September Entertainment 2009

 

Banton Show up For Cancellation In Miami

September 27 - Several gay-rights groups are protesting a Halloween-night concert at a city of Miami-owned hall by Jamaican reggae star, Buju Banton.   Executive director of one of the groups, Nadine Smith says Banton's hit song sends the message that gay people's lives are cheap and that harming them is okay.   However, Buju Banton's South Florida promoter, Andrew Minott of Global Vybz Entertainment, says the singer stopped singing the controversial song years ago.   He said despite the fact that the song has been forgotten, the gay community continues to make it a big issue.   Minott said non-Jamaicans often misunderstand the lyrics of reggae performers, pointing out that lyrics with reference to murder are not literal but figurative.   Last month, concert promoters Live Nation and AEG canceled a Banton tour with stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago, Las Vegas, Dallas and Houston after the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center launched a Facebook campaign against the singer.  Gay activists tried to stop Buju from performing for two nights in Virginia but they did not succeed. 

Buju's VA Show - Round 2

September 26 - Buju @ The Norva, VA again tonight, Saturday, September 26th!!!  Ticket demand overwhelming!  Last night sold out so get your tickets for tonight now!!   Get your tickets EARLY at all Ticketmaster outlets including www.ticketmaster.com   Kelly's Backstage Tavern located at 320 Grandby Street, Norfolk, VA (behind The Norva bldg)  and at  www.thenorvatickets.com  Buju gave a fantastic performance last night at The Norva, Norfolk, VA and those who could not get in last night are ready for tonight!   There are fans who witnessed the outstanding show with Gramps Morgan and Buju Bantan and are coming back again tonight for more!!!

 

'Dem Cant Get Me Outa Di Race'  Buju Show Moves Again!

September 25 - It seems like every day in the struggle the Buju show in Virginia becomes more and more controversial.  Buju fans ask on an hourly basis "where is the show taking place?"  They are not asking 'if' but 'what time' and 'where'.  We are a determined people and no matter how many venues cancel, Buju Banton WILL perform 2 nights in Virginia.  Right now the two nights are scheduled for THE NORVA, on Friday, Sept. 25th and Saturday, Sept. 26th located at 317 Monticello Avenue, Norfolk, VA.  Initially the Richmond show was scheduled for The National (sister venue to The Norva), they caved under pressure from the gay activists.  The show was moved to The Hat Factory, they too caved under pressure from the gay activists and breached their contract with the promoter Lionheart Promotions.  It was then moved to Skateland in Richmond, and they too began to give King Walker of Lionheart Promotions a hard time about the show when they allegedly received pressure from gay activists who are fighting hard to not allow Buju to perform in Virginia.  On Thursday, September 24th, two days before the show, Skateland reneged on their agreement with Lionheart Promotions and cancelled the show.  Hence the move to Norfolk.  The gay activists are reportedly planning to protest outside of the Norva in Norfolk before the shows.  Typically, TV camera's see only their protest, so Buju fans are all ready to peacefully counter protest.   Keep checking back for more twists and turns as the Buju Banton 'Rasta Got Soul' tour continues to make history in Virginia.

 

Bob Marley said it best when he said “dem ah go tyaad fi si mi face, can’t get me outta di race”  In what has turned out to be the most controversial Reggae show ever brought to Virginia, the Buju Banton Richmond show has yet again been moved to a new location!  The Hat Factory has bowed to pressure placed on them by the gay lynch mob who have zeroed in on Buju Banton and are determined that he will not perform in Richmond, VA.  However, the gay activists have seriously underestimated the power of Jah, and the show which WILL go on has been moved  to the Richmond Skateland located at 5512 Hull Street, Richmond, VA on Saturday, September 26th.  Quote: “Up ye mighty race, accomplish what you will” – Marcus Mosiah Garvey

Antigua And Barbuda To Launch First I-Music Store

September 21 - Antigua and Barbuda prepares to join other I-music stores around the world with the launch of its first online music stores.  Named "Imuzik", the online stores create the ideal opportunity for local artistes to get their music out to the rest of the world, and for the rest of the world to get easier access to their music.  Rather than paying for an entire album, customers have been able to log on to online music stores and purchase audio files of their favorite songs. You may be more familiar with Itunes, Amazon, and other Imusic stores, but you’re now invited to familiarize yourself with www.imuzik.caribarena.com

Richmond City Council Vice President Ellen Robertson Cancels Meeting With Chief of Police and Mayor after West Indian Times Investigation

September 16 - After finding out over the weekend that councilwoman Ellen Robertson in Richmond, VA had promised to meet with the Mayor and Chief of Police to stop the upcoming Buju Banton show West Indian Times sent her the following email:

Monday, September 14th, 2009 

Good Day Councilwoman Robertson, 

My name is Lady Cham, the editor of the West Indian Times news magazine.   

I received the piece below in an email over the weekend and was astounded by the initial email to you and also your response, if it was indeed your response. 

My question today is, if this was your response did you do any research to find out if this email writer was telling the truth?  Buju Banton never has concerts which are violent in content or nature.  He is a Rastafarian whose message is one of peace.  Yes, when he was 15 years old he wrote a tune that is offensive to some people but that was many years ago and he no longer performs that song, nor is it played on the radio.  He has sold out Madison Square Gardens in New York on more than one occasion, that is the caliber of artist that Richmond is trying to stop.   

The person who wrote the email talked about a protest that could turn violent, however, Buju's fans are not violent which leads me to believe that the author was saying the gay activists against Buju would turn violent.  The author also threatened to withdraw support from the venue which is a strong arm tactic that is thugish in nature.  The entire email to you was one of a lynch mob mentality which is spiraling out of control.   

Buju is coming to Virginia to promote an album called 'Rasta Got Soul', it is a beautiful album with not one negative lyric.  Have you heard the album?  Have you contacted Buju Banton or his company Gargamel Music Inc.?  The promoter, Lionheart Promotions, has shows in Richmond which brings in revenue for the city, did anyone speak to them or give them an ear? 

As a councilwoman for the entire city, I feel that your constituents would be served best by you reviewing all of the facts and not just making decisions based on one groups arguments.  The concert has been cancelled at the National due to the pressure placed on the venue, not because the venue owners believe Buju is a bad person.  This is not good for Richmond.

I await your prompt response, 

Sincerely, 

Lady Cham, West Indian Times

After the correspondence to councilwoman Robertson the following was printed in Richmond's Style Weekly;

City Council Vice President Ellen Robertson says she won’t be meeting with the mayor and police chief about stopping the show. Her liaison, John Westbrook, told Style Weekly in a written statement that “Robertson has been advised by the City Attorney that the City has no jurisdiction over the National Theatre.”

It is all well and good for councilwoman Robertson to back away from the situation, however, the damage has already been done to the promoter, the venue, the artist and the fans.  Councilwoman Robertson needs to respond to West Indian Times, just as she responded to the gay activist and let us know why she did not investigate the facts before rushing to judgment which spiraled a chain of events which culminated in the removal of the show from The National to a new venue.

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Jamaican Playwright, Screenwriter Producer And Actor Trevor Rhone Is Dead.
 

Tuesday, September 15 - Mr. Rhone died of a heart attack on Tuesday afternoon.  He was 69.  Trevor Rhone's sudden passing has stunned the theatre fraternity, including friend, fellow thespian and media personality, Fae Ellington.  "We've been sent into shock. As far as I know Trevor had not been ill so discovering he has passed has took the wind from out of me. But I would like to celebrate Trevor Rhone's life and his contribution to literature, theatre, poetry as a playwright, as a director as a producer," Ms. Ellington said.  Trevor Rhone began his theatre career as a teacher after a three year stint at Rose Bruford College, an English drama school.  He was part of the renaissance of Jamaican theater in the early 1970's.  Rhone participated in a group called Theatre '77, which established The Barn, a small theatre in Kingston, to stage local performances.   Perhaps his most popular works throughout the Caribbean were 'Smile Orange' and 'Old Story Time'.   Smile Orange went on to become a film directed by the enigmatic playwright.   He also earned acclaim for his screen writing skills with 'The Harder They Come, the 1972 cult classic show-casing the life of a Jamaican gunman, which was instrumental in popularizing reggae in the US.  He also wrote the script for the 2003 romance One Love, starring Kymani Marley.  His most recent project, was 'Bellas Gate Boy', an autobiography.  "He did his one man show chronicling his life from Bellas Gate, St. Catherine through to Kingston, through to England and back to Jamaica and the challenges he met along the way and how he overcame them," she said.    'Bellas Gate Bwoy' recently earned the Actor Boy Award for 'Best New Play'.  Rhone was also honored by the local theatre industry for his outstanding contribution to Jamaican theatre.   In July 2007, Trevor Rhone having written and directed countless plays including the National Pantomime, was awarded 3rd place in the top 100 all time black screen icons in the past 100 years.
 

Yokohama Reggae Sai - Festival 2009 Sell Off

Review & Photos by Ra-Umi Alkebu-lan

September 14 - Good Performances from Half Pint, Barrington Levy and Daville - Mighty Crown rule the East.  The Yokohama Reggae Sai - Festival was a tremendous success. The Reggae and Dancehall musical

 extravaganza celebration is in its fifteen year. The event was held on Saturday, September 5, 2009 at the Yokohama Stadium in Yokohama, Japan. With over 35,000 Reggae and Dancehall enthusiast, it showed that the genre of Reggae and Dancehall continue to be the music of choice for the Japanese.

Half Pint with a fan

Surprise special guest Half Pint, backed by the Home Grown Band sang his hits “Level The Vibes,” “Winsome,” “Crazy Girl,” “One Big Family,” “Land Lord” and closed with “Greetings”, to the appreciative audience.

Barrington Levy with Detour Posse Band delivered from his musical arsenal “Too Experienced,” “Black Roses,” “Teach the Youths,” “Living Dangerously” among others. The Japs went crazy.

Daville shown with Pushim

Daville, a hit among the Japanese, performed with the Japanese group Fire Ball. He had the audience in frenzy as he belted out hits like “Always on My Mind,” “Missing U” and “Ichiban”.

The Far East rulers Mighty Crown devastated Yokohama with their selection of Reggae and Dancehall songs and dubs. Simon the front man, who spoke in the Jamaican and Japanese Languages, ignited the audience with his clever dancehall chat while Sammy T mesmerized the

audience with his Forty-Five selections such as Bob Marley’s One Love and Iron Lion and dub by Beenie Man and Iver George’s Reggae/Soca combination which brought the house down.  Japanese artistes Pushim and Fire Ball also gave outstanding performances.

Nasukko Kyukamba-Junko and Chacha Dancers

Half Pint shown with fans

The 2009 Yokohama Reggae Sai – Festival was an ‘A’ class production and organization which ended with Fire Works.

 

 

 

Full-Figure Reality TV Series For Jamaica

September 13 - In Jamaica, Pulse's 2009 Caribbean Model Search (CMS) event made history recently when it named 24-year-old UWI student, Tka Briscoe, its first ever Full Figure Fashion model winner before a crowd of hundreds at the Hilton, Kingston.  The inaugural competition generated extensive interest from plus-sized potentials across the Caribbean as well as the general public. Even now that the contest has passed, several other full-figured beauties have contacted Pulse in search of a shot at stardom.  In response to this strong interest, Pulse has announced the Caribbean's first ever CMS Full Figure Reality TV Series. Every Wednesday at Pulse, there will be an open call for plus-sized models to sign up for the company's newest addition to its television titles.  Following the same formula as the original and addictive Caribbean Model Search local and international reality series, semi-finalists will be videotaped as they compete against each other for top honors via a series of challenges. The modeling agency is inviting members of the public who are full-figured beauties and who, at some time or another, have dreamt of rocking the runway to enter. They are seeking young women between the ages of 18 and 35 who are also vibrant and fashionable to audition for this reality TV model competition. Auditions start on Wednesday, September 16th.  Interested ladies are being asked to arrive prepared with fitted jeans, shorts, tank tops and high heels. Auditions begin at 4:15 pm sharp at the Pulse complex, 38A Trafalgar Road, Kingston. Persons may also call the Pulse hotline at 876-960-0049 for additional details. Finalists will be judged on "look", personality and poise.  Set to showcase the beauty and confidence of full-figured women, while empowering them through the promotion and advocacy of positive body imagery and self-confidence, contestants will need to prove week after week that they have what it takes to become the Caribbean's premier fashion 'heavyweight'.

Buju Banton Has A Positive Message And Will Not Be Silenced

By Lady Cham for West Indian Times

September 12 - King Walker of Lionheart Promotions will bring the highly anticipated Buju Banton 'Rasta Got Soul' tour to Virginia at 'The Norva' in Norfolk, VA on Friday, September 25th, 2009.  Fans of Buju Banton in Virginia are not in the least bit swayed by certain gay lobby organizations who constantly target the four-time Grammy nominated Reggae artist and inaccurately portray him in a negative light.  The world knows of Buju Banton's song 'Boom Bye Bye' but most do not know that it was written when he was only 15 years old and it is not widely known that it was written in response to a highly publicized case in Jamaica where a man raped a boy.  The Buju Banton that has evolved since then no longer performs the track and does not advocate violence toward anyone.   Virginia awaits his extensive catalog of hits which include 'Til Shiloh', 'African Pride', 'Not An Easy Road', 'Magic City' and the latest hits from his new Roots, Reggae album Rasta Got Soul. The last time West Indian Times spoke to Buju Banton he said "Every day I go out I have to display the greatness of my Island, the greatness of my culture.  People who have doubts about what Buju Banton is all about just know that what is always on the forefront of I mind is to make Jamaica go further, if the people don't even love I but they love the music of Jamaica, that's OK."  This is the Buju we must focus on today, an artist who brings a positive, uplifting message to everyone.  Gay lobbyists constantly scream that they do not receive equal rights and are victimized, it is unfortunate for all that they beg for people to change but do not believe that people can change. 

Club Lido In Norfolk Virginia Bringing Back Sweet Dancehall Vibes On Saturday Night

September 12 - West Indian Times checked out Club Lido located at 839 E. Little Creek Road on Saturday, September 5th and were surprised to find that it had the look of some of the upscale clubs found in New York.

 We were greeted by Cary Lazarus of the Lazarus Foundation http://www.lazarusfoundation.com/ and we found Lido's to be spacious and clean with glass mirrors all around which created an illusion of it being bigger than it actually is and best of all it had a mature crowd.  Saturday was Reggae night, however, the DJ's Dutch B, Terror C and Black Money creatively satisfied the mixed American and Caribbean crowd by infusing tracks from Reggae artists who have blended Reggae with Hip-Hop/R&B such as Sizzla, Buju and Beenie Man as well as playing Michael Jackson, Bob Marley, Mavado and a host of other crowd pleasing artists from both genres.  If you are looking to party in a mature, Caribbean atmosphere, Club Lido will not disappoint. 

 

STEELE’S  NEW CD “THE MAN, THE MUSIC,” SET FOR LATE SEPTEMBER RELEASE

September 12 - Recently back from his Stella performance at New York ’s premier reggae festival, Irie Jamboree, Steele is now set, focused, and ready to release his third full length solo project.   The new CD entitled “The Man, The Music” will offer 17 blazing tracks from the reggae sensation. The song listing will include some of Steele’s huge hits, while fans can expect a barrage of new gripping material.  Steele has been very consistent with his deliverance of good music; therefore, no less should be expected from the artist. It is safe to say that this will be another must have CD.  “Once again I’m honored to be apart of the humongous development of reggae in Canada .  I’m bless to be enjoying the growth that my music has had over the years. It continues to spread to all parts of the world, and I still call Canada my home. I’ve been humbled by the support and love from my fans and the media.  I’ll say this again, without you, Steele is nothing”.   Steele covers a variety of topics on the CD, from his smooth lovers rock, to his conscious elements, mixed with his mind-blowing deliverance of the blues. The Man, The Music offers something for everyone.  The CD is set for late September/ early October 2009 release.

Danglin Radiates Sensuality In His Music

New Single 'Excuse Me Miss' Creating A Buzz

September 7 - The talented, deliciously sexy, cute, dreamy eye singer, Danglin, has the uncanny ability to make the ladies squirm in their seats just listening to his smooth vocals and beautiful lyrics all wrapped in an alluring package.   The singer, who is about to launch his music career with a serious campaign, has been giving the world a sultry tease of what is to come, with select performances of some carefully crafted singles.  Radiating sensuality in his music and performance, the world got its first taste of the singer in 2007 with the single Get A Break. Danglin followed that up with Heavenly Father, Precious and Baby Madda Calling, over the summer dropping the soon-to-be chart topper Excuse Me Miss.  Produced by Bobby Digital, Excuse Me Miss is a ragamuffin love song telling a story about a man trying to approach and court a woman, but she keeps getting away from him despite his many attempts, Danglin relates.  Excuse Me Miss employs all live instruments by the genius Bobby Digital himself. This key ingredient, Danglin admits, helped to inspire the fun lyrics of this his fifth single creating quite a buzz. The infectious, fun like vibes of Excuse Me Miss relates to every man who holds a bachelors degree in courting.  Described as having a global appeal, Dwayne 'Danglin' Anglin likes to think of himself as a combination of rare musical gifts wrapped in one explosive package. For his ladies, he is all about aiming to please.  Danglins vocal skills and performance pivots the smooth crooner to blaze any stage. Additionally, he is a brilliant and masterful songwriter/producer, penning over 150 songs. With a strong deep-rooted base in reggae music, his passionate love for soul/R&B and Jazz, Danglin says he knows no boundaries and whips up a wicked fusion of the genres.  I did R&B and hip hop but I am honing my skills to master reggae music, said the self-motivated recording artiste.  Determined to achieve this mastery, Danglin brags of another hit on the way entitled Your Love featuring soul and fiery reggae mumma Queen Ifrica.  Aside from having a voice that lulls the ladies and beckons them to his open arms, Danglin is admired for his muscular physique honed from his years in the US Navy and maintained by a disciplined gym routine.  With a shy, humble, yet confident demeanor, Danglin cant escape the fact that he has the perfect package for the ladies and they do show their appreciation of the rare treat of experiencing an artiste who knows how to take them away to another world.  But his talent isn't limited to lovers rock; he dabbles occasionally in the dancehall world, evident by his Baby Madda Calling single on the Tarpaulin rhythm.  Every song I sing has a topic. Topic is very important. I believe that if the music doesn't make any sense it shouldn't make any dollars. But at the end of the day, my music is created to uplift and inspire, Danglin states.  Similar to his father, Danglin enjoys a lot of Alton Ellis, Bob Marley, Johnny Mathias and Nat King Cole, among other legends. Sunday was music day at home in Guys Hill, St. Catherine, Jamaica in my early days, but one could feel the rhythm at home seven days a week, Danglin recalled.  At age fifteen, the Leo, born August 22, migrated with his family to New Jersey, USA where he finished high school and joined the US Navy, taking on overseas assignments in Japan, Hong Kong, Korea and Australia. Ironically, he penned his first songs while laboring in the trash room of a battle ship in Japan, where he lived for four years and that's where his musical career began in 2002 along with his strict discipline which led to an authoritative approach to his life and career, yet with an easy, laid-back style. Not one to believe in hitting the stage without a meaningful catalogue, Danglin spends quality time penning more beautiful songs as he prepares to complete his debut album by 2010.  His rare moments on the stage has witnessed the singer thrilling the massive at the 5th Annual EME Awards earlier this year, Culture Yards 64th Annual Bob Marley Birthday, performances in Japan, all across the USA and is often seen performing at charity events as well as appearing on events attributed to youth development at schools across Jamaica, including Frome Technical High School, Shortwood Teacher's College and Jew Pen Basic School.  Jamaica, Japan and the United States account for a solid fan base the singer.  Currently his hit singles Heavenly Father and Excuse Me Miss (both supported by a music video) are rapidly gaining momentum on radio airways, and via music video channels. Danglin explains that his motivation for writing comes from life experiences. For instance, the inspiring Heavenly Father (a personal favorite for the singer), addresses the brutally frank and honest portrayal of inner city realities, looking at the burning issue of parental neglect and sung as a prayer. Danglin is very much aware of the tribulations that come with being a developing artiste, but he sees each hurdle as a toughening ritual. He encourages his fans to stay positive, and put God first. Look out world!! Danglin is about to sweep you off your feet.

Icientcy the Ancient One

September 7 - It all got started when Ms. Eliza Miss Shirley Temple from Clarendon and his father Edmond Painter Williams from St. Elizabeth met while they were looking for work in Kingston. In the midst of a beautiful and a fruitful relationship came three sons, Junior Desmond Williams was the second son for the couple.Young Junior started out in music while in high school. He was known then as Junior Ranking and was part of the duo Junior Ranking and Papa Finnigan. These two young school youth emerged with lyrics, energy, swagger and showmanship. Their first album Two The Hardway created a worldwide buzz. Their follow-up album Easy We Easy propelled them to perform to packed houses in Jamaica and overseas. With the direction of dancehall heading in a more derogatory direction, Junior Ranking wanted to no longer be a part of the demise and undermining of the nations youth. He parted company with Papa Finnigan, ending a musical relationship that lasted many years.  Icientcy was a name that was given to Junior Desmond Williams from his childhood days by elders in the inner city communities, meaning Ancient One. While attending Excelsior High School he read about the Mau Mau Movement that was Kenyas militant resistance against the British Colonial rule that began in 1946 and ended in 1961, with many Mau Mau Warriors losing their lives. Icientcys connection to their plight made him realize he would someday draw upon their strength and inspiration, putting it in his music. Thus the birth of his backing band, IcientcyMau & the MAU Mau Warriors.  After developing the Mau Mau sound, Icientcy now set out to assemble the Mau Mau Warriors. Jermaine Gadget Reid (rhythm guitar, vocalist) grew up in Incientcys hands musically. Jermaine introduced Icientcy to Jermaine Songo Wilson, a drummer that was attending the Edna Manley School of the Performing Arts. Songo introduced both his cousins, Damion Benjamin bass guitar player and Jefffery Graham who plays keyboards.  Ricardo St. Patrick Lawrence, a long time friend of Icientcy, joined the Warriors as the percussionist. Icientcy met Nina Karl, a vocalist, many years ago and encouraged her to sing because he heard that she had talent and knew that one day he would need her signature sound to accompany the Warriors.  At the first rehearsal Icientcy knew he had created the Mau Mau Warriors of this time musically and spiritually.  Icientcy is a prolific artiste that will leave you pondering after hearing the lyrics to his songs. Icientcy is set to become one of Jamaica's Reggae Ambassadors, born and raised in the outermost parts of Jamaica's ghettos, namely Trench Town and Central Village in Spanish Town, Icientcy developed his skills using his everyday struggles and the strong influences from some of Jamaica's greatest ambassadors. Trench Town being the catalysts for reggae music, Icientcy has inherited that unique sound founded by his predecessors. His debut album When Words Come To Life has a roots rock sound, mixed with a combination of strong vocals over the melody drum and bass. It is the true ghetto experience all blended in harmony. The first two singles off the album Work To Do and Caan Follow None A Dem pack a solid one two punch that will have the world wanting more. Work To Do spent 33 weeks on the Bess FM culture charts and spent eight weeks at number one in Jamaica. The video is as the lyrical content to the song. Icientcys performance in the video is energizing and makes us realize that we all have Work To Do. Caan Follow None A Dem is currently getting good rotations on radio and is considered an inspirational prayer for many of Icientcys fans.Everyone can relate to Struggle and Nothing Is For Free, as they pertain to our day-to-day lives. We Are From Trench Town will have everyone claiming that they too are from Trench Town. When Words Come To Life is the title song from the album that will let everyone know that the words we choose bring the reality we all live. Icientcy Mau and the Mau Mau Warriors are destined to ignite, organize, mobilize and centralize the next great era in reggae music.

Guyana Lifts Ban On Jamaican Artist Mavado

September 6 - Guyana has lifted a ban on Jamaican dancehall artist David Brooks popularly known as Mavado and will allow him to perform there mid September.   Presidential Adviser Odigna Lumumba says the singer had been barred for a year and a half because of lyrics promoting gang violence and anti-gay sentiments.  Jamaican cultural officials reportedly lobbied for the ban to be lifted last month when Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo visited the island.  Mr. Lumumba declined to comment on the reason for the reversal but said Mavado can perform in Guyana as scheduled on September 18 and 19.  

                                                   
Dancehall Pioneer Steely Dead

September 1 - Wycliffe Johnson, popularly known as Steely of the dancehall reggae production duo, Steely and Clevie, has died.  It is reported that Steely died on the morning of Tuesday, September 1st in a New York Hospital from complications following a heart attack.  West Indian Times had reported on Sunday, August 29th that Steely was critically ill in hospital.  Steely and Clevie have worked with artistes such as The Specials, Gregory Peck, Bounty Killer, Elephant Man, Sean Paul and No Doubt.   Steely debuted as a keyboardist with Sugar Minott's Youth Promotion collective in the 1970s.  Steely and Clevie first played together at Lee "Scratch" Perry's Black Ark Studios during the late 1970s.  In 1986, the duo was the house band at King Jammy's Studio, which became the centre point of late-1980s reggae, by which time Steely & Clevie were established production leaders with an immense slew of 12-inch and dub singles.  The duo formed the Steely & Clevie label in 1987. 

West Indian Times sends condolences to the family and friends of one of dancehall's most outstanding producers. 
 

Bunny Wailer's Daughter Cen-C Love Expecting First Child

September 1 - Cen-C Love, daughter of the only living Wailer, legendary Bunny Wailer, is expecting her first child and her father is reported to be very happy.  Cen-C Love says she will still continue to write but will keep stage performances to a minimum.  She says the father of her baby is into music and writes songs.