Damian Marley Releases "Welcome To Jamrock"

Marley's son returns reggae to roots
MARK LELINWALLA

Associated Press

NEW YORK - Being an icon's son isn't easy. Yet Damian Marley is doing just fine. The son of Bob is leading reggae back to its roots with his enthralling summer anthem, "Welcome To Jamrock," and new album.

The articulate, socially conscious artist known as "Jr. Gong" spoke to The Associated Press about the return of traditional reggae, gang violence, working with Alicia Keys and continuing his father's legacy.

AP: Since the "Welcome To Jamrock" single is so big, what do you expect from the album?

Marley: It can expose people to what we're speaking about and what the music stands for in a moral and lyrical sense. It's about what's going on in the world, not just my life.

AP: There has been a real return to traditional grassroots reggae. How do you feel about that?

Marley: In Jamaica, it was never dormant, but what you see right now is a lot of roots music becoming a national representation of the music once again, as opposed to the last few years when it was dancehall and club stuff.

AP: What's your opinion on reggaeton?

Marley: To tell you the truth, I'm not so up on it to say. I'm not real familiar with it because first of all I don't understand what a lot of it is saying because I don't speak Spanish. I can tell you that the best form of flattery is imitation, in terms of other people using our culture - dancehall and reggae culture and music. That's flattery.

AP: What do you think about Sean Paul, Elephant Man and Shaggy, reggae dancehall artists who have hit mainstream success here in the United States?

Marley: Good for them. I don't have a problem with any of them.

AP: Do you like their music?

Marley: There are some songs I don't care for and some songs I like. There's definitely another side of (reggae) music that those artists don't represent. Those songs aren't full representation of reggae music. They're not the full ambassadors of reggae music. They're not the FULL representation.

AP: Gang violence has been a problem in Jamaica. What's the state of it right now?

Marley: Poverty breeds a lot of things. When people are desperate and trying to survive, they do drastic things. That's what a lot of people feel like in Jamaica. That's what we're trying to say in our music, that's there's not that much being done about it. Sending a whole swarm of police into our area to shoot up the place is not going to make anything better. It's going to create more enemies.

AP: If you were in charge, what would you do?

Marley: There is a lot of ways, but I'm not in charge. There are people in charge and I want them to do their job. I'm not a politician, I'm a musician. The gang violence you see in Jamaica was something seeded from politics. So, first politicians need to stop the violence because it has become a way of life in Jamaica. It's the thing to do - be violent in Jamaica.

AP: There have been protests against reggae artists that use homophobic lyrics. What's your take on that?

Marley: We can find better things to talk about right now than people's lyrics and that's all I have to say about that.

AP: How was it working with Alicia Keys for her MTV Unplugged special?

Marley: I'm a fan of her music. What I really appreciate about her music is the whole live aspect. She's very hands-on and musical. Reggae musicians appreciate that because we use more live instrumentation.

AP: How was it working with Nas and The Roots?

Marley: It was a big honor. We all stand for the same things in our music and we speak on things that are positive. What I love about their music is it's positive, but it's about life in dark places. They're making music for the hungry. They try to feed people that are hungry, rather than feed people who are fed.

AP: How much of an influence do your brothers have on your albums?

Marley: Well, first of all my big brother Steve is my producer. I'm actually very active as a producer for this album also, so we basically produced it together. We work as a team.

AP: How are things between Lauryn Hill and her husband, your brother Rohan?

marley: That's none of my business.

AP: To set the record straight, how many children did your father have?

Marley: A lot. A lot.

AP: When you record, do you and your brothers feel like you're continuing your father's legacy?

Marley: Yea, but more so because the work that we're doing is Rasta work. His music was not pop music. It was struggle music and uplifting from that struggle.

Broadway Play on Life of Bob Marley Being Planned

Basil Walters, Observer staff reporter
Friday, August 12, 2005


MARLEY. a year of activities being held to mark the 60th anniversary of his birth.

Just over 30 years after Bob Marley recorded the single Reggae On Broadway for CBS Records, his family is planning to mount a play on the Jamaican reggae superstar on Broadway, the world famous American threatre district known for top quality productions.

".A Broadway play on Bob Marley is supposed to be the next big project I'll be working on with the (Marley) family," Neville Garrick, Marley's former artistic director, told Splash in an exclusive interview Saturday night after he received the Independence Award from Prime Minister P J Patterson at Jamaica House.

The play, he said, would feature Marley's early years in music and is one of a number of projects being undertaken by the Marley family for the remainder of this year's observance of the 60th anniversary of the musical legend's birth.

Mounting a play on Broadway could be a huge cultural and economic fillip for the Marley Foundation, particularly if the work becomes popular among audiences.

GARRICK. we might call the play Trench Town Rock

Successful Broadway plays can reap millions of dollars for producers, not only in ticket sales but in merchandising, an area into which the Marley Foundation has already ventured.

Disney's The Lion King, for instance, one of the most popular productions that has been playing Broadway for many years now, grossed, for the weekend ending August 7 this year, US$1,213,397.

According to data from Broadway's official website, the production's weekend earning potential is US$1,264,960. The average price paid per ticket is US$83.33, while top ticket prices sit at US$100.

Attendance for The Lion King's eight weekend performances in the New Amsterdam theatre totalled 14,562. The threatre seats 1,801, but standing spaces are also sold.

"Since 1993, we've been looking at this Bob Marley movie which never came to fruition," Garrick said. "But we feel a play, which. we might call Trench Town Rock. It will be about the era of the coming of age of Bob Marley.

"So it would really enlighten people about where he came from and how he grew to become a world-beater in the field of music."

In September 1998, several persons attended auditions at the Countryside Club in Kingston for parts in the planned Bob Marley movie.

But by November of that year, giant filmmakers Warner Brothers backed out of the much anticipated movie because of a disagreement with producer Ron Shelton over the size of the budget.

Warner Brothers, apparently stung by two major flops at the time, refused to approve the US$30-million budget prepared by Shelton, whose original figure was US$60 million.

At the time, Roger Steffens, a noted Marley and reggae archivist, who was the consultant/script adviser for the movie, said: "It's on indefinite hold. That's the formal term they (Warner Brothers) used."

On Saturday night, Garrick, who is also an artist and who now lives in Los Angeles, California, gave some details of other projects planned by the late singer's family.

"I'm coming back towards the end of the month, because Bob Marley's mother is creating in Ocho Rios a cafe called Mama Marley, inclusive of a gallery featuring my work, with a sports lounge and a gift shop," said Garrick, who is also a consultant to the Marley Foundation headed by the superstar's widow, Rita.

"I'm also going to Nine Miles to upgrade (it) to create a kind of gallery area where people can see images of Bob. I don't know if you know that I was the only person who took pictures of Bob in Nine Miles with the people, like the farmers, so it will kind of show Bob's attachment to Nine Miles."

Marley, who died on May 11, 1981, was laid to rest in a mausoleum at Nine Miles in St Ann, the district where he was born in February 1945.

His body can be viewed at the mausoleum, which is a tourist attraction.

Garrick was a consultant for the Africa Unite concert staged last February in Addis Ababa, Ehtiopia. It was one of the events in the 60th anniversary celebrations.

"After being with Bob for about seven years on the road I've never been in a crowd of 300,000 people," Garrick said.
"While we were preparing for the concert, setting up the stage and the sound, days before the event about 6,000 to 10,000 people would come every night just to watch the work in progress. So when we have 300,000 on the day of the concert it was quite remarkable," he said adding that the event was incident free.

"In Ethiopia there are only statutes for past emperors," he said. "While I was there, they dedicated a square called Bob Marley Square where they intend to build a statue of Bob Marley."

At the Unity Concert, the Ethiopian government made Rita Marley an honorary citizen in recognition of the Marley family's role in reggae music and its subsequent impact on Ethiopia.

Roots Reggae Rules PM's Independence Gala

Michael A Edwards, Observer writer
Wednesday, August 10, 2005



Prime Minister P J Patterson (left) presents the Independence Award for 2005 to Joseph Hill of the group Culture. (Photos: Garfield Robinson)

After overcoming a difficult opening third, the 2005 edition of the Prime Minister's Independence Gala at Jamaica House Saturday night admirably found its footing as a roots reggae showcase and a fitting tribute to late reggae king Robert Nesta Marley.

A colourful and busy opening panorama featured dance and acrobatic troupes going through their paces amongst the Carifolk Singers, who sang versions of Marley classics like Lik Samba and culminating in a somewhat subdued live performance of Coming In From The Cold by Roy Rayon.

Multiple Festival Song winner Rayon would return to give a more typically high-energy rendition of his Festival winners, including Love Fever and a modified Give Thanks And Praises in which he sings 'we are still alive' rather than 'we are 25' - as he has been doing since 1988, a year after the song won when Jamaica celebrated 25 years of Independence.

He was preceded by the night's first awardee, concert pianist Orett Rhoden, who did an intricate reading of Marley's One Love that he followed up with Chopin's Waltz No14 in E minor. Chopin, arguably, is Rhoden's favourite composer.



Neville Garrick (right), former art director and confidante of Reggae great Bob Marley, accepts the Independence Award for 2005 from Prime Minister P J Patterson.

The first section also included the first of two on-stage "raps" between Marley's long-time art director and confidante Neville Garrick, and the reggae icon's granddaughter Donisha Prendergast. After Rayon's set (which survived a brief power failure), the evening hit it's main low point in a dance and drum tribute entitled Nyabhinghi, performed by L'Acadco.

What could well have been a stirring exposition of one of the foundations of the reggae culture fell victim to excess (not to mention sub-par sound) and came close to bathos, with some members of the audience politely applauding to signal their desire for a premature end.

The next act, however, former I-Three Judy Mowatt, took the proceedings back toward transcendency. After opening in urgent manner with We Need Jesus and Heal Our Land (an extrapolation from 1 Chronicles chapter 7), she rounded out the set with three timeless gems from the roots reggae era.

First up, her own peerless Black Woman with its irresistible "la-da-da, la-da-da" vocal hook. Then, taking time to greet Marley's widow, Rita, in the front row, she invited her former I-Threes colleague to join her on-stage for the next number.


Sly Dunbar (left) and Robbie Shakespeare display their Independence Awards presented to them by Prime Minister Patterson last Saturday night at the Prime Minister's Independence Gala at Jamaica House.

Rita Marley declined, however, to which Mowatt responded by dedicating Marley's No Woman No Cry to her before closing with a high-spirited rendition of Redemption Song.

Though his first moments were somewhat tentative, Bajan reedman Arturo Tappin proved to be the night's "Most Valuable Player" delivering an impassioned set on several instruments. First up on tenor sax, he did the classic Jammin with much flair, evoking the "honking" style made famous by late jazz master Illinois Jacquet.

He was then joined by Judi Emmanuel, herself in sparkling form, for a romp through the salacious Guava Jelly (famously covered by Barbra Streisand, among others).

This time playing flute, Tapping thrilled the audience by scatting over his own notes on the mouthpiece in an extended solo. He would pick up soprano sax before returning to the tenor, where he closed that segment with an ebullient 'no-hands' solo of sheer blowing prowess. An added treat was the un-billed appearance of Irish rocker Sinead O' Connor, who delivered a suitably impassioned reading of War.

The Carifolk Singers would return with more of ska-era Marley, such as Simmer Down, and musical director Peter Ashbourne led the band through his own tribute to Marley. Both those sets followed a much improved second appearance from the pair of Garrick and Prendergast, this one focussing largely on Marley's triumphal entry into Zimbabwe for that nation's inaugural Independence ceremonies in 1980.

Garrick related that many of the country's poor and working-class had stormed the ceremony upon hearing Marley's concert, to which the authorities responded with tear gas.

"However, through to Jah works," he closed, "the tear gas was steered toward the royal box."

The "riddim twins" Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, on drums and bass respectively, then took the stage and gave a welcome exposition of the syncopative skills that have landed them on a reported 200,000 recordings over their long and storied careers. Their on-stage audio snapshot included instrumentals of Murder She Wrote, Worl' A Reggae and perhaps the finest of them all, Unmetered Taxi.

The final featured act was the indefatigable Joseph Hill and Culture. Sharply dressed in black and white combos (Hill's ensemble included spats), he gave yet another sterling representation of the globally felt force that is roots reggae, laying down gems like Stop The Fussing and Fighting, See Them A Come and the controversial Two Sevens Clash throwing in the '80s hit She Want Money for a good measure of levity.

Garrick, Tappin, Rhoden, Culture and Sly & Robbie received the Independence Award for 2005, and a magnificent looking Gene Pearson sculpture was presented to Rita Marley on her late husband's behalf.

With the entire cast back on stage and the opening salvos of the now customary fireworks filling the air, the audience filed out of the Jamaica House grounds having gotten a powerful reminder of the music which propelled Independent Jamaica onto the world stage.

Big UP to Neville Garrick and Happy Independance Day to JA

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) - An artist who designed several album covers for late reggae star Bob Marley was among a group recognized by Jamaica's government in a ceremony marking the island's independence anniversary.

Prime Minister P.J. Patterson presented Neville Garrick with his Award for Excellence on Saturday night, in honour of his contribution to Jamaican music.

"I want to say thanks to brother Bob, it was great working with you. If people would live by your words, Jamaica would be a better place," Garrick said after accepting his award in Kingston.

Garrick, a Kingston native, graduated with a degree in graphic design from the University of California at Los Angeles and later served as Marley's art director from 1976 until the singer's death in 1981.

A close confidante of the reggae legend, Garrick toured with his band, The Wailers, and designed seven of their album covers, including Rastaman Vibration and Exodus.

The well-known Jamaican producing team Sly and Robbie, Barbadian saxophonist Arturo Tappin, concert pianist Orret Rhoden and the roots-reggae group Culture also received excellence awards during celebrations to observe Jamaica's 43rd year of independence from Britain.

Sly and Robbie later performed a version of the Marley song War accompanied by Irish singer Sinead O'Connor, who recorded an album of reggae covers in Jamaica earlier this year.

Bob Marley School for the Arts Institute

Bob Marley School for the Arts Institute - Flamingo Beach, Falmouth P.O., Trelawny Telephone 876-327-9991 e-mail: astor@bobartsinstitute.edu

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Greetings,


Re: The Reggae Walk of Fame Offer of Partnership.
Our Reggae Ambassadors use the Official Music to make our Jamaica the One Love Island and in recognition, the Reggae Walk of Fame committee will induct one or two ambassadors each month.

The Courtleigh Theatre in New Kingston lends itself as the ideal venue for monthly induction ceremonies for our Reggae personalities on the Reggae walk of Fame which will be seen on Reggae Sun TV locally and on the internet on http://www.bobartsinstitute.edu and on http://www.reggaesun.tv.

The Reggae Walk of Fame which will be located at the Bob Marley School for the Arts Institute on Flamingo Beach in Trelawny as an attraction for visitors. The Bob School will offer tuition assisted education in arts.

Artiste Management, PRO, Events Manager, Radio & TV Manager, please accept our offer of partnership and give it a favourable response, seen?


One love

Astor Black

Ras Astor Black

Founder/Chairman of the Board





“One love” Song of the millennium “Exodus” Album of the century



These are unprecedented honours for the Son of a small Island
– Mrs. Pat Frances, President, JAMPRO

http://www.reggae.com

One’s love for the joys of Jamaica

editorial@hamhigh.co.uk
22 July 2005
Producer returns to familiar territory to make a film that captures the feel-good factor of the Caribbean, writes Bridget Galton

YVONNE Deutschman was 15 when her parents moved to Jamaica. It was the early 70s and Bob Marley's pulsating reggae beats were taking the music world by storm.

Her formative decade in the birthplace of reggae was an exciting round of music, parties and optimism borne out of Marley's Rastafarian values of peace and love.

Those years left a lasting impression on the white English girl, who left the Caribbean island aged 25 to attend film school in Britain.

Now she has returned to the foothills of Jamaica's blue mountains as co-producer of One Love, a film starring one of Marley's 11 offspring - Ky-mani.

Ms Deutschman, who lives in Belsize Avenue, Belsize Park, said: "My teenage years were a fantastic time. The whole reggae scene was exploding and there was music absolutely everywhere, all the best bands playing at parties in hotels and houses. There was so much optimism and hope for the future."

Deutschman dreamed up the story for One Love - a musical set in the 70s about a Rastafarian reggae singer who falls for a Christian gospel singer - in the hope of rehabilitating Jamaica's recent image.

"Because of the economy they have had a couple of tough decades and I wanted to get away from the negative stereotypes about guns and violence and recapture that positive spirit I knew when I lived there."

She continued: "99.9 per cent of Jamaicans are ordinary, law abiding, warm people yet there is this lack of wholesome role models that ordinary people can identify with. Black actors usually play bad guys, pimps or prostitutes but this is a feel-good family film that captures the beauty and exotic nature of Jamaica - there is not a ghetto in sight."

Deutschman, who worked for years at the BBC directing programmes as varied as Antiques Roadshow and Casualty, says the film has proved equally popular with black and white audiences: "It transcends colour. It is a real crossover film."

She conceived the idea for One Love years ago, but unable to secure funding, she turned the story into a stage musical and set up a training project in Bristol - teaching performance skills to unemployed youths over six months - then touring the show throughout Britain, Germany, Kenya and Jamaica.

She finally got money from the UK Film Council to make her One Love, which was hailed as "the best Jamaican film ever" and played for 12 weeks in all seven cinemas on the island with every Jamaican seeing it twice.

Deutschman says Jamaica is now picking itself back up and is glad to see the old colonial attitude of "everyone has their place" replaced by a more entrepreneurial spirit.

"Jamaicans are highly inventive. They developed reggae from their take on the swing, be-bop and RnB records they heard from America and they came up with the language that the youth use today, words like 'wicked' and 'chill'," she says.

With the BBC, Deutschman also made landmark cultural documentaries about the ethnic minorities and was the series creator of Ebony - the first Afro Caribbean series on British TV.

She says in the past she has been criticised as a white woman making black films - with distrust from both sides.

"When people see that I really believe what I am doing, it's hard to criticise. I have lived in Jamaica, half my friends are black and half white. I live in a multicultural world and I enjoy the best of both cultures.

"When I came to England I realised there wasn't a voice for the black people in this country and as a communicator there were stories and voices I had the means of channelling and putting out on TV, creating opportunities for people to speak."

She says Marley's son, who has released several records of his own, auditioned for the lead role - a Bob Marley-type character - and was easily the best actor for the job.

"He has a natural charisma, he is a Rasta and obviously looks and sounds like his dad. He totally identified with the story that had happened in his own life. In fact Rita Marley said that was her story with Bob because she was a gospel singer."

Deutschman is returning to Jamaica for her next project - "a romantic thriller that's a cross between Gone With The Wind and Angel Heart, Jamaica-style."

o One Love is out in selected cinemas this month.

Adirondack Forest Festival Announced

Cowclops and HIGH TIMES(TM) present The Adirondack Forest Festival!

One-of-a-kind festival lineup features Arrested Development, BURNING SPEAR, TRUMYSTIC, DUB IS A WEAPON, the Slip, Jen Durkin & Bomb Squad, Sam Kininger Band, Mecca Bodega, SeepeopleS, U-Melt, TruMystic and More!

Lyonsdale, NY - Cowclops Productions, HIGH TIMES Magazine and Igor Management bring you the inaugural Adirondack Forest Festival, September 23-25 at Moose River Park in Lyonsdale, NY. The lineup will feature Burning Spear, a rare northeast performance from progressive rap collective Arrested Development, The Slip, Jen Durkin & The Bomb Squad, Sam Kininger Band, Mecca Bodega and More! Up-to-date lineup and band bios can be found at www.amf2005.com.

With a special focus on Northeast favorites, The Adirondack Forest Festival is unlike any other this festival season. Aside from the festival's unique lineup, AFF will focus on raising money for Bands For Lands (www.bandsforlands.org), a non-profit organization focused on preserving pristine lands vital to sustain life, through music and creative arts. More than half of the proceeds received from this event will directly benefit endangered lands in the New York region.

The gorgeous and secluded Moose River Park, which for years hosted the Adirondack Music Festival, was established in 1968 and is located on a spring-fed lake in Lyonsdale NY, part of the 6-million acre Adirondack Park in upstate New York. There is no better place to experience a festival--imagine being serenaded from the lakefront amphitheater as the sun goes down, while basking in your own semi-private campsite. In addition, sports enthusiasts can indulge in whitewater rafting, hiking, biking and swimming, all within the park!

With something for everyone, this year's Adirondack Forest Festival is not to be missed. Plus, festival-goers will be doing their part to preserve local endangered land. Act quickly: the first 1,000 tickets are $55, $75 until the 22nd and $90 at the gate. Tickets include weekend camping. For tickets, information and more, visit www.amf2005.com. See you at the park!

Current Lineup (more acts TBD, check web site for details):

BURNING SPEAR
Arrested Development
TRUMYSTIC
The Slip
Jen Durkin & The Bomb Squad
Sam Kininger Band
DUB IS A WEAPON
Moon Boot Lover
Brotherhood of Groove
Mecca Bodega
SeepeopleS
U-Melt
Furley
Reverend Tor Band
Strut
Next Tribe
Band B
Sven Hooson
JoMama and the Funkdaddies
Downtown Brown

CONTACT: Victoria Karol, 828-335-6035, igor@victoriakarol.com

Reggae SumFest 2005

Visit www.ReggaeSumfest.com Featuring international recording stars CIARA, AKON & FABOLOUS Damian "Jr Gong" Marley with special appearance by Stephen Marley * Toots & the Maytals* Elephant Man* Ini Kamoze* Luciano * Macka Diamond* Capleton* Morgan Heritage* Lady Saw* Turbulence * Kip Rich* Tami Chynn* Tarrus Riley* John Holt* Alton Ellis* Gregory Isaacs * I Wayne * Assassin * Voice Mail * Judy Mowatt* Mighty Diamonds* Spice * General Trees* Charlie Chaplain* Josey Wales* Pinchers * Brent Dowe * Jimmy Riley MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA – THE ULTIMATE CITY Montego Bay, Jamaica:— Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest, world’s premier reggae festival, will be held at the Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex in Montego Bay Jamaica, July 17-23.2005. Montego Bay, the island’s second city, has been the home of the famed Reggae Sunsplash and is now the permanent home of the Reggae Sumfest festival. Although patrons will be dancing under the stars of the friendly city at night, they can also partake of what this wonderful city has to offer during the day. Montego Bay has been named as one of the top tourist locations in Jamaica, boasting white sand beaches, crystal blue waters and a hip strip that promises more enjoyment than one can handle. The famed Doctor’s Cave Bathing Club is located in the middle of the Hip Strip and visitors are encouraged to relax, unwind and sunbathe in the therapeutic waters or take a chance on the wild side with the wide variety of watersports that are offered. For those who want to visit Mobay’s colourful underwater world, there are several companies that offer this service such as Cool Aqua Divers. Located at the Rose Hall Beach, they offer scuba diving and snorkeling. Montego Bay is also a very historical town; the Rose Hall Great House is one of Jamaica’s premier historical attractions. This restored great house takes you back in time to the English Planter days, the ghost of the former mistress Annie Palmer is still said to roam the halls. For the ultimate music lover, there is the Bob Marley Experience located at the Half Moon Village, which features a theatre with a special multi media presentation about the reggae superstar. For those who want a true taste of Montego Bay, visit the city’s top rated restaurants. Pier 1 On The Waterfront is a must for seafood lovers, overlooking Montego Bay’s harbour, visitors will love the ambience this restaurant offers. Authentic Jamaican food is the order of the day at the Native restaurant where visitors can sample the famed rice and peas and jerk chicken. Also located on the hip strip is the Pelican Restaurant, which specializes in international and Jamaica cuisine. After a hard night on the town, visitors can relax at the all-inclusive Holiday Inn Resort or at the ultra exclusive Half Moon Hotel. Both resorts boast prime beaches and wonderful cuisine. Overall Montego Bay is the optimal location for the young and the young at heart, with activities ranging from horseback riding to scuba diving, one will never lack having fun. Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest is offering special travel packages which include hotel accommodation and round trip airport and hotel transfers. For more information on the friendly city, check out the website www.montego-bay-jamaica.com

RHINO CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF STEEL PULSE!

Expanded & Remastered Versions of Reggae Classics True Democracy and Earth Crisis hit Stores June 7th

LOS ANGELES - Reggae fans have reason to rejoice on June 7 with Rhino/Elektra reissues of Steel Pulse's TRUE DEMOCRACY and EARTH CRISIS. Both of these classic albums have been remastered and supplemented with bonus tracks.

The acclaimed 1982 set TRUE DEMOCRACY was Steel Pulse's first studio album for Elektra/Asylum Records, and the first to make an impact in the American marketplace (it made both the Pop and R&B charts here). In addition to the original album's ten tracks, the new CD features four previously unreleased bonus selections 12" versions of "Ravers" and "Leggo Beast" and dub versions of "Your House" and "A Who Responsible?"

Steel Pulse's 1984 follow-up, EARTH CRISIS, brought Jimmy Haynes in for production, applying further polish to the band's sound. Like its predecessor, it earned the group a gold record. Joining the eight songs on the original album are four bonus tracks drawn from promo-only 12" singles - dub and extended versions of "Steppin' Out" and remix and dub versions of "Roller Skates."

The new reissues of TRUE DEMOCRACY and EARTH CRISIS include liner notes from renowned reggae writer Roger Steffens (who worked these albums on their original release while a staffer at Elektra) as well as complete lyrics. Both will be available at retail outlets and at www.rhino.com for a suggested list price of $11.98.

One of Britain's greatest reggae groups, Steel Pulse arose from Birmingham's Handsworth slum in 1975. Led by singer/guitarist/songwriter David Hinds, Steel Pulse blended roots grooves and Rastafarian politics – a mix that proved popular with a growing punk audience. The group signed with Island Records, issuing their debut album, the landmark Handsworth Revolution, in 1978. In the intervening years the band has released more than a dozen albums, earning several Grammy nominations in the process (and a win for 1986's Babylon The Bandit). Still going strong in their 30th anniversary year, Steel Pulse are currently touring in support of their 2004 album, the Grammy-nominated African Holocaust.

STEEL PULSE IN CONCERT!

June Brings 30th Anniversary Tour and Reissues of True Democracy and Earth Crisis
LOS ANGELES -- One of the greatest reggae bands of the last three decades celebrates 30 years together with a summer U.S. tour. The group hits the road in June just as reissues of their classic TRUE DEMOCRACY and EARTH CRISIS albums arrive in stores.
The acclaimed 1982 set TRUE DEMOCRACY was Steel Pulse's first studio album for Elektra/Asylum Records, and the first to make an impact in the American marketplace. Steel Pulse's 1984 follow-up, EARTH CRISIS, brought Jimmy Haynes in for production, applying further polish to the band's sound. Like its predecessor, it earned the group a gold record. The new reissues of these have been remastered and supplemented with bonus tracks and liner notes from renowned reggae writer Roger Steffens.
Steel Pulse arose from the Handsworth slum of Birmingham, England, in 1975. Led by singer/guitarist/songwriter David Hinds, Steel Pulse blended roots grooves and Rastafarian politics for their debut album, 1978's landmark Handsworth Revolution. In the intervening years the band has released more than a dozen albums, earning several Grammy nominations in the process for such discs as Babylon The Bandit (a Grammy winner in 1986) and their most recent release, last year's African Holocaust.

The following dates are confirmed and additional dates may be announced.

6/10 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Casino
6/11 Huntington, NY Inter-Media Arts Center
6/12 Amagansett, NY Stephen Talkhouse
6/14 Hollywood, CA The Roxy Theatre
6/16 Las Vegas, NV Skin Pool Lounge @ The Palms
6/17 Ventura, CA Ventura Theatre
6/18 Del Mar, CA Del Mar Fairgrounds
6/19 Angels Camp, CA Sierra Nevada World Music Festival
6/21 Saratoga, CA Montalvo Arts Center
6/22 Saratoga, CA Montalvo Arts Center w/The Neville Bros.
6/23 Aspen, CO Rio Grande Park
7/4 Milwaukee, WI Summerfest
7/7 Cincinnati, OH Annie's
7/8 Portsmouth, VA NTELOS Pavilion @ Harbor Center

RHINO CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF STEEL PULSE! Listening party link of the entire re-release of True Democracy album Steel Pulse Discount Purchase Link: CLICK HERE

Luciano Going Strong and Righteous with Jah Words

WINS FOUR AWARDS AT THE
INTERNATIONAL REGGAE & WORLD MUSIC AWARDS

NEW ALBUM
Jah Words
Just Released April 26th
Exclusive Interview and Feature Pick Article soon come at REGGAE.com

Fresh from his sweep of the 24th annual International Reggae & World Music Awards where he took home more honors than anyone else, reggae dancehall crooner Luciano returns to the road early next month to kick off the final leg of his latest tour. After a recent performance at Jazz Fest in New Orleans, Luciano is currently scheduled to appear at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival and Reggae Carifest at New York City's Randall's Island, as well as headlining a number of shows along the way. At the IRWMA, held last weekend in New York, Luciano won four awards in the categories of Best Male Vocalist, Best Album, Most Cultural/Educational Entertainer and the coveted Emperor Haile Selassie I Award for Spiritual Service Through Music.

Amidst the recent controversy surrounding reggae's dancehall subgenre came the new album from Luciano, signaling a promising return to the origin and core message of reggae. One of the genre's most soulful and spiritual singers, Luciano's Jah Words (released to stores on April 26th via RAS/Sanctuary) is steeped in lyrical messages that are always positive, peppered with themes of hope, devotion and fortification - a far cry from some of his more extremist, negative counterparts.

Bob Dylan's "Knocking On Heaven's Door" is seen from a new perspective, "Feed The World" and "Cry For Justice" beg for change, and Luciano's mix of soul, gospel and reggae shine on "Angel" and "In God Or Man." And a video for the dancehall driven single "Why Should I" has just been shot in Jamaica. His early years spent singing in a Jamaican church choir are felt throughout the album, both in the lyrical content of his songs as well as the deeply heartfelt delivery. Always pushing the creative boundaries of dancehall and reggae, Luciano has spent his critically-acclaimed career seamlessly weaving elements of doo-wop, gospel and r&b into his songs.

Luciano "Jah Words" Tour Dates:

06/05 WESTCHESTER, NY REGGAE FEST
06/06 CLEVELAND, OH HOUSE OF BLUES
06/07 GRAND RAPIDS, MI THE INTERSECTION
06/08 ANN ARBOR, MI BLIND PIG
06/09 COLUMBUS, OH ALROSA VILLAGE
06/10 CHICAGO, IL JOE'S PUB
06/11 ST. LOUIS, MO KIENER PLAZA PARK
06/12 KANSAS CITY, MO WESTPORT BEACH CLUB
06/14 BOULDER, CO FOX THEATER
06/15 PARK CITY, UT SUEDE
06/17 LAKE TAHOE, NV BILTMORE / BREEZE CLUB
06/18 ANGELS CAMP, CA SIERRA NEVADA WORLD
MUSIC FESTIVAL
06/19 LONG BEACH, CA QUEEN MARY PARK
06/21 SAN DIEGO, CA HOUSE OF BLUES
06/23 ALBUQUERUE, NM SUNSHINE THEATRE
06/24 HOUSTON, TX CLUB RIDDIM
06/24 AUSTIN, TX FLAMINGO CANTINA
06/26 NEW ORLEANS, LA HOUSE OF BLUES
06/29 JACKSONVILLEL, FL DA REAL THING CAFÉ
06/30 TAMPA, FL JANNUS LANDING
07/01 ATLANTA, GA CLUB LEGACY
07/02 RALEIGH, NC LINCOLN THEATER
07/03 CHARLOTTE, NC AMO'S
07/04 NORFOLK, VA NORVA THEATRE
07/06 NEW YORK, NY SOB's
07/07 TRENTON, NJ MAXINES 11
07/08 MARTHA'S VINEYARD, MA HOT TIN ROOF
07/09 BOSTON, MA SUFFOLKS DOWNS
07/10 RANDALLS ISLAND, NY DOWNING STADIUM/REGGAE CARIFEST
07/11 MATUNUCK, RI OCEAN MIST
07/12 NEW HAVEN, CT TOAD'S PLACE
07/13 BURLINGTON, VT HIGHER GROUND
07/14 POUGHKEEPSIE, NY THE CHANCE
07/15 NEW ROCHELLE, NY CLUB CARIB
07/16 WASHINGTON, DC H2O
07/17 WILMINGTON, DE BIG KAHUNA

Rastafari Never Fail I Yet

published: Sunday | April 17, 2005
Cedric Wilson, Guest Columnist

THE BALLOTS have been counted, the votes tallied and the results yield no surprise. Bruce Golding, leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), has emerged miles ahead of his three rivals in the West Kingston by-election.

Such is the reality of garrison politics in Jamaica. It is easier to have a hurricane in January or for it to snow in Montego Bay than for voters in a garrison to elect a representative from a different party.

Yet, for all the certainty of the outcome at last Thursday's poll, if we consider Ras Astor Black, the man who got eight votes against Mr. Golding's 8,000, it is evident that the by-election was not entirely about garrison politics.

It's not the first time Ras Black of the Jamaica Alliance Movement has offered to serve as a member of Parliament. In March 2001 in the Northeast St. Ann by-election, he was there as a candidate ­ Shahine Robinson of the JLP won. He also ran in the October 2002 General Election for the Northwest St. James parliamentary seat in which Dr. Horace Chang of the JLP emerged victorious.

Historically, third parties have failed to impact Jamaican politics, yet Ras Black entered the race. Never mind the fact that he lacked the resources to mount a serious campaign - and don't introduce the impossibility of a garrison constituency to an outsider - what is striking about Ras Black is his remarkable tenacity and his indomitable belief that the life of the ordinary Jamaican nan be far better.

STRUGGLE OF RASTAFARI

Ras Black draws inspiration from his faith in Rastafari. Four years ago, during the run up to the Northeast St. Ann by-election, RJR talk show host, Barbara Gloudon interviewed him. She asked him why he was so confident of victory in the election. His laconic response was 'Rastafari never fail I yet'.

More than anything, Rastafari genius lies in its symbolism. Indeed, its contribution to the forging of a Jamaican consciousness is derived from the fact that it recreated the dominant images of Christianity in the likeness of the black man and therefore it substituted the Emperor Halie Selassie for a blond, blue-eyed Jesus. It hailed Marcus Garvey, a man despised by many middle and upper-class Jamaicans before the 1960s, as a prophet. It tapped into the indigenous rhythms of the people and used reggae as a vehicle to bring to the foreground the lamentations and the hopes of the oppressed and the dispossessed. Indeed, Bob Marley, perhaps the most well-known apostle of the faith, is embraced internationally through his songs because the struggle of Rastafari is universal. And like the seventeenth century French philosopher Rene Descartes, who reaffirmed his existence when he declared 'Cognito, ergosum: I think, therefore I am', Rastafari proclaims the pride in the black identity in the assertion of 'I and I'. In stating 'I and I', the rastaman blurs the definition between the first person and the third person; he discards the distinction between 'me and you' because there is the implicit knowledge that one man's existence cannot be separated from that of the other man. It is in this respect Rastafari, through the manipulation of symbols and use of language, brought the social issues of the people at the base of the society from the background to the foreground and created the mood, the rethinking of the socio-economic model of the 1960s and 70s.

The question is: What are the policies Ras Black and the Jamaica Alliance Movement propose? At the launch of the movement October 2001, Ras Black proclaimed a message of love stated that the goal is to downsize the parliament to 14 members; cease the repayment of debt for 20 years in order to rebuild the country's infrastructure; remove all taxes from imports; abolish income taxes and increase the general consumption tax to 17 per cent.

IMPRACTICAL POLICY PRESCRIPTION

Certainly, the budget should be smaller with fewer parliamentarians, but the policy prescription is at best impractical. The implications are grave when the implications for balancing the budget, addressing a massive balance of payment imbalance and the reaction of the international community a default by Jamaica in payments of its debt.

And yet, we cannot deny that behind Ras Black and his movement is a hope that most Jamaicans cherish - the elimination of the paralysing violence and a desire for economic prosperity.

When Ras Black journeyed from his home in Trelawny to run as a candidate in West Kingston, the very birth place of the Rastafari faith, it was a symbolic trip. And in doing what many would never dare to even contemplate, he epitomises the soul of Jamaica.

There was no way he could ever win and yet he believes that there is the possibility for change. Maybe when he says victory is sure because "Rastafari never fail I yet" he really means for any people 'hope will never fail'.

Cedric Wilson is an economics consultant who specialises in market regulation. Send your comments to conoswil@hotmail.com.
Link to original article -
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20050417/cleisure/cleisure5.html

Help JAM FREE-UP the Trench Town Experience

Rastafari Family,

Help JAM FREE-UP the Trench Town experience so it can start the flow of love, again, from Back-a-wall to the world.

I, Ras Astor Black, Ras-pectfully request your assistance in reaching out to the Rastafari Entertainers and Rastafari Family giving I the opportunity to speak as the Member of Parliament for Western Kingston. Rastafari must have a voice in their parliament to continue the good work of our brother Bob Marley.

On April 13th the JAM symbol on the ballot will be the HEART. Most Jamaicans today say they are Rastafari in the HEART and with that at HEART, I man would love to see the People of Western Kingston vote for the people of Jamaica with their HEART.

To contribute from the HEART to the Love’N Jamaica Campaign, please send or deposit some funds in the Rastafari Affinity Account number 10134860 (JNBS MoBay Branch) or any Jamaica National Building Society in Jamaica.

For more information call: Ras Astor Black, President, Jamaica Alliance Movement
876-421-4189

Thanks from the HEART

Ras Astor Black

MUSICALLY SPEAKING: WAILERS LEGACY...

You may be interested in this but be sure to read Ras John's editorial comment linked at the end of the article as a comment.


Historical box set on Wailers by Bunny Wailer now available
By Basil Walters Observer staff reporter
Friday, March 18, 2005

The long awaited historical box set documenting the history of the
famed Wailers group by Bunny Wailer is now on the market. On the box
set Bunny Wailer (Neville O'Riley Livingston) traces the history of
the group and his special relationship with members Bob Marley and
Peter Tosh from as early as their childhood days.

Bunny Wailer

"As you know, last year was the Wailers' 40th anniversary, but we're
now into 2005, and I've put together this box set of about 107 tracks
to mark the celebration of that milestone of the Wailers," Bunny
Wailer told Splash.

"Four CDs having the musical renditions of the Wailers and three CDs
contain a written and narrated professional history of the Wailers by
I Bunny Wailer entitled "Musically Speaking: The Wailers Legacy".
These latter three CDs will clear the air of a lot of things people
write about the Wailers fictitiously and otherwise. Coming from the
lion's mouth (not horses') who was there and who was a part of all of
what took place."

The box set also contains a picture booklet of those people who shared
in the history of the Wailers and according to Bunny Wailer "weh other
people leave out when dem a write dem history... I make sure seh,
these people who were the Wailers' heart and soul, some of whom are
still alive, I make sure their pictures are in the booklet and the
environment that the Wailers grew up in."

Jah B, as Bunny Wailer is also known, said that his latest project is
designed to fight against piracy, an issue he feels passionately about
and is committed to fight against.

"So this box set now is also designed to fight against piracy and
bootlegging of the Wailers that have been happening for so many years,
about three decades now. But I don't give up the struggle of fighting
against piracy."

The box set is packaged in what resembles a replica of the Ark of the
Covenant which Bunny Wailer described as "a treasure chest of vintage
Wailers plus...."

People for a Rastafari Government in Jamaica

4 candidates for West Kingston poll
Colourful parades in peaceful nomination day
(from an article by BALFORD HENRY, Observer writer on
Thursday, March 24, 2005 followed by a message from Astor Black)



The four candidates who were nominated yesterday to contest the West Kingston by-election. From left: Michael Elliott, NDM; Joseph 'Bunny' Witter, PNP; Bruce Golding, JLP; and Ras Astor Black, Jamaica Alliance Movement . (Photos: Bryan Cummings)

MARCHING bands and colourful parades characterised yesterday's nomination day in West Kingston as four candidates entered the race to fill the parliamentary seat left vacant in January by former Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader Edward Seaga.

The four - newly-elected leader of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party, Bruce Golding; Joseph "Bunny" Witter, a 43 year-old technician, for the People's National Party (PNP); Michael Elliott, a businessman who is running for an alliance comprising the National Democratic Movement (NDM) and the Republican Party; and Rastafarian Astor Black, president of the Jamaica Alliance Movement (JAM) - will do battle for the more than 17,000 electors on the list for the April 13 poll.


Greetings from Ras Astor Black

Please contribute to the Love’N Jamaica Campaign, send or deposit some funds in the Rastafari Affinity Account number 10134860 (MoBay Branch) at any Jamaica National in Jamaica. It will help us with our radio and print marketing and for more information call I man, Ras Astor Black, President of the Jamaica Alliance Movement at 876-421-4189.

Now that they are going, going and gone, the Jamaica Alliance Movement will alien with good people for a new way of life for Jamaicans at home and abroad, a Jamaica where all of us will be free and equal in dignity and rights and act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood.

A Jamaica where everyone will be entitled to all the rights and freedoms without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, Rastafari, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

All Jamaican will have the right to life, liberty and security of person and will not be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade will be prohibited in all their forms. No one will be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Everyone will get the right to recognition as a person before the law.

All Jamaican will be equal before the law and will be given without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. Jamaicans will receive equal protection against all discrimination. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Everyone will have full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Everyone charged with a penal offence will be given the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he or she has had all the guarantees necessary for his or her defense. No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, or to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Jamaicans will have the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment and without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.

Jamaicans who works will receive a just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself or herself and his or her family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

Jamaicans will be given the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his or her interests and will have the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Standards of living will be adequate for the health and well-being of the Jamaican family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond control. Motherhood and childhood will be entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

All Jamaicans will have the right to education. Education will be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education will be made generally available and higher education will be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.

Education will be directed to the full development of the Jamaican personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace. Parents will have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Everyone will have the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits, and the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he or she is the author.

The soon to be post-governments did not set concrete aim for overseas investment and attach more importance to the quality and practical effects rather than just its quantity.

Rastafari, The Hon. Bob Marley promote Jamaica love to a world audience and today we all can just see the result, but our Jamaica can not be a part of the booming tourism industry that they enjoy.

Jamaicans, if Western Kingston is to be the next tourist attraction, let us all do the right thing on Election Day; allow the Rastafari, Ras Astor Black, to colt the BIG game by voting Jamaica Alliance Movement. Retire the Ps into the history book of the next generation.

JAM will FREE-UP the Trench Town experience so it start flowing again, from Back-a-wall to the world, I, Ras Astor Black respectfully ask to be the next Member of Parliament for West Kingston which will give Rastafari a voice in their parliament to continue the good work of our brother Bob Marley.

To contribute to the Love’N Jamaica Campaign, please send or deposit some funds in the Rastafari Coop Affinity Account number 10134860 (MoBay Branch) at any Jamaica National in Jamaica.

For more information call Ras Astor Black, President of the Jamaica Alliance Movement at 876-421-4189

Things Are Looking Up For REGGAE Promoters Around The Country

Positive Vibration: Reggae Is Right At Home In The Region

March 25, 2005

By Tom Huntington Arts Correspondent


When reggae legend Frederick "Toots" Hibbert came to Vermont a couple of years ago to record a song with resident guitar star Trey Anastasio at the former Phish member's renowned recording studio in Westford, he felt right at home.

"It was nice, because the air was like up in the mountains in Jamaica," says Hibbert, a native son of the island country who gave reggae its name with his 1968 hit song, "Do the Reggay."

Whether it's the fresh mountain air, the laid-back vibe or the independent spirit, there's just something about reggae that has struck a chord with denizens of the Green Mountain State — a chord that has gotten considerably stronger since Bob Marley properly introduced the dance-inducing music to Vermont a quarter of a century ago when he played at Memorial Auditorium in Burlington.

Originally nurtured in the state by the now defunct Vermont Reggae Festival, and then by 1990s Burlington nightclub Club Toast and by Burlington-area music hall Higher Ground, reggae now seems to have its Green Mountain epicenter in Stowe – though Montpelier will likely be getting a taste of the action in the not-too-distant future.

Carlo Rovetto, 32, presented annual reggae shows on his own property in Plainfield "until they got too huge," he says. Last year, he and Patrick Brooks of Stowe, Rovetto's partner in 1 Lb. Productions, as they call themselves, decided to move the popular "house parties" to area venues, finding an especially appreciative audience at the Rusty Nail Bar & Grille in Stowe. The revamped nightspot has become an unofficial home for the concert series, though 1 Lb. recently presented shows at the Eclipse Theater in Waitsfield as well.

The first two 1 Lb. presentations – the second featured legendary reggae rhythm duo Sly & Robbie – sold out the sizable Rusty Nail in advance.

From there, "it just took off," says Rovetto.

Upcoming 1 Lb. shows at the Nail include Toots and the Maytals on Wednesday, and the solid double bill of golden-throated old-school soldiers Don Carlos (Black Uhuru co-founder) and Apple Gabriel (of Israel Vibration) on May 13.

The Toots and the Maytals show is a serious coup for the upstart presenters, as it comes a mere month after the soulful singer garnered a Grammy Award for best reggae album for his star-studded 2004 album, "True Love." Easily one of the year's best albums – Billboard magazine called it "a 55-minute party in a jewel case" – and a must-have for anyone who has even the slightest interest in reggae music – the disc finds Toots revisiting his impressive arsenal of classic songs and sounding better than ever, perhaps inspired by such special guests as Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Trey Anastasio, No Doubt and Ryan Adams.

"It's a really big show for us," says Rovetto. "We're excited to have it."

Rovetto, who owns the popular Plainfield pizzeria Positive Pie, says he also plans to present live music at a second Positive Pie location, Positive Pie-Squared, in downtown Montpelier, which he hopes to open "by June."

Rovetto describes the sizable, 2700-ft. space, which formerly housed the State Street Market, as a "restaurant and lounge" that will have "occasional entertainment" on weekends. The space will be equipped with a full stage and live sound system as well as an in-house sound system for DJs, he says.

Rovetto says that 1 Lb. is also hoping to present an out-door concert sometime this summer.

"We do have a plan to do something outdoors this summer," says Rovetto.

"Whether it works out or not is going to depend on a lot of factors, but we're hoping that we can make it happen."

Upcoming reggae shows
# Wednesday: Toots and the Maytals with Fear Nuttin' – Rusty Nail, 10 p.m., $25.
# Sunday: Jimmy Cliff with Matisyahu the Hassidic Reggae Superstar – Higher Ground, 9 p.m. $20 advance/$23 day of show (all ages).
# Saturday, April 2: Mikey Dread with Trumystic – Rusty Nail.
# Saturday, April 16: Dub Is a Weapon – Rusty Nail.
# Friday, May 13: Stowe – Don Carlos, Apple Gabriel and Groundation – Rusty Nail.
# Saturday, May 28: Culture – Rusty Nail.

The Rusty Nail is located at 1190 Mountain Road in Stowe (all shows are 21+); for information, call 253-6245 or go online to: www.rustynailbar.com. Higher Ground is located at 1214 Williston Road in S. Burlington; for information, call 654-8888 or go online to: www.highergroundmusic.com. For information about 1 Lb. Productions, go online to: www.1lbproductions.com.

Link to original article in the Barre Montpelier TIMES ARGUS
http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050325/NEWS/503250310/1011

The Wailers: LIve and Direct

21.03.05
by Scott Kara

The man with the soothing Jamaican accent won’t take full responsibility for the most important reggae album made, but Wailers’ bass player Aston "Family Man" Barrett accepts a fair chunk of the glory for 1974’s Natty Dread by Bob Marley and the Wailers.

Okay, to be fair, let’s rephrase that to say, arguably, Natty Dread is the most important reggae album made.

Whether he is getting royalties from the album is another story - more on Barrett’s bitter dispute with Marley’s wife Rita and family later - but he’ll tell you he is hugely responsible for the album that took reggae to the mainstream, thanks to songs such as Lively Up Yourself, No Woman, No Cry, and the Barrett-penned, Rebel Music (3 o’clock Road Block).

"From 1974, Bob Marley, myself and my brother [Carlton "Carlie" Barrett, the drummer] became partners and that’s where we set the real international standard for reggae music worldwide. Bob has gone to rest now but I am here, I am the colonel, I am the lieutenant," he says, laughing.

Barrett has taken over the Wailers’ name and still tours the world playing gigs. The band, also featuring Wailers’ guitarist Junior Marvin, who played on Exodus (1977), Kaya (1978) and Uprising (1980), play the St James tomorrow night.

The Wailers formed in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1963 and were originally a vocal group comprising Bob Marley, Peter McIntosh (later Peter Tosh), Bunny Livingston (later Bunny Wailer), Junior Braithwaite, Beverly Kelso, and Cherry Smith.

By 1966, Braithwaite, Kelso and Smith had left the group. By the late 60s the remaining trio were playing instruments and had hooked up with the Barrett brothers.

Marley first noticed the Barretts after hearing their band the Hippy Boys and through their work with Lee Scratch Perry and the Upsetters.

"That was what first brought us together. He sent for that bass player, the one they call Family Man. When he discovered me. He was surprised, he couldn’t believe Family Man was a youth, one year younger than them.

"When I play bass I pretend I am singing baritone. That’s why I create that melody climb, to make the music swing and sway, so the singer can flow on top of that."

The Wailers signed to Island Records in the early 70s and released Catch A Fire in 1973 and Burnin’ later that year.

"We came together in the late 60s as singers and players of instruments, and we were able to spread the message to all corners of the Earth," says Barrett.

But when composer/singer/percussionist Bunny Livingston and guitarist Peter Tosh left the band around 1973, it was uncertain whether the Wailers would continue.

"Bob said, ‘What are we going to do, there’s only three of us?’ I said, ‘The three of us can do it man, it’s the power of the trinity’.

"I rearranged our music room and turned it into a demo studio so we could record our new songs and get them ready for the studio, and we did and came [up] with that album called, Natty Dread," he says, pronouncing the name of the album with grinning satisfaction.

Barrett is still involved in a long and bitter dispute with the Marley family - fronted by Rita and Marley’s oldest child Cedella - over publishing royalties and other matters.

Touting himself as the "mastermind of the Bob Marley and the Wailers’ sound", Barrett says if it wasn’t for him the Marley family would still be living in the ghetto of Trenchtown in Jamaica.

"I am the one who made the Marley family so big and happy now. I am the one who created the music, arranged it, the bass player, the band leader.

"I play many other instruments on each album. And, of course, I am the sound engineer. I am the mastermind of the sound."

He and Marley became partners from 1974 onwards but "Rita Marley and Island [Records] pretend it never existed".

Yes, Barrett may come across as a miffed bandmate wanting the recognition and payment he deserves, especially since many of the former Wailers are now dead.

Marley died on May 11, 1981, of cancer, while Tosh and Carlton Barrett were murdered in separate incidents in 1987.

But for Barrett, who divides his time between Kingston, South Florida and Washington DC, the main focus is the music, not the money.

That’s not to say he doesn’t want his share. "Righteousness must exalt over weakness. They have the name Marley but none of them think like Bob."

According to Barrett, the Wailers’ show today is just like the old days. "We keep things the original way, the authentic style of whatever you hear on the recording.

"That’s what we give you, live and direct. And although we don’t have Bob Marley, Bob Nesta Marley with us, we’ve got [singer] Gary "Nesta" Pine.

"When he’s performing if you close your eyes, man, you think Bob Marley is on stage. The music is right and the lyrical message is still the same."

Source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=100&ObjectID=10116302

Jammin'

With weather about as nice can be found anywhere, The 3rd Annual Langerado Music Festival arrived at Markam Park in Sunrise, Florida. It was a two day “Jam Band” festival. This might not normally have drawn our attention but recent Reggae Grammy Winner and long time star of the Jamaican Music Scene, Toots and The Maytals were a featured act Saturday afternoon. All together, the two days were filled with over two dozen bands, many of which we had never heard or even heard of.

Arriving, we found a parking lot with license plates from all over the north east. One of our crew claimed we had actually gone through some kind of time portal to a Woodstock-era 1968 going by how a large contingent of the crowd was dressed along with the spliffs and good cheer we encountered. The crowd mood and great weather helped but it was obvious that everything was very well organized by the festival promoters. It was very much a “One Love” vibe going on from the moment we entered the Park’s gates. It is a big park and a great setting for a concert festival. Three stages would keep the music going strong from the 11:30 AM start to the 9 PM finish each day and we found everything running pretty much right on schedule throughout. Again, a “Big-Up” to the promoters. We missed some of the early acts on Saturday – we really came to see Toots and The Maytals who pumped out a tight hour of Reggae/Ska Riddums from 3:30 to 4:30. As the longest established band on the bill, Toots said from the stage, ''Today I'm a teacher.'' And he delivered a great primer on the Roots Rock Reggae Music. A little research indicates a lot of Jam Band fans are Reggae Music fans too. Bob Marley images could be seen more than any other on every type of clothing and bag you could think of. Music vendors all carried big inventories of Reggae CDs and DVDs. And while there were not many Rasta’s in attendance, there were plenty of dreadlocks flowing. Toots delighted the crowd and certainly made several thousand people into bigger Reggae fans with his set.

Let’s talk about some of the other bands we got to hear. The stand-outs seemed to be on Sunday, spectacular day number 2. We were very glad we got there early enough to hear The Wrinkle Neck Mules, a five piece band out of Richmond, Virginia, who play a blend of country music that tips towards rock as well as traditional forms to put together a great opening set for the day. We’re hoping to get a recording of their set – very fortunate for lovers of Jam band music, elaborate personal recording set-ups are part of the scene. Next we heard California’s Donavon Frankenreiter who’s three piece band had the crowd singing along to a rockin’ set – we’ll take a recording of that one too. So as not to get repetitive, even though there were only occasional excursions into a Reggae beat, the tunes were dynamic and energized all day. You gotta check out the highly energized funk machine of Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe – another great set. As the day worked toward a close, improvisational trio Medeski Martin & Wood churned out a high octane blend of sound that led into the second performance by String Cheese Incident. Colorado’s String Cheese Incident headlined both days with the final sets from the main stage. In the tradition of the granddaddy of Jam Bands, The Grateful Dead, the two shows were very different from each other but both were filled with a broad mix of extended riddums and styles from Bluegrass to otherworldly improvisational Rock to nicely laid down Reggae vibes. We didn’t know many of these bands but all we can say is IRIE!

The thing that stands out from all of these performances is the joyous spirit infused in everything from Toots to String Cheese. The joy filled the crowd, no doubt helped by the clouds of herb and incense floating on the breeze throughout the two days. Along with the friendly crowd and great music, you could find all kinds of crafts and arts, all kinds of food and juices plus a Rain Forrest “misting” tent for those who needed to cool off and activities for kids. Festival organizers had people constantly picking up trash and even the portable toilets were kept in decent shape. This team has their act together. Who knows who will be on the bill next year – hopefully a Reggae act (Lucky Dube, Steel Pulse or a Sly & Robbie Dub set would make a good fit), but, if you like more than just Reggae and you want to sample the work of some of the best musicians around, put Langerado on your calendar for next March – www.langerado.com – see ya there!

A Bob Marley Day Where Raunchy Overwhelms Righteousness

Saturday, February 26, 2005, was the 12th Annual Bob Marley Day Festival in Miami. I have been to several of the shows over the years and it has always been a wonderful day. This year a $28.50 ticket and four cans of food products got you admission to the 12 hour event. Part of the proceeds from ticket sales and the contributions of canned food products are donated each year to help feed people in need in the Miami area. The show has usually been scheduled closer to Bob’s February 6th Birthday. This year, Bob’s talented children, who always headline the show, were in Ethiopia for a special celebration marking what would have been Bob’s 60th Birthday so the show was pushed back in the month.

When I saw the initial flyer for the show, I was excited to see most of the Marley brothers in the line-up. Elephant Man and Beenie Man were on the list too. What seemed really missing though was, other than the Marley Brothers, there didn’t seem to be much Roots “One Drop” Beat Reggae which of course is what Bob’s music is all about. More than that, it is Music with Spirit and a Conscious message. What we got on this day in the park was hours of non-conscious, slang and foul language gangster rap booty calls from a bunch of performers about as far from the Spirit of Bob Marley as you could get. Not saying there was no talent on the stage, just that it was the wrong time and place for it. Past years have seen great performances by many of the top name in Reggae – not this year. Even if none of the big name talent was available, there are a bunch of local Reggae bands that would have loved a chance to get up on the stage at Bayfront. What we got was NO REGGAE until nearly 10PM and up till then we got a few thousand four letter words, hardcore, often X-Rated hip-hop raps. I think Bob was probably turning over in his grave with the message delivered by the lyrics delivered from the stage most of the day. Let’s hope next year we can have positive Reggae Vibes fill the Bob Marley Day in Miami.

Your Invited ! See Steel Pulse LIVE

You and a guest are invited to be part of the audience at XM Satellite Radio's Performance Theater in Washington, DC for a performance by STEEL PULSE on Thursday, February 10, 2005.

Please email LIVE@XMRADIO.COM and put STEEL PULSE if you plan to attend. If you want to come with another person, please provide the name of that guest in your email. Space is limited, so please respond as soon as possible. Everyone will receive an "auto-response" when you email this address. We will confirm with everyone in a separate email.

Logistics
When: THURSDAY, February 10th , at 1:00 pm
Time:

Please arrive at the XM lobby by 12:15 pm for check-in. The performance will last approximately an 1 hour and 15 minutes. There is no photography, recording equipment, food or drink allowed in the studio. Please do not bring any other bags or packages with you, but please bring a valid driver's license for identification.

Location:XM's street address is:
1500 Eckington Place, Northeast
Washington, DC 20002

XM is located at the intersection of Florida and New York Avenues in Northeast, Washington, DC. There is plenty of on-street parking available in front of our building, in front of the Fedex building across the street and in the neighborhood adjoining our headquarters. One thing to note is that there are certain parking restrictions depending on the day of the week. Please read the signs.

Metro:
There is a shuttle from Union Station to XM that picks up and drops off on the west side of the station, in front of the Bureau of Labor Statistics on First Street, NE just across the street from the Metro Station entrance. The shuttle has an XM logo on its door. It departs Union Station at approximately :15 and :45 minutes past each hour. You are welcome to use this transportation. You can also take the Metro to the New York Avenue stop past Union Station and walk a block or 2 to our building.

Canceling:

If for any reason you find that you will be unable to attend the performance at any point prior, please email at live@xmradio.com as soon as possible.

Broadcast:
The session is being taped for broadcast on XM later this year. We will stay in contact to let you know when it airs. If you have any questions, please contact live@xmradio.com

Be there if you can, it's going to be an awesome show!

Ras John comments on The Grammy's for MSNBC

Check out Ras John's comments to MSNBC on the Reggae Grammy Nominations:
Ras John Comments on Reggae Grammy Nominations