Twice this week, we have received sad news. On Tuesday, June 4th, we learned that Cynthia ‘Joyce’ Webber, one half of Jamaican ska group The Tonettes, later evolving into The Summertairs, The Soul Sisters, and The Webber Sisters, had passed away. Just three days later, the news arrived that Vin Morgan had also left us at the age of 75.…
Fruits Records and A-Lone Productions, two respected European record labels, share a dedicated mission to uphold the authentic spirit and values of Jamaican reggae. This shared commitment has fostered an ongoing collaboration, once again showcased in the latest release from Roots Architects: From Dub ‘Til Now. The album marks the next chapter in an ambitious project spearheaded by Swiss musician…
NEW RELEASE The Blackstones, a UK-based vocal group, has seen its fair share of transformations since its inception in 1979. The latest evolution of the quartet includes the addition of talented songstress Amanda J. Christos, rounding out the current lineup. If cover songs are your passion, their newest album, Let’s Take A Chance, is an absolute must-listen. This 23-track collection…
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A Junior Byles – Got The TipB I-Roy – Space Flight This reissue from Skank and Groove offers another glimpse in Jamaica’s golden era of music, featuring two standout tracks from Lee Perry’s pre-Black Ark period. The A-side features Junior Byles’ excellent 1971 vocal cut, Got The Tip, a song where his raw yet melodic delivery perfectly captures the soulful…
REISSUE Sugar Minott’s 1977 album Live Loving emerged as Coxsone’s response to the relentless reimagining of his iconic riddims. Widely regarded as a foundational blueprint for the dancehall albums that followed in the late ’70s and early ’80s, Live Loving showcases Minott’s smooth, confident delivery as he breathes new life into timeless Studio One riddims with fresh, original lyrics. Though…
Six months after captivating his loyal fans with the Willie Lindo-produced album Feeling Irie, Glen Washington, the veteran artist from May Pen, Clarendon, returns with yet another full-length project. Titled Just Giving Thanks, this 14-track album is produced by Tad Dawkins Jr and released under the Tad’s Record label. Infused with lots of relicked classic Jamaican riddims, the album benefits…
COVER VERSION VS ORIGINAL SONG Since the early 1960s and even prior, numerous iconic Jamaican hits were derived from popular foreign songs. The original pop and soul tracks were frequently embraced by audiences on the island, leading reggae artists to create their own renditions. Some of these artists gained fame by covering chart-topping songs, turning these adaptations into timeless classics.…
Last year when Qshan Deya performed at the Sunflower Festival in Waidhofen, Austria, he was backed by the House Of Riddim Band, a homegrown unit that has worked with reggae’s elite artistes including Mykal Rose, Luciano, Tanya Stephens, Turbulence and Jah Mason. While on stage, their tight coordination resonated with the roots-reggae singer, who is from St. Vincent And The…