Jamaican Reggae Artiste, Bob Marley: The shooting of a Wailer Los Angeles – Bob Marley, one of the world’s best-known Jamaican Reggae performers, and three other persons were shot December 3rd when seven gunmen burst onto the grounds of Marley’s home in Kingston, Jamaica, where he and his band, the Wailers, were rehearsing. Miraculously, amid a … Continue reading Bob Marley: The Shooting of a Wailer by Cameron Crowe, January 13, 1977
Tag: Music
Leroy Smart – Sugar My Coffee
Jamaican Reggae Artiste, Leroy Smart
I was introduced to Leroy Smart about 20 years ago by my then room mate Rich, aka Prime Mundo. He had a stash of really good Jamaican pressed LPs in his closet, one of them was a Leroy Smart record. He told me a story of going to see Leroy perform sometime in the 80′s with a mutual friend in West Philly. They were the only white boys in the joint, and when the lights went down, the patrons who were dressed to the nines, let the Collie flow. Now these guys were in tees and jeans, and afraid they would get caught lighting a joint in the place. Imagine? Relieved, I believe the smoked said joint and that the Leroy Smart show was one of the best Reggae shows he has seen live. If not for the atmosphere, but for Smart’s music and presence as well. Here’s something I dug up a while ago on the cheap. It’s Leroy Smart with “Sugar My Coffee” from his 1979 Lp Let Everyman Survive on G.G.’s/ Hit Records.
Related articles
- The Music of Leroy Smart Featured (highlanda.net)
I was introduced to Leroy Smart about 20 years ago by my then room mate Rich, aka Prime Mundo. He had a stash of really good Jamaican pressed LPs in his closet, one of them was a Leroy Smart record. He told me a story of going to see Leroy perform sometime in the 80’s with a mutual friend in West Philly. They were the only white boys in the joint, and when the lights went down, the patrons who were dressed to the nines, let the Collie flow. Now these guys were in tees and jeans, and afraid they would get caught lighting a joint in the place. Imagine? Relieved, I believe the smoked said joint and that the Leroy Smart show was one of the best Reggae shows he has seen live. If not for the atmosphere, but for Smart’s music and presence as well. Here’s something I…
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The greatest show on earth
The internationally acclaimed Sumfest happened last weekend, right here in lil ol’ Mobay. We had Trey ladies-keep-your-panties-on Songz and Damian sexiest-rasta-alive Marley headlining the two international nights, though I hear Shabba Ranks stole the show on Friday night. Not that I’m entirely certain who Shabba Ranks is. . .
Reggae Sumfest has origins way back before I was a twinkle in my mother’s eye when it started out as Reggae
Sunsplash, an annual festival of Jamaican music that everyone in my parents’ generation likes to bring up as their version of “back when music was actually good”. But my point is that Sumfest has been around for a while, and judging by the consistently insane crowds it draws, it will probably be around for a while longer. Which is a good thing, because I have never been to Sumfest.
It’s kind of sad, really. It happens almost literally in my backyard every year, and every year it comes, I wave, and it passes on its merry, memorable way. It’s a quintessential Jamaican, nay, Montegonian experience that I have yet to acquire. That is a travesty. At first I was too young to go to Sumfest and then as I grew older, I grew less interested in the artistes that were actually showing up. I mean, you wouldn’t catch me dead at Dancehall Night (no offense, but there’s no way I’m paying almost $8000 just to bend over and back it up). And there was this whole phase where I swore off concerts unless a rock band was involved. I’m serious; I joined the Facebook group to prove it.
So Sumfest continues to be marketed as the greatest show on earth, with that iconic symbol of a dancing Rasta (that may or may not be Robert Nesta) pushing its brand beyond local borders. It’s one in a long list of things that keep Jamaica being the leading Caribbean destination (sorry, other touristy islands) and keep Montego Bay being one seriously awesome second city. So what if I haven’t been to Sumfest once in the twenty years I’ve been alive? Maybe I’ll go the year they finally get Fall Out Boy as headliners.
Pax.
Related articles
- Sumfest, Commemorating 20-Year History (repeatingislands.com)
The internationally acclaimed Sumfest happened last weekend, right here in lil ol’ Mobay. We had Trey ladies-keep-your-panties-on Songz and Damian sexiest-rasta-alive Marley headlining the two international nights, though I hear Shabba Ranks stole the show on Friday night. Not that I’m entirely certain who Shabba Ranks is. . .
Reggae Sumfest has origins way back before I was a twinkle in my mother’s eye when it started out as Reggae Sunsplash, an annual festival of Jamaican music that everyone in my parents’ generation likes to bring up as their version of “back when music was actually good”. But my point is that Sumfest has been around for a while, and judging by the consistently insane crowds it draws, it will probably be around for a while longer. Which is a good thing, because I have never been to Sumfest.
It’s kind of sad, really. It happens almost literally in…
View original post 213 more words
The History and Influence of Jamaican Music
This is an old but interesting article from 2012 on the trajectory of Jamaican music, starting with mento and ska, then the reggae greats, and finally their influence on modern rhythms, such as dancehall, reggaeton, trip-hop, and dubstep. [It is] impossible to quantify the remarkable impact the island has had on global culture, thanks in large … Continue reading The History and Influence of Jamaican Music
Jamaican History: Jamaica National Fruit – The Ackee
National Fruit – The Ackee (Blighia sapida) “Carry me ackee go a Linstead Market, not a quattie wud sell” is a line in the popular Jamaican folk song ‘Linstead Market’. Ackee is the national fruit of Jamaica as well as a component of the national dish – ackee and codfish. Although the ackee is … Continue reading Jamaican History: Jamaica National Fruit – The Ackee
Jamaican Music: Jamaica, The Chikungunya Song and Lyrics
Leave it to Jamaicans to take a very serious situation, use their creativity and make a joke or fun of it. The Jamaica Chikungunya song is awesome. Lyrical, witty, enjoyable, groovy and fun to listen to. I promise, you will be laughing or smiling all day. Why? Because most of the things Wayne J sings … Continue reading Jamaican Music: Jamaica, The Chikungunya Song and Lyrics
Jamaican History : Jamaica Flag
The Jamaica National Flag The Jamaica National Flag was first raised on Independence Day, August 6, 1962. It signifies the birth of our nation. The Flag brings to mind memories of past achievements and gives inspiration towards further success. It is flown on many triumphant occasions, showing the pride that Jamaicans have in their … Continue reading Jamaican History : Jamaica Flag
Jamaican Reggae Music: An Ode to Bob Marley (List of all Bob Marley’s Albums)
By: Denise N. Fyffe. Copyright © 2012, Poetess Defy, Denise Fyffe The name Jamaica is synonymous with Bob Marley, and vice versa. Jamaican Reggae Music is at the stage it is today because of this man and his efforts. Even today his album's are successful and new compilations are released by the Marley family, regularly. … Continue reading Jamaican Reggae Music: An Ode to Bob Marley (List of all Bob Marley’s Albums)
Jamaican History: Jamaican Coat of Arms
The Jamaican Coat of Arms The Jamaican national motto is ‘Out of Many One People’, based on the population’s multi-racial roots. The motto is represented on the Coat of Arms, showing a male and female member of the Taino tribe standing on either side of a shield which bears a red cross with five golden … Continue reading Jamaican History: Jamaican Coat of Arms
Jamaican Music: Nomaddz – Rise above profanity
I’ve spent a chilled evening listening to these guys and am a big fan. Nomaddz are a group of former Kingston College students who started out in 2000 to take Jamaica by storm with their own brand of Dub Poetry. Described as the front runners of the new Reggae revival movement, their song ‘sort out yuh life Jamaica’ was officially used to commemorate Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of independence in 2012. Great for both chilling to and also getting your groove on, this video if them performing ‘rise above profanity’ at the Bob Marley Museum is one of my faves.
I’ve spent a chilled evening listening to these guys and am a big fan. Nomaddz are a group of former Kingston College students who started out in 2000 to take Jamaica by storm with their own brand of Dub Poetry. Described as the front runners of the new Reggae revival movement, their song ‘sort out yuh life Jamaica’ was officially used to commemorate Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of independence in 2012. Great for both chilling to and also getting your groove on, this video if them performing ‘rise above profanity’ at the Bob Marley Museum is one of my faves.
Jamaica Pen Publishers 