Reggae Music on the Rise in Uganda

Reggae was developed as a voice of the downtrodden, it is also the music of the Rastafarian movement usually in praise of Jah (who is the supreme being among the Rastafarians), but current trends have proved otherwise. Reggae is now a music genre like any other and it's the hottest kind of music appreciated by all outgoing Ugandans.
you thought that the 1998 Lucky Dube show that sold out in Namboole Stadium was the best thing that ever happened on Uganda's reggae scene, then you should visit one of the popular clubs in town. You will find crowds swaying to the buzz of the soft Caribbean coconut beats. It is the sound of reggae music, swaying the Ugandan souls.

Beenie Man - King of the Dancehall

Beenie (the name means "little" in Jamaican patwah) was only five when he first toddled onstage to grab the microphone at a sound system dance thrown by his uncle's Master Blaster set. Only three years later, he recorded his single debut, "Too Fancy," for the late
legendary reggae producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes. He had been born Moses Davis, the son and grandson of seminal Rastafarian patriarchs, and raised to know first-hand the trials of life in a tropical ghetto. Yet Craig Town, a notorious Kingston district, also teemed with talent and even opportunity. "I was brought up amongst pure musicians
- Black Uhuru, Duckie Simpson," says Beenie. "From little youth days, way-back-when days, I talk and sing." Beenie
Man boasts an astounding 60-plus number one singles,
scores of hit albums - and who knows how many of the
platinum standard stage shows that crowned him long
ago as reggae dancehall's undisputed King.

Reggae/Art

BOB MARLEY looms large at the National Gallery in
downtown Kingston. An exhibition of his life and work
is currently on display and will continue until November 5.
The intention is to pay homage to Bob the internationally
acclaimed musical genius in the year that he would
have celebrated his 60th birthday.

Oakland Reggae Fest to celebrate Marley

Thirty years ago Bob Marley and the Wailers
brought their songs of freedom, rebellion and
oppression to Oakland's Paramount Theatre.
And although Marley died of brain cancer in 1981,
his music and his legacy will be celebrated
this weekend at the Oakland Reggae Fest.

Old-School Reggae Legend, Steel Pulse: Going Strong

Acclaimed as the greatest British reggae band when it emerged in 1978,
Steel Pulse is perhaps the last great old-school reggae band left.
Two of its best recordings have been recently released.
The band's former road manager, music critic Tom Terrell,
reflects on the group's early days.

" 'Our Music': New Reggae from Burning Spear"

"If Bob Marley is the "King of Reggae," then next in that royal lineage is Winston Rodney -- known internationally as Burning Spear. Marley and Rodney met as young musicians in the late 1960s, and Marley encouraged Rodney to head to a studio and tape some songs. For Rodney and the reggae genre, it was good advice. Walter Rodney named his band Burning Spear, and he eventually took the name himself.And after 35 years of Grammy-winning music, Rodney's fire isn't going out anytime soon -- his new CD, Our Music, features the same bright, organic sound that made him famous."

Garnett Silk

One of the most exciting young talents to arise out of the '80s dancehall scene, Garnett Silk began his career as a child toaster, but ended it as one of Jamaica's most astonishing singers; with a rich and emotive voice, he took the nation by storm. He seemed destined for international stardom, when his career was cut cruelly short by his death in 1994.

BUSHMAN>>>"SIGNS" OF GREAT THINGS

Born Dwight Duncan, in the lush picturesque hill top village of
Spring Garden, St. Thomas, Jamaica. He was raised as a Rasta
since the tender age of two. Dwight attended the Lysson All Age School,
where his music teacher noticed his potential for music and
nurtured him in his developing stages. Dwight then went on to
Yallas High School where he continued to shine musically as a
member of the school choir, a member of the Yallas drum core,
playing the bass organ, also participating in numerous school concerts.
He was also a member of the New Testament Church of God Choir,
where he earned the name Ark Angel.

South Florida celebrates reggae master Peter Tosh

Reggae master Peter Tosh was gunned down in Jamaica 18 years ago,
but his music lives in the hearts of fans throughout the world.
South Florida's Rastafarian community will celebrate
what would have been Tosh's 61st birthday today,
the actual birthday, and Thursday with a free lecture
series entitled "Get Up, Stand Up for Your Rights."

Free the Cure

Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica but raised in Kingston Town, golden voiced singer Jah Cure (real name Siccature Alcock) became involved with reggae music as a teenager, rapidly rose to fame in the late '90s only to have his meteoric climb to the top halted by a jail sentence. In 1997 and only 18 years old, Jah Cure released the culturally minded single "King In This Jungle", a duet with Sizzla and produced by Beres Hammond. The single was a pivotal moment for Cure for a couple reasons. Hammond would become the singer's biggest champion while Sizzla was to introduce Cure to the world of the Bobo Dread, a sect of Rastafari that usually lives communally, strives to point out social injustice, and has experienced numerous shakedowns by the Jamaican police. A steady stream of singles - most produced by Hammond - had more and more Jamaicans singing the praises of this new singer, but it all came to a halt in November of 1998. While driving around Montego Bay with some friends, police pulled Cure over in front of Jimmy Buffet's club Margaritaville. Cure claims he was asked if he was in the area the week before when a woman had been raped. He told the police he wasn't but was held until the woman could come identify him. Cure claims the woman asked the police "is this him?" then walked out of earshot to talk with the police. Cure was then arrested, prosecuted in April the next year, and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Since the arrest, Cure has been firm that he is innocent. Cure claims the arresting officer and the accuser's mother were in a relationship, that Hammond asked the police to see him but was given the wrong prison name intentionally, and the lawyer Cure was given by the courts was useless, so bad the singer had to wake him on trial day by throwing rocks at the lawyer's bedroom window.
While Cure was serving his sentence, a groundswell of support amongst reggae fans was getting bigger and bigger, raising the singer's status to folk hero. Compilations like Free Jah Cure and Ghetto Life kept the singer on the charts and his fame spread to Trinidad and France. Cure switched from Bobo to Rasta and was transferred from the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre to the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre, which had a digital recording studio the inmates could use. It was there Cure recorded some new tracks, which would appear next to his old hits on Freedom Blues, released by the VP label in 2005. The singer is eligible for parole in 2007. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide

Biggest Reggae One Drop Anthems a must-have collection

RECORD RACK
Greensleeves Records' Biggest Reggae One Drop Anthems a must-have collection
Greensleeves Records will on October 25 release what is considered to be the authoritative one-drop compilation of 2005. The compilation is the annual Biggest Reggae One Drop Anthems double CD package. The 40-track set includes reggae one-drop of hits over the past year, most of which fared well on the local and overseas reggae charts.
Inner Circle releases the One Day rhythm
Also available from All Access is the One Day rhythm on the Sound Bwoy/Inner Circle label. Featured are the songs One Day by Inner Circle, Praise Jahova by Land Lord, No Matter How by Fantan Mojah, Cold -looded Murderer by Ninja Ford, No Order A Yard by Chuck Fenda, It's So Good by Skatta, Straight Up by Junior Jazz, Love Is by Kirk Davis, Ruff Times by Kananga, Jah Jah by Alkatraz and Lose Your Soul by Shada.

REGGAE UPDATES FROM JAMAICA

"Sean Paul sets a new record for reggae artistes with first week sales of The Trinity
Following on the heels of Damian Junior Gong Marley’s spectacular debut at number seven on the Billboard 200 album chart three weeks ago with his Welcome to Jamrock album, Sean Paul’s latest disc The Trinity has also landed in the same position.
The Trinity stormed in at number seven with first week sales of over 107,000 copies, making it the biggest one week sales burst for any Jamaican reggae artiste on the Billboard 200. Welcome to Jamrock held the record three weeks ago, when it sold over 86,000 copies in its first week of release. Sean Paul is the fourth Jamaican reggae act to score a top 10 album on the Billboard 200. In 2001 Shaggy went to number one with Hot Shot, while the late reggae icon Bob Marley, peaked at number eight in 1976 with Rasta man Vibration."

http://eurweb.com/story.cfm?id=22883

Richie Spice

Back in 1995 an unknown singer named Richie Spice hit the Jamaican charts with the funky reggae tune "Living Ain't Easy." Over the next few years his lover's rock ditty "Grooving My Girl" and the spirited keyboard-and-bass-driven "Earth A Run Red," which emphasized the plight of suffering ghetto youths, also became hits. With the release of his 2000 album Universal on Heartbeat Records, Spice was regarded as an extremely promising artist, although not as highly rated as iconic neoroots crooners Luciano and the late Garnet Silk.
Then earlier this year, in a rare instance of a reincarnated song enjoying greater popularity in its second life, "Earth A Run Red" began a steady climb to the top of the Jamaican charts, despite having been relegated to selectors' oldies juggling sessions only a few years earlier. Its seismic impact on the European and American reggae scenes has transformed the 33-year-old Spice into a hot commodity once again.

http://music.miaminewtimes.com/Issues/2004-11-18/music/music2.html

Turbulence

Currently, the entertainment industry has been experiencing "Turbulence" in the airwaves.
Sheldon 'Turbulence' Campbell was born in 1981 in Kingston, Jamaica. The 24-year-old is taking the Reggae world like a storm, becoming Jamaica's leading conscious singjay in his time.
His affection for the music began while attending St. Andrew Technical High School in Kingston. Turbulence would beat desks at school like many other young entertainers, displaying his talent among his classmates. His talent was acknowledged and encouraged by his peers.

http://www.golocaljamaica.com/entertainment/artisiteprofiles/turbulence.htm