Magical Cockpit Country” written by Michael Robinson and published in the March/April 2008 “Green Issue”.
“We are thrilled to have received recognition not once, but twice in a single month. We have a small staff, but with the support of hundreds of writers and photographers, I think we’ve been able to deliver an entertaining and engaging publication to our readers, who by the way are not just airline passengers, but also include a solid number of subscribers,” said Anthony Gambrill, publisher.
SkyWritings magazine is published bi-monthly by Creative Communications Inc. Limited and features lifestyle and travel stories about Air Jamaica ’s destinations. The magazine has been in publication for 35 years, with a readership of about 500,000 for each issue.
The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) will be launching the Jamaica Festival Song 2009 album titled ‘I Believe in Jamaica’ on Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre staring at 7pm.
The 2009 finalists will make debut performances and plans for this year’s competition will be announced.
We will keep you abreast of all plans and decisions as they unfold.
Rototom Sunsplash is one of the largest reggae festival in Europe. Ever since 1994, when the festival first started, it has been drawing thousands of young people from every corner of the world to North-eastern Italy: every year, the RivellinoPark in Osoppo becomes a multi-ethnic village where people live together under banner of peace, respect and freedom.Last year (2008) over 150,000 persons attended the festival: most of them camped at the venue, either in camper vans or tents, whereas others booked rooms in the various hotels and bed & breakfasts in the environs. Everything was sold out for a radius of 30 km.
This original event combines music and engagement, fun and opportunities to meet, discuss and reflect upon various issues. For ten consecutive days, together with the great live acts, there is a full schedule of various activities: debates, films and documentaries, photo exhibitions, workshops on percussions, African dance, Capoeira and Didjeridoo, sessions of meditation and alternative medicine, meetings on reggae music and Rasta culture. A professional team organizes creative workshops, puppet shows and juggling to entertain the large number of children that are always present at the festival.
More than a music festival, the Rototom Sunsplash can be considered a real holiday: during the daytime, those who do not attend the various debates and workshops can sunbathe, play frisbee or football, read, rest on a hammock or simply wander around the village, mixing with a multitude of new friends.
When the sun goes down, the lights on the main stage turn on and music becomes the undisputed protagonist. One after the other, the top artists and bands from Jamaica, Africa and Europe go on stage, giving rise to unforgettable performances. When the concerts finally come to a draw, everybody moves either to the dancehall tent where international sound systems play until dawn, or to the various ethnic stalls, to enjoy a quieter night.
Bars and restaurants are open all day and night to offer drinks and dishes from all over the world, whereas in the crowded, open-air market, reggae music and positive vibes spread out from every stall. As well as records and handcrafted products, in the market you can find many non-profit organizations who promote their countless activities, aimed at improving living standards around the world.
The staff working at the infopoint and the internet point speaks a number of languages, so that the over 50% of persons who come from outside Italy will also feel at home. Last year, the audience came from at least 16 countries round the world.
The 2009 edition of the event will be held from July 2 to 11, once again in the RivellinoPark in Osoppo.
The live acts will be broadcasted on radio by Popolare Network. Special programmes will be televised on the satellite channel Arcoiris. Live streaming will be available on our website.
Wednesday (8th)
Main Stage: Buju Banton, Groundation, Sebastian Sturm
Dancehall: Tba
Thursday (9th)
Main Stage: Bunny Wailer, Capleton, Yt & Innerheart
Dancehall: Jungle Nite with Kenny Ken, Ragga Twins, Junglist Alliance
Friday (10th)
Main Stage: Sly & Robbie, Bitty Mclean, Pablo Moses, U Roy, New York Ska Jazz Ensemble
Dancehall: Shashamane Int’l - World Sound Cup Clash 2009 winner
Saturday (11th)
Main Stage: Anthony B, Third World, Glen Washington, Ava Leigh
Dancehall: One Love Hi Powa
Tickets are priced at 150 euro for a 10-day ticket, and 180 euro for a festival ticket with camping, and daily tickets 25 euro.
The world’s greatest showcase of reggae music will take place from July 19-25 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The July 19 beach party and the ensuing three days of epic live performances (starting with Dancehall Night on Thursday, July 23), will captivate the thousands of tourists and Jamaicans alike who make the trek each year to this, the Mecca of reggae music festivals.
While the organizers are busy finalizing the negotiating for the usual slate of international inclusions for the line up, some of the top local acts have already been confirmed. Among them is the “King of the Dancehall”, BeenieMan. Last year, The Doctor, as he is also called, brought a fitting finale to Dancehall Night exhibiting high energy and his usual flair. This of course came as no surprise as he is known for excellent performances on the Sumfest Stage. Once again joining The Doctor on the line up is his lyrical nemesis, Bounty Killer.
Included in this year’s roster is the high-riding dancehall anomaly Mavado. The “Gully Gadd” will be taking the Sumfest stage following a year-long ride on the charts and the success of his sophomore album, “Mr Brooks… A Better Tomorrow”. His Alliance counterpart and top-flight dancehall artiste Busy Signal is also on the bill. Busy is planning to storm Montego Bay with his slew of hits such as “Pon Di Edge”, “Stamma”, “Trading Places”, and “Tic Toc”.
Reigning prince and princess of reggae Tarrus Riley and Etana will also be sweetening the 2009 Sumfest offerings. The two have been having a spectacular year captivating radio stations, music charts and audiences worldwide are showing love and appreciation for their music. The individuals making up the reggae group Morgan Heritage will be performing together on the Sumfest stage, almost a year since they split directions in pursuit of solo projects. Also confirmed for the line-up is veteran reggae crooner Coco Tea.
Summerfest Productions is looking to make this years’ Reggae Sumfest, another one to remember. They will be taking over Montego Bay from July 19-25 for the 17th staging of the greatest reggae show on earth, Reggae Sumfest… so get ready to be infected by Reggae Sumfest fever.
The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), launched the 2009 Jamaica Gospel Song Competition and album entitled “I Believe in Praise” at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre on Wednesday. The album features the entries of the competition’s ten finalists produced by some of the island’s top gospel music producers. At the launch the JCDC unveiled the plans for the 2009 competition and the ten finalists who will compete for gospel stardom made their first public debut for the competition.
The 2009 finalists include, Andre Wright with the song “ Man o God ”,Omar Douglas , with “Jehovah Nah Sleep”, Kimola Brown with “Sen Down ” ,Fabian Wright with “I have your Mercy ” , Brinetta Lewis with “Weh yuh a Worry Fah” , Gamel Grant , with “Take Me to Jesus” , Kimela Isaacs with “Reassurance” ,Nickette Morgan, with “Wherever I Go” ,Tobi Maxwell and Gilhiesa Smith with “You Are” andLeo Lewis with “Buss Out”.
Starting June 27 the finalists will participate in the “I Believe in Praise” Tour, an island wide motorcade with stops in parish and town centres before the grand showdown scheduled for August 2 at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre.
The Jamaica Gospel Song Competition was instituted by the JCDC to encourage the production of new works in the genre and preserve the authentic Jamaican Gospel music form.
The King of Pop music, MichaelJackson, was pronounced dead onThursday, afternoon June 24, 2009in California, USA.
Jackson,who is said to be living in a rented houseon Carolwood Drive off Sunset Boulevard, in Bel-Airwas rushed to UCLAMedicalCenter.
A member of Michael Jackson’s staff called for help around 12:21pm on Thursday and the Los Angeles Fire Department responded.Capt. Steve Ruda of the Fire Department was part of the response team which found Michael Jackson unconscious.It was determined that he had suffered cardiac arrest and the LA corner confirmed that he died from heart failure at 2:26pm Los Angelestime.
Michael Joseph Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana on Aug. 29, 1958, the seventh of nine children to Joseph, a steelworker, and Katherine Jackson.
The world grew up with Michael Jackson’s music.His career has spanned the last 40 years.During this time he rose from teen idol to adult megastar and then there were the scandals.Many Jamaican while lauding his talent have had difficulties relating to his physical changes and the scandals surrounding him.
Michael Jackson waspreparing for his comeback tour which should have started on July 13 in London.This tour was expected to help take him out of debt as he seems to have lost most of his fortune and was heavily indebted.
Michael Jackson is survived by three children, Prince Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, and Prince “Blanket’’ Michael Jackson II; his parents, Katherine and Joseph; brothers Tito, Marlon, Jermaine, Jackie, and Randy; and sisters Rebbie, Latoya, and Janet
Some thoughts on Michael Jackson
“The thought of not having MJ sends the same parallel effect to the world as that of losing Bob Marley. Such an untimely lost to the world and as our motto says ‘all things shall perish from under the sky, music alone shall live, never shall die’. Michael Jackson, Bob Marley, gone too soon”. - Wayne Nunes, Founder and Publisher, RT Magazine.
“For a man with such immense talent who had the ability to woo tens of thousands, his death came at the lowest point in his career. With all the controversy that surrounded the later part of his career it is quite a shame he did not get the chance to redeem himself by reminding us why he is the “King of Pop”. It is undeniable that with all the blemishes to his name, he is still loved by millions and Michael and his work will continue to be in the hearts of all those who loved and admired him.” –Kerisha Scott, RT Magazine
“Him show me a youth ah grow up that you can be great at what you do, because practice does bring you close to that level of perfection. He showed me how to be strong despite what people say or believe about you. Michael Jackson gone too soon but I will definitely not forget a man, a artiste of Michael’s caliber! To be honest I was looking forward to more work from the ‘big man’. Lil Joe- Artiste.
The prolific sprinter clocked the second fastest time of the year 2009, next to his own yesterday, the 16th of June 2009, when he recorded a magnificent 9.77 at the IAAF World Athletics Tour Golden Spike meeting to win the 100m fixture.
Bolt was crowned the fastest man alive when he won the 100, 200 and 4×100m relay at the 2009 Beijing Olympic Games, all in world record fashion. The 100m win, at 9.69 is the only faster time than Bolt’s 9.77.
RT has created the medium, where normal people now have the opportunity to showcase their writing skills while sharing interesting news about reggae music from anywhere across the world on Reggaetimes.com! Anybody can do it! All u need to do is email your article to info@reggaetimes.com and check the website to see if it gets posted! Yes it is RT’s Reggae from across the globe! If you become consistent sender of good articles RT will keep in touch with you
The prolific sprinter clocked the second fastest time of the year 2009, next to his own yesterday, the 16th of June 2009, when he recorded a magnificent 9.77 at the IAAF World Athletics Tour Golden Spike meeting to win the 100m fixture.
Bolt was crowned the fastest man alive when he won the 100, 200 and 4×100m relay at the 2009 Beijing Olympic Games, all in world record fashion. The 100m win, at 9.69 is the only faster time than Bolt’s 9.77.
