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Entertainment
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| Compiled By Laura Gardner 8/30/04 | ||||
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At the last minute, Beenie Man was pulled from the line-up at MTV's prestigious Video Music Awards show, held August 29, 2004 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. Organizers were adamant about having nothing overshadow their weekend of music events in South Florida. The artist, who has been under fire from gay rights groups, has had his concerts canceled in Europe over the last few weeks after angry gay groups protested. Although he has previously defended his lyrics, earlier this month, Beenie Man issued an apology for his previous songs, including "Bad Man Chi Chi Man (Bad Man, Queer Man)." This resulted in a Jamaica Star headline, "Beenie Man Bows." Beenie Man, born Anthony Moses Davis, is on a world tour promoting his new album, "Back to Basics." Jamaican couterpart, Elephant Man, was nominated for the MTV2 Video Music Award for "Pon the River, Pon the Bank," but the winner was rock band Yellowcard for the "Ocean Avenue" video.
Caribbean countries made an impressive mark on this year's summer Olympic games in Athens, Greece. Cuba, Jamaica, The Bahamas, The Dominican Republic, and Trinidad and Tobago all went home with medals. The region ended up with 13 gold medals, 8 silver, and 15 bronze.
The most compelling story was that of Felix "Super" Sanchez, the 400 meter hurdles gold medalist competing for his parents' home country of The Dominican Republic. The 26-year old U.S.-born runner grew up in Southern California and began running for the DR in 1999. His was the first gold medal for the country and he has become a national hero. Eight of Cuba's 27 medals came from boxing, and five came from track and field. All five of Jamaica's medals came from track and field. Both Bahamanian medals came from track and field. Country Gold Silver Bronze Cuba 9 7 11 Jamaica 2 1 2 Bahamas 1 0 1 Trinidad/ 0 0 1 Tobago Reggae/Dancehall artists Assassin
and Buju Banton performed in Athens for the kick off
of the summer Olympics. They performed at the Athletes Village for the
Jamaican Olympic team. According to Donovan Germain, CEO of Penthouse/Germain
Music who manages both Assassin and Buju Banton, the Puma-sponsored show
was a benefit to the artistes. For more Caribbean Olympics news visit Afiwi.com. MUSIC INDUSTRY NEWS Wayne Wonder had a birthday on July 26th and just returned from an African tour to Tanzania and Kenya. He was also on the Red Stripe Sumfest line-up this year in Jamaica. Check out his website waynewonder.com for photos and more.
King Tide, a six piece reggae band from Sydney, Australia will soon release its self-titled debut album. The CD will feature songs "Broadway Jungle," "Undercover" and "My Boy Lollipop." Chilean reggae group Fuerza Afro Combatiente (better known as F.A.C.) will soon release their debut album. The band writes all of their own lyrics and music, and records in their home studio. To listen to one of their tracks, "Give Thanks and Praise," click here. Their own website is in the works. Stephen Souza
remixed his hit single "Treat Her Like A Lady" courtesy of Ruff
Stuff Records/Request It Again Music and RTN Management and Productions
Company.
The book Rebel Music will showcase hundreds of unpublished photos of Bob Marley, taken by Kate Simon. The new Genesis Publications limited edition book on Bob Marley contains over 400 mainly unpublished photos by the New York photographer. Rebel Music - Bob Marley and Roots Reggae is a limited edition of just 2000 copies: each book is case bound, numbered and signed by the photographer. The deluxe copies (numbers 1-350) are signed by Eric Clapton, whose cover of I Shot the Sheriff, helped make Marley a household name. With a foreward by Patti Smith, the book also includes contributions from Bruce Springsteen, Chris Blackwell, original Wailer Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett, the Wailers’ artistic director Neville Garrick and Kate Simon herself, who became a close friend of Marley in the Seventies. Rebel Music also tries to understand and reveal the many sides of the man, whom U2's Bono summed up as "Soul rebel. Rastaman. Herbsman. Natural, mystic man. Lady’s man. Family man. Rita’s man. Soccer man. Showman. Human. Jamaican!" The book, with a price tag of $435, is a collectors' item. For more information, please visit Genesis Publications. An exhibition of Kate's photographs will be on view at Govinda Gallery in Washington DC, from 3rd December 2004-8th January 2005. UPCOMING REGGAE/DANCEHALL RELEASES In Stores NowJimmy Cliff, "Black Magic"--Produced by Dave Stewart, the album features appearances by Wyclef Jean, Annie Lennox, Sting, Jools Holland, Kool and The Gang, tennis player Yannick Noah, and one of the last ever recordings by the late Joe Strummer. Mr. Vegas, "Pull
Up"--Released on Delicious Vinyl Records, "Pull Up"
features the title track, the new single "Tamale," and songs
featuring Barrington Levy, Sasha, Alozade, Hollow Point, Foxy Brown, and
more. For more information check out The Official Mr. Vegas Website at
http://www.mr-vegas.com. Moemoea, "Moemoelutionary Music"-- Moemoea, (pronounced moy-moy-ah) hails from the Big Island of Hawaii and has been developing their Moemoelutionary Music for five full years. The seven members share a diverse musical palate--think island rhythms, roots reggae, funk, soul, and world beat unleashed. This CD, released by Quiet Storm Records, has 16 tracks, group and individual photos, a tri-fold insert. Toots and the Maytals,
"True Love"--CD available on V2 Records featuring performances
by acclaimed artists: Bonnie Raitt "True Love Is Hard To Find,"
Trey Anastasio, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson "Still Is
Still Moving To Me," No Doubt "Monkey Man," and Keith Richards,
and many more produced by Richard Feldman. For more information visit
http://www.tootsandthemaytals.net/ Coming Soon
September 21--Degree, "The General." This eagerly anticipated release from dancehall don Degree features Beres Hammond, Richie Stephens, and Chico. VP Records will be orchestrating all the promotion and distribution of the CD. September 21--Dub Trio, "Exploring the Dangers of." "Exploring the Dangers of" is, by and large, the creation of a mere three instrumentalists whose aim is to record "live" dub in real-time, direct to tape with few overdubs (melodica & keyboard), if any. Dub Trio are DP Holmes (guitar/ keyboards), Stu Brooks (bass/ keyboards), and Joe Tomino (drums/ melodica). This CD is on the ROIR label. September 27--Various Arists, "Out on a Funky Trip: Funk & Soul from Randy's 1970-75." Although reggae was the dominant force in Jamaican music at the time, there was still a demand for covers of the soul, funk and disco tunes heard at dances and on the radio. But with the 1973 release of the stunning Lyn Taitt 7-inch "Stepping Up" b/w "Out On A Funky Trip," Taitt broke the mold by coming up with two compositions of his own that bear comparison with any of the American funksters of the time. Motion Records releases all of these songs, recorded at Randy's Studio in Kingston, Jamaica. Also included on the album: Jablonski's "Soul Makossa," Generation Gap covers Edwin Starr's "War," and there are also are soulful cuts from The Maytals, Tommy McCook, King Cole and Eric Frater. October 19--Peter Tosh Tribute Album EP featuring Jerry Garcia, Cypress Hill, Tippa Irie and others, in supprt of the full-length album that will be released next year. MUSIC ON THE NET Based in San Francisco, CA, KPOO has some of the best reggae radio shows in the area. Although the frequency isn't very strong, you can listen on the net! For a program schedule and to listen online, visit http://www.kpoo.com/. MAGAZINES
NET NEWS Sista Irie, out Texas launched consciousparty.com in time for Haile Selassie's birthday celebration. The site contains a message board entitled "The Lions Den," photos and exerpts from various artists, and a photo gallery. The site was designed by Evan Reiffel. EVENTS & TOURS
The 2004 Caricabela Caribbean Heritage Week happens in Los Angeles from October 8-17. Events will include a Caribbean Entrepreneur Spotlight Award night, a Mas Band presentation, a Wellness Fair, and more. For more information email nfrimagepr@aol.com. Julia, Alicia and Robert Roskind will will be returning to Jamaica to host "The Healing of the Nation: Choose Love Again School Tour" in late October. They will be working with PALS (Peace & Love in Society), a Jamaican non-profit organization devoted to encouraging peace and love in all parts of the Jamaican society, especially in the schools. The Roskind family will invite "healers" who are reggae artists such as Abijah, Luciano, Denroy Morgan, Bushman, Cherry & Little Natural, Mikey General, I'ngel Chanta, Junior Reid, Keteis, Mackie Conscious, Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, Prezident Brown, Ernie Smith, Warrior King, and others. Also many other conscious DJs and talk show hosts who have worked with them at past events will be invited, including Richie B, Elaine Wint, Antonnette Haughton, Sharon Chambers and Daniel Thompson. The Roskinds will host ten free concerts and reasonings at colleges and elementary and secondary schools throughout Kingston, mostly in the inner-city. All of their concerts are unsponsored, non-commercial and free. Midnite will be on tour through September and October. The tour will take them to selected West Coast dates, Hawaii, New York, Boston, Philly, DC, Georgia and Florida including Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando & more. To stay updated visit www.midniteband.com. Miss Tropical Paradise will be crowned October 23 in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. For more information about the pageant click here.
New York City Councilmember Yvette D. Clarke, a candidate for the 11th Congressional District seat, recently launched her campaign website - http://www.YDCforCongress.com. The site allows constituents to learn more about the Flatbush resident who represents the 40th Council District of Brooklyn. Laura Gardner is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of http://www.jahworks.org. In addition to her journalistic contributions to various online and print publications, she is a graduate student of somatic psychology, and has worked alongside the Monterey Bay Reggae Fest, San Francisco's Reggae in the Park, and other music festivals in the Northern California area. |
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MTV
VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS
THE
OLYMPICS ROUND-UP
Highlights
included track and field star Veronica Campbell who was
crowned the world's new sprint queen. In a majestic performance before
a packed stadium, Campbell, a native of Trelawny, became the second Jamaican
woman to win an Olympic gold medal when she captured the 200 meters in
the Greek capital. Swimmer George Bovell made his mark
coming in third in the 200 meter individual medley for Trinidad and Tobago.
Beat
Magazine threw a Summer Issue Launch Party at El Centro in Hollywood,
CA to introduce the all-female dancehall issue on August 10. The issue,
which features Sasha on the cover, explores women in reggae. The guest
editor, Marlon Regis, said the party was a "very well attended special
affair."
LIMITED
EDITION BOOK FEATURES UNPUBLISHED PHOTOS OF BOB MARLEY
Yvad,
"Justice"--Yvad worked on his album “Justice”
at Ruff Stuff Recording and Rehearsal Studio along with Junior “Baugh”
Ewart as the executive producer. “Justice” reveals a cry for
equality for people all over the world. His lyrics describe love in various
iterations: a woman’s love, his love and devotion for his mother,
and universal love.
September
14--Lady Saw, "Strip Tease." With the long awaited
“Strip Tease,” Lady Saw takes it back to the roots for dancehall
fans that know her harder side on tracks like “Back Shot”,
“Stab Out The Meat”, “Good Wuk”, “Hice It
Up” and “No Long Talking”. The album will feature collaborations
with Sizzla, Voice Mail and others TBA. John John (King Jammy’s),
Eric Delisser (Big Jeans) Richie D (Playhouse) and Dave Kelly (MadHouse)
have shared production duties. 
Soul
Rebel Productions introduces their new magazine: 
The
ELECTION
2004
