EN
Translate:
EN
Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
EN
Translate:
EN
Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Redemption Songβ: The Story Behind Bob Marleyβs Timeless Anthem
Something of a last testament from reggae legend Bob Marley, βRedemption Songβ continues to spread its message of emancipation far and wide.
Published on
October 1, 2025
By
Ian McCann
Photo: Charlie Steiner - Hwy 67 Revisited/Getty ImagesPlay Bob Marley on Amazon Music Unlimited (ad)
βRedemption Songβ: it seems everyone who is into music knows this song. It is Bob Marleyβs anthem of anthems, a testament passed to us at the end of his life to remind us how we had arrived where we were, just what we would be missing when its singer was no longer around, and to help us carry on in his absence. If that sounds like an exaggeration, search online: there are countless thousands who use Bob Marleyβs music to keep them keeping on through the demands of a harsh and difficult life.

The idea that songs can bring redemption has echoed down the centuries. The wretch that was saved in βAmazing Graceβ was rescued from Hell by a song β βhow sweet the sound.β The appalling crime heβd committed was the same crime that afflicted Bob Marley in his βRedemption Songβ: the writer of βAmazing Graceβ was a slaver; Bob Marley was a descendant of slaves. Marleyβs songs set him free, made him somebody β though he was well aware of the mental slavery that can still exist even when you are said to be free.
While βRedemption Song,β in which Marley accompanies himself alone on an acoustic guitar, is often regarded as an exception in the singerβs canon, it is not an aberration. Bob, like most musicians of his generation, was influenced by the folk boom of the early 60s. He was aware of Bob Dylan, and his group, The Wailers, adapted βLike A Rolling Stoneβ for their own βRolling Stone.β For poor Jamaicans, the ownership of an acoustic guitar β be it battered, or a home-made βcigar boxβ instrument β was as much as they could aspire to when it came to musical expression. Marley wrote songs on an acoustic guitar, so every so often a record in a gentler style would emerge from The Wailersβ camp. It was only when he signed to Island in 1973 and could afford to run a permanent electric band that this aspect of his music was largely set aside.
ADVERTISEMENT
As for βRedemption Songββs lyrics, they, too, followed a familiar pattern, and their theme was by no means a detour from the reggae norm. Marley had connections with artists from Jamaica and the US who wrote songs touching on similar concepts. Bob Andy, with whom Marley had recorded at Studio One in the 60s, touched on the concept of mental slavery in his brilliant 1977 song βGhetto Stays In the Mindβ: once youβve been through a long struggle, it never leaves you. James Brown, the soul man who was a strong influence on Bob Marley in the 60s, spoke of βa revolution of the mindβ in an album title and on the final verse of the 1972 anti-drug single βKing Heroin,β which depicted addiction as a form of slavery. Toots & The Maytals, whose career paralleled that of Bob Marley & The Wailers, without the major breakthrough that Bob pulled off, released the moving but upbeat βRedemption Songβ in 1973, calling for release and seeking the words that might please God. And Bobβs anthem quotes from Marcus Garvey, specifically the words βEmancipate yourself from mental slaveryβ¦ none but ourselves can free our minds,β which are drawn from a 1937 speech made by the black nationalist and Pan-African philosopher and activist, who was born in Jamaica. Bobβs labelmate at Island records, Burning Spear, drew great strength and inspiration from Garveyite teachings β and Spear is an admirer of Bob Marleyβs music. In 1978, Bob himself released a single in Jamaica that covered some of the same issues, βBlackman Redemption.β So, far from being an exception, βRedemption Songβ was right at the heart of Jamaican music and its influences, even though its rhythmic content differed from most reggae.
Blackman Redemption (1983) - Bob Marley & The Wailers
Click to load video
βRedemption Songβ was a serious composition because Bob knew his time on Earth was severely limited when he wrote it. In the summer of 1977, Bob had been diagnosed with a malignant melanoma under a toenail. He had decided not to have the toe amputated, as doctors had suggested. Bob carried on touring, writing, and recording, but within two years he was ailing, appearing gaunt compared to the buoyant star of the mid-70s. Death was on his mind; his wife, Rita, has said he was in severe pain and had been writing material that βdealt with his own mortalityβ¦ particularly in this song.β
The first recordings of βRedemption Songβ feature The Wailers on backing; Bob cut at least 15 versions with his loyal group in 1980. There was also an acoustic take, and several cuts with amended lyrics for use by reggae sound systems, as is usual in Jamaican music. Some of these versions were quite upbeat, utilizing what is almost a ska beat.
It was the man who had signed Bob to Island, the companyβs boss and founder, Chris Blackwell, who suggested that an acoustic version might have more impact. Bob agreed β and they were right; this song didnβt need embellishment. So it was that an acoustic version of βRedemption Songβ became the final track of Uprising, the final Bob Marley & The Wailersβ album released during the singerβs lifetime. A last testament, if you choose to see it that way.
The song took in Marleyβs own feelings about his onrushing sad demise, slavery, and its impact on the minds of its descendants, religion and destiny (βWeβve got to fulfill the bookβ), but did not forget to address his fans. Fear not, the song said. Your existence is not defined by the world powers, by destructiveness, by evil; your purpose is not dictated to by the mighty, but by the Almighty. Your heroes may die, you may be oppressed, you may feel you canβt prevent the wrong things happening, but the universe is bigger than that. Join this song. You have the power to free your mind and soul. You can be redeemed.
Immediately striking in the context of the album, βRedemption Songββs haunting qualities meant its message spread. Cancer claimed Marleyβs body in May 1981, 11 months after the release of Uprising. He was just 36. But Marleyβs records and image continued to do his lifeβs work, and βRedemption Songβ is now regarded as an anthem of emancipation, up there with the best and most vital records with a message β and, remarkably, it did this without haranguing the listener. A terminally sick man who had grown up in abject poverty delivered a vital message in the most gentle way, and it still reverberates around the world.
Other versions emerged, among them some of the cuts recorded with The Wailers, and many live takes, the most touching of which was recorded at Marleyβs final gig, in Pittsburgh, on September 23, 1980. Two days earlier, he had collapsed while jogging in New York City; already seriously ill, the Pittsburgh recording found Bob introducing his masterpiece as βthis little song.β Conga drums join him, just as they had in the days of the original Wailers β bass drum playing double-time like a heartbeat, like the Rasta drummers who had been at the spiritual core of his music since the mid-60s. This was a performance more than brave; it was timeless and inspirational.
Redemption Song (Live At The Stanley Theatre, 9/23/1980)
Click to load video
βRedemption Songβ has been heard in Hollywood movies. It has been covered by Joe Strummer; Stevie Wonder, who was both Bobβs fan and hero; Ian Brown; girl group Eternal; Madonna; Alicia Keys; and John Legend to mark the death of Nelson Mandelaβ¦ It is a song that resonates with all audiences. And it will continue to touch hearts until the struggles of the poor and the oppressed and the fretful and the unfulfilled end. So you can expect it to play on forever, as long as there are ears to hear, hearts to touch and minds to emancipate.
We have offered suggestions in the form of videos that you may find helpful in achieving Wellness in your Life and style choices & personal wellbeing needs .
we hope you will both enjoy and find the subject matters beneficial to your own personal wellbeing.
Hope you will enjoy what you both hear and see here.






View more
Be part of the change

Itβs simple.
It means that we recognize that this is a fight for all of us. Not a fight for people of color against those who arenβt, but a human fight in which everybody stands up against racism.
Collectively, we stand together to advocate for change.
As a company made up of people of all ethnicities, and serving a very diverse community, we want to use our platform to help people like you to join in or to continue in these efforts.

When a musicianβs talents are in demand in all the right places he must be a real master of his trade even though heβs too humble to step forward. But there must be a place in the spotlight for Mark Stanway whose keyboards playing is an important element of the MAGNUMβs oeuvre and helped Phil Lynott keep afloat. Yet whoβs he, the man whose very name makes one think of grand piano? Meet the maestro!
β Mark, you seem to be a classically trained pianist. What made you want to play rock βnβ roll?

I only actually had piano lessons for about eighteen months from my great aunt, and I wasnβt learning to play as fast as my enthusiasm desired. I was brought up in a family that loved listening to swing jazz β my father was a big swing bandleader and drummer in the Thirties and Forties. Therefore, the first instrument I learned to play was the drums, second the guitar and lastly, the piano. We always had a piano in the house β fortunately! β my father also played one or two boogie-woogie tunes on it, and he showed me very basically how to play them: this was the real start of my piano playing. At this early stage it was very hard to copy these great boogie players β it still is! β and I happened to overhear my elder brother playing a bluesy type record which had piano on it. It was none other than the legendary John Mayall, and this really was a turning point, as I found it quite easy to copy what he was playing.
I was now obsessed with blues piano and spent several years practising my butt off. During this time β I guess, I was about seventeen years old β I discovered that you could get such a thing as an electric piano, and I sacrificed everything to save up for my first piano, a Mk1 73 note Fender Rhodes that set me back 450 pounds. By this stage, I was listening to everything that had Fender Rhodes piano on it, but I always tended to come back to jazz/progressive based music, including Brian Auger, Jan Hammer, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, George Duke, Joe Sample β the list goes on. This brings me on to the second part of your question.
What made me want to play rock βnβ roll piano? The answer is quite simple. I was, in my opinion, not good enough to be playing jazz for a living, and there was hardly any gigs available for jazz piano, so I put an advert in the βBirmingham Evening Mailβ asking musicians with a jazz-rock interest to contact me. I had one reply from a guy who to this day is still a close friend, and he had a band playing fusion music that needed keyboards. I arranged for them all to come to my house with their instruments so I could check them out. If the truth be known, they were checking me out as they were and still are all superb players. This was my first real band, and it was called RAINMAKER. We played a couple of cover versions of songs like βRed Baronβ by Billy Cobham and βJessicaβ by ALMOND BROTHERS and a bunch of original material, and played all the local Birmingham gigs, but we never really achieved any acclaim, as the only people that came to see us were other musicians. Our claim to fame was supporting Stanley Clarke at Birmingham Town Hall and doing a short tour supporting Jon Hisemanβs COLOSSEUM II, which is when I first met my good friend Don Airey and the great Gary Moore.

With Phil Lynott
β By the way, were you ever a part of Robin Georgeβs LIFE?
I played keyboards on his album and numerous demos and filled in some dates on a British tour, but I was never officially part of it. Still, I recommended Robin for a one-off MAGNUM tour playing second guitar β he was never part of the band, though β and even introduced him to Phil Lynott and got Phil to play on a couple of his tracks for free.
β There was a rumor of you joining WHITESNAKE, together with John Sykes, in 1984. True of false?
Unofficially, true β John called me from the States and asked me if I would be up for it β but somehow the press got wind of it and it was denied by all parties including David Coverdale.
β You became a part of M3 CLASSIC WHITESNAKE, though. How did this gig come about β via Neil Murray who, I guess, you could meet when touring with COLOSSEUM II?
It actually came about from a recommendation from my good mate Don Airey whom I did meet back in the Seventies whilst touring with COLOSSEUM II β but the bass player was Jon Mole not Neil Murray when I toured with them, supporting with that great Birmingham jazz rock band called RAINMAKER. It was Don who suggested to Bernie Marsden I would be good for the gig. I had also known Bernie since the early Eighties so it was like teaming up with old mates. An absolute pleasure of a gig, I still really miss playing with that line-up, by far the best rhythm section I have ever had the pleasure to be part of.
β How did you feel playing the blues?
As I said I first learned to play the piano to the likes of John Mayall, Brian Auger, CREAM, FLEETWOOD MAC etcetera so blues piano is really the first thing I ever tried to play.
β Wasnβt it hard to tour with M3 and be recording with MAGNUM at the same time?
Not at all. MAGNUM always took precedence if dates should ever clash, and this never actually happened as MAGNUM work so little⦠for some reason known only to our agent Derek Kemp and Tony Clarkin.
β Youβre not doing many sessions but appeared on records by HEAVY LOAD and MOTHERLODE. What about this Sweden connection?
I have actually done many sessions for various artists β both live and on record. Sweden was, and still is, a very important fan base from Phil Lynottβs and MAGNUMβs point of view. As a matter of interest, Kee Marcello, EUROPEβs guitarist, phoned me just two weeks ago do to some work with him, thus maintaining the Swedish recognition
β A couple of years ago you played with the reunited HONEYDRIPPERS. Did you know Robert Plant from the old days?
I have known Robert since the late Seventies and we have been close friends for a long time now. He is a good friend and completely down to earth considering he is a living legend.
β Was it you who took part in PET SHOP BOYSβ βCloser to Heavenβ or some other Mark Stanway?

Itβs just coincidence that there is another keyboard player with the same name! I have never met him or heard him play.
β There was a band called STANWAY. Was it your attempt to strike on your own?
This was a band that had nothing to do with me, it was my brother Guy Stanway who formed this band, which also spookily had original MAGNUM drummer Kex Gorin, but I never played or appeared with him. I did hear that there was some confusion, and he changed the name to MAZIQUE I think.
β Did you ever think of a solo career β say, a pure piano record β or a Stanway & Birch project?
I have recently done a sort of Stanway / Birch product with a band called THE HUB. This band featured Mo on main vocals, myself of keyboards, Jimmy Copley on drums β heβs the best drummer I have ever played with β the fabulous Ian Jennings on bass, the superb Robbie Blunt on guitar and slide, the unbelievable Micky Moody on guitar and slide, the wonderful Phil Bates on guitar and vocals, and the multi-talented Jim Hickman and Nadia Pearson on backing vocals. This, in my opinion, was the finest band potentially I have ever had the honour to work with and I hope to repeat this and do more gigs when all of that magical star line-up are all available at the same timeβ¦ not an easy task to achieve but I will make it happen again soon.
YouTube Β· Get Ready to ROCK!-Video-Podcasts50+ views Β· 1 year ago
15:46Long-time Magnum keyboard player Mark Stanway chats about his new project Kingdom of Madness.Missing:
reggae β| Show results with: reggae
Remember Phil & Garyhttp://remember-phil.com βΊ mark-stanways-storyIn March 1983 I visited Lombard Studios in London to see my old mate John Sykes who was working with Phil Lynott on the final mixes of 'Thunder and Lightning'.Missing:
reggae β| Show results with: reggae
WordPress.comhttps://wordsandmusicbook.wordpress.com βΊ 2013/09/1919 Sept 2013 β The outstanding keyboard work of Mark Stanway, a man who's shared the stage with Messrs Clarkin and Catley since 1980 and whose addition saw the (already great ...
Missing:
reggae β| Show results with: reggae
outsiderrock.cahttps://outsiderrock.ca βΊ 2018/02/12 βΊ mark-stanway-in...12 Feb 2018 β In this interview, Mark shares some recollections from his early days, his time with Magnum, and what he is currently up to and has in the works for the future.
Missing:
reggae β| Show results with: reggae
Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org βΊ wiki βΊ Mark_StanwayMark Stanway (born 27 July 1954) is an English musician. He was the keyboard player for the hard rock band Magnum from 1980 until the end of 2016.Missing:
reggae β| Show results with: reggae

It originated on a small Carribean island and grew to become a global phenomenon recognised as a cultural institution by UNESCO, the story of reggae's success is closely entwined with the history of Jamaica.
Reggae's roots, springing from the social upheaval in post-war Jamaica, are a fusion of different musical eras and styles, coupled with a message of unity and hope.
How did this musical genre, with a uniquely Jamaican twist, become a worldwide brand influencing artists like Rihanna and Sean Paul?
Mento is the name given to Jamaican folk music that emerged in the 1940s and 1950s.
Similar to Calypso, which originated in Trinidad, the sound of Mento can be traced back to the convergent society of Jamaica.
Jamaica was colonised by Spain, mainly in the 1500s, and then Britain in 1655.
Enslaved people were transported from Africa to work on the countryβs sugar plantations.
The resulting mix of cultures contributed to the growth of an identifiable Jamaican sound.
Characterised by the fusion of European and African traits, with origins in enslaved work songs β created with guitar, rumba box, bongo and banjo, Mento mixed this with satirical lyrics of everyday life and verse repetition, creating a foundation from which reggae would blossom.
In the 1960s the popularity of Mento began to decline as people were influenced by R&B music from the USA, played on radio stations.
Across Jamaica musicians and singers began to cover these songs and imitate their styles.
At the same time electricity was becoming widely accessible and sound systems β mobile discos on the streets β became the new craze.
Dances were a big part of the Jamaican working class community and became a place of business with people selling food and drinks, spreading money to the wider community.
Competition was rife with sound men competing to put on the best set, even sometimes resorting to violence.
It was all about the exclusivity, getting songs from overseas no one had heard of. Music became a national obsession particularly among the young.
One school in particular, Alpha Boys School, run by nuns, encouraged music playing and helped develop some of Jamaicaβs greatest musicians including Yellowman, Edward Thornton and Dizzy Reece.

Meanwhile Jamaicaβs professional recording industry was also starting to take shape.
Recording studios, which had concentrated on American influenced R&B, began hiring out their facilities to local musicians who recorded original songs which were picked up by sound systems, still looking for that exclusivity.
Jamaica became independent in 1962 and Skaβs upbeat rhythm reflected the mood in the newly autonomous country.
Adopting America R&B style but adding Mento elements, the new music kept a 4/4 timing with guitar or piano used to increase emphasis on the off-beat and along with a dynamic brass section and a creeping bass line, a distinct new Jamaican sound, of local singers, was created.
Ska was also growing in popularity overseas, Millie Smalls had a top five hit in the UK chart with My Boy Lollipop in 1964.
This seeping of Jamaican music in to popular culture would continue with cult 1972 film The Harder They Come, the title track of which was performed by Jimmy Cliff, with other contributors including Desmond Dekker.
Ska was a fast paced chaotic musical genre but from the mid 1960βs the climate in Jamaica that had spawned it was beginning to change.
Streets in downtown Kingston become lawless with βRude Boysβ gangsters terrorising locals.
Music mirrored this and Rocksteady, a slower paced sound, grew in popularity.
Musicians would turn to old-fashioned love songs, and singers replaced instrumentals.
Rhythms became more relaxed and songs easier to dance to.
This also gave the bass line more of an emphasis as the slower pace allowed it to be more defined.
Artists such as Alton Ellis and The Techniques thrived in this era. Some artists such as Hopeton Lewis found Ska too fast to follow and so adapted to a gentler pace.
Rocksteady, however, would prove to be a brief affair, lasting around two years.

In 1966 Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia visited Jamaica β an important moment for the religious movement Rastafari which saw him as the messiah - 100,000 Jamaicans turned out to see him.
This link with Rastafarian culture would become a vital strand of reggae.
During the late 1960βs, Jamaica was on the brink of civil war, with political unrest, poverty and volatile streets.
Reggae with the bass taking charge, and drums as part of the melody, reflected this new Jamaica.
Lyrics became more conscious and words of protest and revolution changed the vibe and identity of the sound.
Roots reggae concerned itself with the everyday life and hopes of Africans, led by the Rastafarian belief and it was this genre that Bob Marley and the Wailers took global.
Marley sang of the past oppressions of slavery and the future hopes of unity.
Sub genres such as dub also formed, consisting of recycled and remixed rocksteady and ska tunes, incorporating a toaster, essentially an MC, who spoke over the song with Rastafarian messages.
The dancehall genre also emerged using digital reggae influenced rhythms.
By 1978 a failing economy and political unease was at its peak and political issues along with the musical tradition all came together in reggae to form strong lyrics with an uplifting sound to empower.
Reggaeβs presence can still be felt today, influencing genres such as punk, hip hop and rock through artists such as Eric Clapton, Sean Paul, Rihanna, Protoje and Chronixx.
Through time, Jamaicans have constantly mirrored their environment through music, creating an authentic reflection of the nation.
The power of reggae, built on a foundation of history with the spirit of the Jamaican people and messages of a better future, became a notion with universal appreciation.
Buju BantonJamaican singerOverviewSongsAlbumsEventsBuju Banton
Age51 years15 July 1973Songs
Buju Banton
1,697,739 monthly listenersPopular
Hills And Valleys
48,361,163
Champion
46,202,611
Murderer
27,223,519
Party Girls (feat. Buju Banton)
17,615,109
Bonafied Love
11,953,760
Dancehall Riddim: Candle Wax (Sped Up)Latest Release β’ Album
Inna Heights1900 β’ Album
'Til Shiloh (25th Anniversary Edition)2020 β’ Album
Til Shiloh1995 β’ Album
Mr Mention1993 β’ Album
5 Decades of Jamaica's Musical Heritage
How the development of reggae music expanded throughout the world . This is a great watch for all reggae fans.
Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org βΊ wiki βΊ Coxsone_DoddFor youClement Seymour "Coxsone" Dodd CD (26 January 1932 β 4 May 2004) was a Jamaican record producer who was influential in the development of ska and reggae in ...
Enki's Music Recordshttps://enkismusicrecords.com βΊ biography-clement-sir-...For you
Clement "Sir Coxsone" Dodd was a pioneering Jamaican record producer. He fostered the career of almost every famous reggae artist.
Jamaica Observerhttps://www.jamaicaobserver.com βΊ 2024/03/06 βΊ coxso...For you
6 Mar 2024 β Coxsone Dodd's daughter demands apology over portrayal of
Beres Hammond OJ (born Hugh Beresford Hammond; 28 August 1955, in Annotto Bay, Saint Mary, Jamaica)[2][3] is a Jamaican reggaesinger known in particular for his lovers rock music. While his career began in the 1970s, he reached his greatest success in the 1990s.
Born the ninth of ten children, Hammond grew up listening to his father's collection of American souland jazz music including Sam Cookeand Otis Redding.[3] He was further influenced by the native music of skaand rocksteady, in particular Alton Ellis.[3]
Hammond began participating in local talent contests from 1972 to 1973,[2] which led to his first recording, of Ellis' "Wanderer".[3] In 1975 he joined the band, Zap Pow, as lead singer,[4] leading to the hit 1978 single, "The System" under the Aquarius Records label. However, he simultaneously sought a solo career, releasing his debut album, Soul Reggae, in 1976.[3] His solo ballads "One Step Ahead" (1976) and Joe Gibbs produced "I'm in Love" (1978), were both hits in Jamaica.[3] He left Zap Pow in 1979 to pursue his solo career, and recorded two more albums Let's Make A Song in 1980 and Red Light 1981. He formed Tuesday's Children, a harmony group that toured but never recorded.[3]
Hammond formed his own record label, Harmony House Records, in 1985 for the release of his Make a Song album,[2] which had two Jamaican chart-toppers that were influenced by the emerging dancehall style: "Groovy Little Thing" and "What One Dance Can Do".[3] The latter, produced by Willie Lindo,[4] began to break Hammond into the international market. He scored another hit in 1986 with "Settling Down" on his eponymous release. He left his fame in Jamaica for New York City in 1987,[2] after being tied up as thieves ransacked his house during a home invasion.[3] There he recorded the Have a Nice Weekend album and the duet single "How Can We Ease the Pain" with Maxi Priest.[4]
Hammond returned briefly to Jamaica to record Putting Up Resistance, which was significantly harder than his typical ballads, produced by Tappa Zukie, which spawned the hits "Putting Up Resistance" and "Strange".[3] He signed with Penthouse Records in 1990 and returned to Jamaica permanently to record the dancehall smash "Tempted to Touch", with producer Donovan Germain.[4] This is perhaps his best known song in the United States and United Kingdom, and set the foundation for the hits "Is This a Sign" and "Respect to You Baby" on the 1992 A Love Affair album.[3] Also in 1992, Beres released the single "Fire". The song received critical acclaim within the Reggae music industry and it was an extremely sought after 7" single. Now garnering interest from major studios such as Elektra Records, Hammond recorded five more albums in the 1990s as well as several compilations, establishing himself as one of the top lovers rock artists. His first album of the new millennium was 2001's Music Is Life, which featured an appearance by Wyclef Jean, and contributions from Earl "Chinna" Smith and Flourgon. The album spawned several hits, including "They Gonna Talk", "Rockaway" and "Ain't It Good To Know".[2][3] The 2004 release Love Has No Boundaries, had guest spots by Buju Banton and Big Youth.[3]

It originated on a small Carribean island and grew to become a global phenomenon recognised as a cultural institution by UNESCO, the story of reggae's success is closely entwined with the history of Jamaica.
Reggae's roots, springing from the social upheaval in post-war Jamaica, are a fusion of different musical eras and styles, coupled with a message of unity and hope.
How did this musical genre, with a uniquely Jamaican twist, become a worldwide brand influencing artists like Rihanna and Sean Paul?
Mento is the name given to Jamaican folk music that emerged in the 1940s and 1950s.
Similar to Calypso, which originated in Trinidad, the sound of Mento can be traced back to the convergent society of Jamaica.
Jamaica was colonised by Spain, mainly in the 1500s, and then Britain in 1655.
Enslaved people were transported from Africa to work on the countryβs sugar plantations.
The resulting mix of cultures contributed to the growth of an identifiable Jamaican sound.
Characterised by the fusion of European and African traits, with origins in enslaved work songs β created with guitar, rumba box, bongo and banjo, Mento mixed this with satirical lyrics of everyday life and verse repetition, creating a foundation from which reggae would blossom.
In the 1960s the popularity of Mento began to decline as people were influenced by R&B music from the USA, played on radio stations.
Across Jamaica musicians and singers began to cover these songs and imitate their styles.
At the same time electricity was becoming widely accessible and sound systems β mobile discos on the streets β became the new craze.
Dances were a big part of the Jamaican working class community and became a place of business with people selling food and drinks, spreading money to the wider community.
Competition was rife with sound men competing to put on the best set, even sometimes resorting to violence.
It was all about the exclusivity, getting songs from overseas no one had heard of. Music became a national obsession particularly among the young.
One school in particular, Alpha Boys School, run by nuns, encouraged music playing and helped develop some of Jamaicaβs greatest musicians including Yellowman, Edward Thornton and Dizzy Reece.

Meanwhile Jamaicaβs professional recording industry was also starting to take shape.
Recording studios, which had concentrated on American influenced R&B, began hiring out their facilities to local musicians who recorded original songs which were picked up by sound systems, still looking for that exclusivity.
Jamaica became independent in 1962 and Skaβs upbeat rhythm reflected the mood in the newly autonomous country.
Adopting America R&B style but adding Mento elements, the new music kept a 4/4 timing with guitar or piano used to increase emphasis on the off-beat and along with a dynamic brass section and a creeping bass line, a distinct new Jamaican sound, of local singers, was created.
Ska was also growing in popularity overseas, Millie Smalls had a top five hit in the UK chart with My Boy Lollipop in 1964.
This seeping of Jamaican music in to popular culture would continue with cult 1972 film The Harder They Come, the title track of which was performed by Jimmy Cliff, with other contributors including Desmond Dekker.
Ska was a fast paced chaotic musical genre but from the mid 1960βs the climate in Jamaica that had spawned it was beginning to change.
Streets in downtown Kingston become lawless with βRude Boysβ gangsters terrorising locals.
Music mirrored this and Rocksteady, a slower paced sound, grew in popularity.
Musicians would turn to old-fashioned love songs, and singers replaced instrumentals.
Rhythms became more relaxed and songs easier to dance to.
This also gave the bass line more of an emphasis as the slower pace allowed it to be more defined.
Artists such as Alton Ellis and The Techniques thrived in this era. Some artists such as Hopeton Lewis found Ska too fast to follow and so adapted to a gentler pace.
Rocksteady, however, would prove to be a brief affair, lasting around two years.

In 1966 Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia visited Jamaica β an important moment for the religious movement Rastafari which saw him as the messiah - 100,000 Jamaicans turned out to see him.
This link with Rastafarian culture would become a vital strand of reggae.
During the late 1960βs, Jamaica was on the brink of civil war, with political unrest, poverty and volatile streets.
Reggae with the bass taking charge, and drums as part of the melody, reflected this new Jamaica.
Lyrics became more conscious and words of protest and revolution changed the vibe and identity of the sound.
Roots reggae concerned itself with the everyday life and hopes of Africans, led by the Rastafarian belief and it was this genre that Bob Marley and the Wailers took global.
Marley sang of the past oppressions of slavery and the future hopes of unity.
Sub genres such as dub also formed, consisting of recycled and remixed rocksteady and ska tunes, incorporating a toaster, essentially an MC, who spoke over the song with Rastafarian messages.
The dancehall genre also emerged using digital reggae influenced rhythms.
By 1978 a failing economy and political unease was at its peak and political issues along with the musical tradition all came together in reggae to form strong lyrics with an uplifting sound to empower.
Reggaeβs presence can still be felt today, influencing genres such as punk, hip hop and rock through artists such as Eric Clapton, Sean Paul, Rihanna, Protoje and Chronixx.
Through time, Jamaicans have constantly mirrored their environment through music, creating an authentic reflection of the nation.
The power of reggae, built on a foundation of history with the spirit of the Jamaican people and messages of a better future, became a notion with universal appreciation.
> Listen: British musicβs Caribbean roots
> Why do children love George Ezra's Shotgun?
> Five reasons everyone should have music in their lives
> Gareth Malone's singing tips
> Download: Music colouring sheets for primary school classrooms
4:01Marlon Asher X Tarrus Riley X Capleton - Diamonds & Gold [Official Video 2023]YouTube Β· Reggaeville30 Oct 20236:59Marlon Asher, Tarrus Riley & Capleton - Diamonds and Gold (Single) 2023YouTube Β· Gunnzselecta4 Nov 2023
3:48Marlon Asher x Tarrus Riley x Capleton - Diamonds and Gold [Vas Productions] 2023 ReleaseYouTube Β· New Reggae Releases π§ Angeluis4 Nov 2023
1:00MASSIVE COMBINATION: Marlon Asher X Tarrus Riley X Capleton - Diamonds & Gold #videopremiereYouTube Β· Reggaeville30 Oct 2023
Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.comDiamonds and Gold - song and lyrics by Marlon Asher, Tarrus Riley, Capleton
Diamonds and Gold - Marlon Asher, Tarrus Riley, Capleton 3:47 Β© 2023 Vas Productions LLC β 2023 Vas Productions LLCShort videos
Capleton, Tarrus Riley, Marlon Asher - Diamond & Gold
YouTube Β· capletonmusic
MASSIVE COMBINATION: Marlon Asher X Tarrus Riley X Capleton - Diamonds & Gold #videopremiere
YouTube Β· Reggaeville
Marlon Asher, Tarrus Riley & Capleton - Diamonds and Gold Reggae Riddim Jamaica Kenya Jahtunes
TikTok Β· jah_tunes
MARLON ASHER TARRUS RILEY CAPLETON
NESTA
Nesta delivers a fresh perspective on classic Dancehall music that simultaneously ignites your senses with a new sound, and makes you want to dance like itβs the 2000s again. Born into a dynamic musical family originating from Jamaica, Nesta has strong artistic roots originating from the inspiration of T-Pain, Sizzle, Ty Dolls $ign, Sampha, and Damian Marley. The Jamaica (Queens) based artist developed his sound by studying those various influences closely, which led him to experiment with production software and various instruments.
Although proven to be musically gifted from an early age, it wasnβt until 2012 when his friends noticed his unique vocals and urged him to take singing more seriously. Nestaβs latest release, βOutsideβ, delivers his evolving sound of modern Caribbean joy with a rush of emotional nostalgia inherent to an iconic Jamaican record.
This high-energy fitness class infuses the infectious rhythms of reggae music with dynamic cardio and strength exercises. Led by upbeat instructors, Reggae Fit will have you dancing, toning, and having a blast while getting a full-body workout.https://www.slt-leisure.co.uk
FeedbackAbout featured snippetsVideos22:05Reggae Dancehall workout by Keaira LaShaeYouTube Β· MOVE Fitness1 Dec 20127 key moments in this video
15:0215 Min FIRE Reggae Dancehall Caribbean Dance WorkoutYouTube Β·
By: Bakary Ceesay
JAMAICAN music promoter, Stampede real name Boswell Garth Lammie has vowed to continue supporting and marketing Gambian Reggae dancehall artistes.
Stampede said he has helped several Gambian Reggae dancehall artists to get air play on international radio stations and collaborations with Jamaican artists.
He told The Voice Vibes that: βI am promoting Gambian artistes in Jamaica. Most of the Gambian Reggae dancehall artistes know about Stampede, I promote most of the African artists and I will continue doing so and having a good relationship with Gambian artistsβ
He urged Gambians to show more support to Gambian artistes as they are singing great songs people are enjoying it in Jamaica.
βI am very happy to see African Reggae danchall artiste artistes are making great move and I want to see more Gambian artistes making it big worldwideβ
He explained that he got lots of Gambian artistes songs play on radio stations in Jamaica and wider world like Jizzle, A2, DaddyBostin and others.

He promised to visit Gambia soon to colloborate with Gambians Djs, artistes, Promoters and producers to put Gambian music in the limelight across the globe.
Whenever recording artistes want a buzz for their music in the streets, Boswell βStampedeβ Lammie is the go-to man. For the past 18 years, his savvy style of promotion has reaped rewards for several entertainers.
Macka Diamond, I Wayne, Gyptian, Aidonia, RDX, Bascom X, Vybz Kartel, Mavado, Intence, Iwaata, Hot Frass, Skillibeng, I-Octane, Jahmiel and Romain Virgo are some of the artistes who have benefited from his aggressive marketing.
βIt s important for any artiste to take their promotion to the streets because the street is the first place to let your name and song be known,β said Stampede. βThe face of music promotion in the streets has definitely changed, but it has become a little more easy since the introduction of the Internet,β he told Jamaica Observerβs Splash.
From West Kingston, Stampede got into music as a producer. In 2002, he moved into street promotion, a popular platform since the early days of the Jamaican sound system over 60 years ago.
Stampedeβs first client was dancehall artiste KC Jockey whose song Look Good Machine he promoted.
His current clients include artistes from the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa. Ugandan artiste Bobi Wine, who has performed on Rebel Salute twice, is one of them.
Stampedeβs career as a producer started in the late 1980s. One of his earliest productions was Cool Down by Cutty Ranks.
βI started out producing songs in 1989 and my first hit was Cool Down by Cutty Ranks. I also produced songs for Papa San, the late Dirtsman, Nardo Ranks, and Mad Cobra among others,β he said.
He was instrumental in promoting hit songs Done Already (Macka Diamond), Canβt Satisfy Her (I Wayne), and S erious Times (Gyptian).
He wore the hat of producer for three years before taking a break from the music business. He returned in 2002 when he and two friends, Keeble and Ilabash, formed a company called Stampede Conglomerate. Under that banner, songs were produced for a number of artistes including Khristopher, Sizzla, King David, and Frisco Kid.
For Stampede, the strategy for breaking and staying in the music industry is tried and proven.
βMy advice is to keep focused on your musical career, stay humble, and always try to meet persons and let them know about your music. The more persons you meet, the more they will know about you,β he said.

By Sainabou Sanneh and Musa O Bah The Susso Kunda family on Wednesday held a press conference to brief theβ¦

By: Bakary Ceesay Meet the youngest Gambian female film producer and Chief Executive Officer at Mayaβs productions Film . Sheβ¦

By: Bakary Ceesay Goes by the stage name Pascal also known as Da Rap Mystro, was born in Dippa Kunda,

![]()
![]()
![]()
MORE 'london'
MORE 'guestlistinterview'
POPULAR INTERVIEWS
POPULAR REGGAE ARTICLES
Go 

![]()
Email address:



Reggae = World A Reggae. Your main source for all things Reggae, Dancehall, and Jamaican Culture since 2010.
World A Reggae Ent. and Worldareggae.com are Trademarks of Topicz:Creative. Β© 2022. All Rights reserved.
Β© 2021 WORLD A REGGAE ENTERTAINMENT
Email address:
The Content on this website may not be reproduced, distributed, cached, transmitted or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of World A Reggae Entertainment.
Privacy & Cookies: This site
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to navigationJump to searchDing Dong RaversBirth nameKemar Christopher Dwaine OtteyAlso known asDing DongBornKingston, JamaicaOriginNannyville, KingstonGenres
Occupation(s)Singer, Songwriter, DancerYears active2005 to presentLabelsRomeich EntertainmentWebsitewww.instagram.com/dingdongravers
www.facebook.com/dingdongraversja
Kemar Christopher "Ding Dong" Dwaine Ottey (born September 29, 1980) is a dancehall reggae artist and dancer. He was a dancer before becoming a Jamaican deejay (artiste) and dancehall reggae recording artist.[1][2] His most notable songs "Bad Man Forward / Bad Man Pull Up" (2005) "Fling" and "Genna Bounce" released in 2017 has assisted in his global appeal.[3] He founded the dancing syndicate Ravers Clavers..
we are featuring :
https://www.instagram.com βΊ stampedechartSTAMPEDE TOP ARTISTE PROMOTER FROM JAMAICA..OWN STAMPEDE STREET CHART.. PROMOTE ARTISTE WORLDWIDE. SONGS PROMOTION ..WHATTAPPS 18764991756 ; 24 posts ; 10.8K ...
0:32STAMPEDE STREET CHARTS DANCEHALL / REGGAE CHART
A new music documentary exploring the early years and development of grime in the UK is now available to stream on iPlayer as part of BBC Four's Storyville series.
8 Bar: The Evolution of Grime features a number of pioneers credited with pushing the sound of East London to the world, including Skepta, Kano, Dizzee Rascal, Jammer, D Double E, Slimzee and DJ Target. Made up of rare archive footage and recent interviews, it charts how a DIY culture emerged on pirate radio stations and at basement raves, sowing the seeds for iconic singles, albums and fashion that would define Britain in the first decade of the 21st Century.

Share on:
Over 18s onlyBuy Tickets
World Bash comes to the UK poised to showcase the "biggest and baddest sound systems" in the world. A supercharged sound system stage show, and a star-studded line-up of some of the most significant players in the sound system industry.
World Bash is a celebration of sound culture, with a mix of classic anthems and good music, it's a show for dubplate lovers and champagne spillers alike

O2 Academy Birmingham 16 - 18 Horsefairs
Birmingham, B1 1DB + Google Map
Videos1:43Bob Marley (One Drop) Chris Brown (Sensational) & Tyla ...YouTube Β· Cherri V18 Jan 2024
3:52Bob Marley - One DropYouTube Β· Bob Marley - Topic30 Oct 2018
3:49Bob Marley - One Drop (Very Rare)YouTube Β· KingSize0509 Jun 2012
1:00Riddim a Day #30 - One Drop (Bob Marley) with Jake PardeeYouTube Β· Pulp & Fizz19 May 2018
Best Friends and Iconic Duo to Co-Headline the Reggae Rise Up Festival
Following the Grammy Award for their collaborative album, 44/876, music icons Sting and Shaggy are back with βTil A Mawninβ - a new single and music video that celebrate one of the pillars of reggae culture: Sound-System. The pairβs latest release, out February 27 via a partnership between Shaggyβs Ranch Entertainment and the seminal reggae/dancehall label, VP Records, takes listeners through the rich roots of reggae, blending
Pirate radio never died. Its golden age may have faded, but the DIY broadcasts that shaped a generation of UK rappers in the noughties are still going on. You just need to know where to lookβ¦
Based in Brentford, west London, are Kurupt FM, the group of dodgy DJs and inept MCs whose BBC mockumentary People Just Do Nothing first aired in 2014. Led by MC Grindah (played by Allan Mustafa), the core group of station co-founder DJ Beats (Hugo Chegwin), unpredictable weedhead Steves (Steve Stamp)
Dancehall is ultimately a celebration of the disenfranchised selves in postcolonial Jamaica that occupy and creatively sustain that space. Structured by the urban, a space that is limited, limiting, and marginal yet central to communal, even national, identity, dancehall's identity is as contradictory and competitive as it is sacred. Some of Jamaica's significant memories of itself are inscribed in the dancehall space, and therefore dancehall can be seen as a site of collective memory that functions as ritualized memorializing, a memory bank of the old, new, and dynamic bodily movements, spaces, performers, and performance aesthetics of the New World and Jamaica in particular.[38]
Mikey SpiceJamaican singerOverviewSongsAlbums
Here I AmWalk a MileΒ·2007
When You're LonelyBorn AgainΒ·2006
Yes Mi FriendHarder Than BeforeΒ·2009
Born AgainReggae Max: Mikey SpiceΒ·2000Videos
2:15:38Mikey spice Best of Reggae lovers rock mixYouTube Β· DJ MURRAY / Music master12 Jul 2022
4:06Mikey Spice - I Am I Said - May 2017 (Reggae)YouTube Β· dj smooth14 May 2017
1:20:11Mikey spice Best of Reggae lovers rock culture mix DJ MURRAY 18768557770YouTube Β· DJ MURRAY / Music master5 Jun 2020
48:30Mikey Spice | The
Skyline radio station celebrates 20 plus years of service to the people of wolverhampton and surrounding areas.
Skyline Radio3 years ago
0:09Skyline Radio Videos of Interest - Welcome to the archives!! Here you will find interesting links to Interviews, News, Reviews & much more.Missing:
cherry βv
skylineradio.org.ukhttps://www.skylineradio.org.uk βΊ Radio ShowsFor youEasy Tuesday show hosted by DJ Valentino. 5pm β 7pm. Mix & blend. Playing the best of RnB, Soul, Lovers Rock, Dancehall, Soca, Afrobeats, Reggae music.Missing:
cherry βv
skylineradio.org.ukhttps://www.skylineradio.org.uk βΊ Radio ShowsFor youEasy Listening Show Every Saturday 11:30pm - 2:30pm GMT Saturdays is where we play ever kind of music from rnb to reggae old and new styles.
Including results for richie campbell best friend
Search only for ritchie campbell best friend
Best FriendSong by Richie Campbell β§ 2015OverviewListenLyricsArtists4:03
YouTube β’ Richie CampbellRichie Campbell - Best Friend
3:13
YouTube β’ JussbussTVRichie Campbell | Best Friend | Jussbuss Acoustic | Season 2 ...Watch Richie Campbell perform "Best Friend" in this exclusive session of Jussbuss Acoustic's series LIVE from Jack's Hill in Kingston, ...24 May 2015AlbumIn the 876
Released2015
GeniusRichie Campbell β Best Friend Lyrics - Genius18 Feb 2015Videos
3:13Richie Campbell | Best Friend | Jussbuss Acoustic | Season 2 ...YouTube Β· JussbussTV24 May 2015
3:43Mega Hits - Richie Campbell | Best FriendYouTube Β· Mega Hits 14 May 2015View all
Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com βΊ track
Listen to Best Friend on Spotify. Song Β· Richie Campbell Β· 2015.
SHAGGY & STING CONTINUES
To Be Released February 27 on Ranch Entertainment/VP Records
Best Friends and Iconic Duo to Co-Headline the Reggae Rise Up Festival
Following the Grammy Award for their collaborative album, 44/876, music icons Sting and Shaggy are back with βTil A Mawninβ - a new single and music video that celebrate one of the pillars of reggae culture: Sound-System. The pairβs latest release, out February 27 via a partnership between Shaggyβs Ranch Entertainment and the seminal reggae/dancehall label, VP Records, takes listeners through the rich roots of reggae, blending Stingβs signature melodic style with Shaggyβs unmistakable dynamic flow to create a fusion of old-school reggae vibrations and contemporary flair. Click here to pre-save.
With this track, the duo, both managed by Martin Kierszenbaum at the Cherrytree Music Company, pay homage to the Sound System culture that contributed to fueling reggaeβs global influence, while the accompanying music video β directed by Jay Will - brings this tribute to life, offering a visual celebration of reggaeβs enduring legacy.
Written by Shaggy, Sting & Henry βJunjoβ Lawes, βTil A Mawninβ is a re-lick of the βIβm Not Getting Crazyβ riddim, originally produced by Lawes with backing by the legendary Roots Radics Band. The riddim has been the foundation for several classic reggae tracks, including Don Carlosβ βIβm Not Getting Crazy,β Frankie Paulβs βWorries in the Dance,β and Yellowmanβs βGetting Married.β Shaggy, alongside Shane Hoosong, produced this updated version, bringing new energy while preserving the essence of its dancehall roots.
The new track was mixed by 4-time Grammy Award winner, Robert Orton and mastered by Gene Grimaldi at Oasis Mastering.
On March 13, Sting and Shaggy will co-headline the Reggae Rise Up Festival β one of the largest and most anticipated reggae festivals in the country - in St. Petersburg, FL.
Welcome to the Reggae Charts (Top 10) β your opportunity to get up to date with massive reggae tunes that are hitting all over the world. The chart is updated monthly so please check back regularly for updates. On each listing, you have opportunity to either listen or watch the videos. If you like any of the songs, please follow the links to take you to checkout.
This chart was assembled by Richie B courtesy of the Reggae Vibes Online Magazine www.reggae-vibes.com

Skyline Radio, keeping you upto date with the Reggae scene across the World! Please bookmark β Reggae Charts (Top 10)
Please also check out the Dancehall Charts and the RβnβB Charts exclusively together on Skyline Radio
Lila Ike
Bugle & Dexta Daps
Kabaka Pyramid ft Tifa
Mortimer
Tanya Stephens
Sevana
What message are you trying to get across in this album?
Well, the whole message behind Contraband, is that consciousness & evolutionary thinking is treated as contraband, it's treated as something you are not supposed to have or want, so we are playing on that metaphor throughout the whole album. And you know it's reallythat the music is the contraband, the music is the message, and its good contraband from our perspective, its healing contraband, but they just don't want it, they are not promoting it on the television, so we have to give it in the music.
You are touring Bristol, London & Manchester this June, what are you most looking forward to with this tour?
I love the vibes in the UK, and I haven't been to Manchester, so definitely looking forward to that and all the shows.
London as the biggest city it's definitely something I am very excited about for sure, I am coming with the band Bebble Rockers, so its live music, looking forward to working with Randy Valentine and Marla Brown, they will be on tour with me, so it's going to be nice.
What do you bring that's special?
Well, I think as a reggae artist I am a little bit more diverse than usual, so I do a little bit of rapping, I kinda mix it up a bit, I think the stuff that I talk about tend to be a little outside of the box when it comes to Rastafarianism and reggae music.
Like speaking about yoga, meditation, chakras and reincarnation, not a lot of people touch on those topics so people can expect a different vibration than most artists.
So what ideas changed your life?
Rastafari as a culture and as a bridge to Africa changed my view of life, I think ganja also changed my whole view of life. My whole thought process and the way I analyse things kinda deepens when I use Cannabisand Rastafari came hand in hand with that, as well as a deep appreciation for reggae music.
Music was very instrumental in that whole process for me, learning about Africa, learning about his imperial majesty as a black king, in the mid 1900's rose to prominence, and was one of the most popular people in the world, you know in a time of white supremacy and that was very symbolic for me.
You know so many people live with distraction to distraction, so sports, news, all of these social medias, it's hard to blame somebody when they can't see what really needs to be seen.
What would you fill a swimming pool with if it could be anything?
Naturally, the first thing would be water but I am kinda thinking something like apple juice. Apple juice in one of my favourite things so why not!
So what's next for you?
We are editing the video for 'Can't Breathe' so we are looking forward to releasing that, we are also going to Europe doing a lot of the major reggae festivals and then we are doing Reggae Sumfest in Jamaica, and immediately after that we doing a US & Canada tour all over North America.
I am also producing a track for an artist in Jamaica named Five Star and it is the second single off his upcoming EP, so you can definitely look forward to that. So I am kinda spreading my wings with production a little.
Any last words?
There is this company named Enbois by Maxim who does these wooden bracelets, and each bracelet sold means a tree is planted in Haiti, cause he's from Haiti. So I have done some Kabaka bracelets with him and we are bringing them on tour with us, so people can look forward to that.
Broadcasting great DJ Trevor Nelson has been influencing the soul, R&B and dance music scene for the past 37 years, ever since he started out as βMadhatterβ in 1985 on then pirate radio Kiss FM. 5 years later in 1990, the station gained a license and the rest of Nelsonβs career is history.
Nelson joined Radio 1Xtra colleague Nick Bright for a two-part Radio 5 Live special on the most seminal moments of his epic career and life.
Here are five things we learned about Trevor Nelson.
Photo: Yui Mok/PA
βPersonally, sheβs the greatest, that album is the greatest of its generation,β Nelson says of Hillβs 1998 album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
βWhat she meant, what she stood for, the way she looked. Everything about her was the embodiment of what I love about music,β he continues.
Remembering the interview, Nelson says, βshe did the whole album for me live on my show.β
Hill was also due to perform a live cover, but wouldnβt tell Nelson which track she had chosen.
βMy favourite opening line of any song in the world is Sam Cooke - A Change is Gonna Comeβ¦that for me is so emotiveβ¦itβs quite emotional if youβre black or from the South or descended from slavery,β shares Nelson.
The opening line reads βI was born by the river, in a little tentβ¦and just like the river I've been running ever since. It's been a long, long time coming, but I know a change is gonna come.β
βLauryn went in there andβ¦she changed the lyrics to βI was born by the river, in a tenement, oh, my poor mother, she could hardly pay the rent. It's been a long, long time coming, but I know a change is gonna come.β
βI was the only one in that room and I sat there and I just went wowβ¦.that was a very special moment for meβ¦she didnβt know that was my favourite line to any song.β
βThey ended up releasing it on the B side of one of their singles - that session.β
Photo: BBC - Queen Elizabeth II during opening ceremony of BBC New Broadcasting House, June 7th 2013
Despite having over 32 legal years in the music and broadcasting industry under his belt, his MBE was surprisingly not awarded for services to broadcasting.
βWhen I was at Radio 1 and MTVβ¦music magazines were big at the time. They started doing polls of the most powerful people in dance musicβ¦.one year I was 4, then 5β¦I felt I had a responsibility to do stuff,β he explains.
βThis thing came up, this initiative called Millennium Volunteers. It was about 15-24 year olds who felt slightly marginalized or excluded. It didnβt matter what colour you were, what gender or race you wereβ¦they had ten ambassadors and I was one of them,β Nelson continues.
βIf youβre in a wheelchair, can you coach football?...If you're partially sighted, can you be a photographer? The feeling is no, right? So you never tried, never had the opportunity. What this was, anybody that wanted to do anything, can try it,β he says of the initiative.
Nelson says the way he was notified about receiving an MBE was βstrangeβ. βI did it because I felt life was so good for meβ¦then one day I got a call, βwould you be opposed to being nominated for somethingβ, and you find out when itβs in the press.β
Photo: BBC - Nelson's Rhythm Nation show on Radio 1 from club Ics Ku, Ayia Napa
Talking about the difficulties of getting started as a DJ, Nelson says itβs important to βput yourself out on a limbβ and βforce the narrativeβ rather than βwaiting for bookings.β
βAll we could get was venues on a Monday, Tuesday, never on a Fridayβ and the start of the night was filled with βthat horrible feeling of waiting to see who turns up,β he says.
βMy first gig, three people paid, 27 on the guest list so 30 people there, there were more bar staffβ¦someone said to me, why donβt you try and play more commercial music. I said βthree people paid. Iβll make that four next timeβ.β
Itβs now a few more than four tickets that Nelson sells on his tour dates - try five figures.
Photo: BBC/Ray Burmistons
Nelson says he was familiar with being a minority from a young age. He attributes this to his school experience and his first job.
βSchool was an insight into what the world was going to be like, everywhere I went I was a minority. I was used to it. I didnβt have a problem with it, I expected it, I knew how to read a room, how to chat to people who werenβt like me,β he says.
βI got a job at 15, I worked for this Jewish Green Grocer called Mr Morris. I used to do his orders, I used to have to chat to people of all types, people I would never talk toβ¦it was a completely different outlook on life for me, then Iβd just go back to my mates,β he continues.
He believes this contributed to his interview skillset. βI didnβt go to broadcasting school, that was my broadcasting schoolβ¦I was not nervous talking to someone not like me at a very young age.β
Photo: BBC
When first starting out as a solo DJ, having a good sound system is essential for successful club nights and events. Theyβre not cheap and storage and transportation can be difficult.
Speaking about his own initial set up Nelson says, βthe speakers were at Charlieβs house, decks at my house, mixer at Kevinβs houseβ¦we borrowed money from a bankβ¦we had a van we hired.β
βI took a bank loan out for a car but I bought turntables,β Nelson admits.
Speaking on the sound system dominance of DJ collective Soul II Soul founder Jazzie B, Nelson said βhe had a set up, I remember him telling me, Iβve never forgotten, I said βwhatβs going on there,β he said, βPrinces Trust Initiative. Start a businessβ.β
βIβd heard of it but that was the first time I'd seen it in actionβ¦Prince Charles has got a hell of a lot to do with Soul II Soul,β Nelson laughs.
'I took one souvenir from the Father Ted set''I took one souvenir from the Father Ted set'
Benedict Cumberbatch on method acting, directing and masculinityBenedict Cumberbatch on method acting, directing and masculinity
Sam Fender: Five things we learntSam Fender: Five things we learnt
Lin-Manuel Miranda on Disney, Sondheim and HamiltonLin-Manuel Miranda on Disney, Sondheim and Hamilton
Zemroy Thomas (13th September 1980), better known by his stage name Da Fuchaman is a Jamaican reggae singer, songwriter and member of the Rastafari movement.
Da Fuchaman grew up in rural Middle Buxton on the north coast of St Ann Jamaica. His family is from a deeply religious background, so it was no surprise that he started singing in churches and school. Although Da Fuchaman doesnβt view himself as religious, he has deep rooted beliefs in spirituality which is evident in his music.
As a teenager Da Fuchaman was singing in local sound systems and entering competitions, where he began to gain credibility in the local community of Middle Buxton and surrounding areas. His main influences were the likes of Bob Marley, Buju Banton, Capleton, Sizzla, Anthony B, Bounty Killa and Beenie Man but to name a few.
Da Fuchaman migrated to the UK in the summer of 2002 and it didnβt take long before he started getting integrated into the UK music scene. Da Fuchaman initially began working with renowned DJ Gee and started performing with David Zowie, Edixion, Roadz and Grammy nominated Tippa Irie.
In 2016 he formed his live band now known as Da Fuchaman and his Fire Blaze Band which has taken him to new heights. Da Fuchaman and his ten piece collective have been taking the UK festival scene by storm even performing at more than 20 festivals during the summer of 2022 including Boomtown Fair, Secret Garden Party, Camper Calling, Kendal Calling, Greenman, Moovin Festival, Cider Rum and Reggae, and many others.
One of his biggest music achievements was winning the Best Reggae Artist in the South West in 2018. This was a significant moment for Da Fuchaman as it was a good recognition for his music, and it was the same year his single βSo Much Loveβ topped the itunes chart.
Da Fuchaman is known as one of the most hardworking artist in the business amassing 8 studio albums, 8 EPs and multiple singles. He has collaborated with some well renowned artists such as Anthony B, Turbulence The Future, Lutan Fyah, Perfect Giddimani and Queen Omega to name a few and his latest album titled βBuxton Boyβ was released in July 2022.
Da Fuchaman is known for his high energy stage performances throughout the UK and Europe and prides himself on spreading love and positive vibrations to the massive everywhere he goes. In summary, if you too are a sucker for love and positivity whether you are a reggae fan or not then you donβt need look much further than Da Fuchaman and his Fire Blaze Band as this is guaranteed.
Email Address *
NEWS BIO PHOTOS VIDEOS RELEASES MUSIC DATES 
βBe strong,β sang Buju Banton the last time he set foot onstage before a live audience. βHold a firm meditation. One day things must get better.β
The date was January 16, 2011. The occasion was a concert in Miamiβs Bayfront Park called βBefore the Dawn.β After eleven months in captivity, the legendary reggae artist had been granted the opportunity to perform for one night to help fund his legal defense against an extremely problematic case which had already resulted in one mistrial and allegations of juror misconduct.
Buju was joined by a star-studded lineup of fellow musicians and staunch supporters, from DJ Khaled and Sean Paul to Stephen βRaggaβ Marley and Damian βJr. Gongβ Marleyβto name a few. Buju opened his emotional set with βClose One Yesterday,β a song about surviving against all odds. βDonβt you go down,β he sang. βKeep your head above the water. One day things must get better.β His final selection of the night was a prayerful rendition of βPsalms 23β alongside Gramps Morgan: βGoodness and mercy all my life shall surely follow me / And in Jahβs house forevermore my dwelling place must be.β
A few weeks later, Bujuβs album βBefore the Dawnβ won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Albumβthe artistβs first win after four previous nominations. But it would prove to be a bittersweet victory. As his fans are well aware, Buju Banton has been incarcerated ever since that 2011 show in Miami. His voice, however, could not be silenced.
Selections from the artistβs 25-year-deep catalogβincluding classic albums like Mr. Mention and Til Shiloh and Inna Heightsβhave stayed in heavy rotation throughout Bujuβs time away. Yet his physical presence has been sorely missed. During the past nine years the music that Buju represented on stages all over the world has become even more influential on global pop music, as international pop stars have sought inspiration from Jamaican sounds and styles. Yet while dancehall reggae rhythms have spread far and wide, the spiritual and social consciousness that inspired Buju to become a voice for the voiceless has lagged behind or fallen by the wayside.
The artist whom A$AP Rocky called his βfavorite reggae rapperβ will finally experience his first taste of freedom on December 8th. Visitors report that Buju is in good spirits, keeping physically and mentally fit and looking forward to returning to the stage and the studio. Anticipation for his return is building as the official music industry publication Billboard recently reporting that βBuju Bantonβs Long-Awaited Return is Near.β
βGive a shout out to the fans for me,β Buju told the U.S-based media outlet Boomshots. βTell them I send my love and I tell them: Do not be distracted by all the things that are taking place around them because it is designed to throw them off kilter and plunge people into a state of darknessβ¦ The people are suffering. Sadness and gloom is prevailing. Itβs widespread. But be patient. Because suffering may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning.β
Buju Banton came into the game like a champion. His voice was a lionesque roar that instantly electrified listeners, sounding impossibly powerful coming from a youth with such a skinny frame.
He was born Mark Myrie, the youngest of 15 children living in the poorest house on Salt Lane, a desolate stretch of road in the slums of Western Kingston. Though financially βdownpressed,β the Myrie family were proud descendants of the Maroons, African warriors who escaped slavery and fought for their freedom, establishing their own promised land in the mountainous areas of Jamaica. His father, an aspiring singer, provided for his family through manual labor while his mother sold fresh produce in nearby Coronation Market. It was she who gave him the affectionate nickname βBujuβ which means breadfruit, a staple food in many Caribbean households.
Even after Buju managed to elevate himself to become an internationally renowned recording artist, Buju never forgot the poverty of his childhood years. He has used his music to serve as a voice for the voiceless, and he recently established the Lend a Hand Foundation to make a difference in the lives of at-risk children, both in Jamaica and all around the world.
βI wouldnβt say I was a nice boy,β Buju says, reflecting on his childhood. βI was a little bit troulblesome.β Most of all he loved to go to the dancehall. βMy love develop by hearing other acts, such as Flourgon, Daddy Lizard, Burro Banton, Nicodemus, Jim Kelly, Early B, just to name a few,β he recalls. βThe inspiration start because they used to run the business, and I was just a youth. To hear the style and what they was really puttinβ out inspired Buju Bantonβalongside almighty Father God.β
As he entered his teen years, Buju would occasionally get the chance to hold the microphone around local sound systemsβmobile DJ sets which were popular throughout Jamaica, and eventually spread to America, giving birth to hip hop culture. Buju cut his first record βThe Rulerβ at the age of 14 for producer Robert Ffrench. A few years later he recorded his breakout hit βStamina Daddyβ for Winston Rileyβs Techniques label. By the age of 19 the prolific recording artist had broken a Jamaican record for the most #1 singles in one yearβa mark set by none other than Bob Marley, the King of Reggae.
The Bantonβa term of respect within dancehall cultureβwas just getting started.
The sound of Bujuβs breakthrough 1992 album Mr. Mention was primarily dancehall styleβhard-edged digital rhythms programmed by production mastermind Dave Kelly for Donovan Germaineβs Penthouse Records. As one of those rare artists whose work defined the cutting edge of his chosen genre, Buju set trends with each new release. His music was already internationally known when he signed a recording contract with Mercury Records in New York City and released his major label debut, Voice of Jamaica in 1993.
Ever true to his roots, Buju presented the best his island had to offer: production by the Penthouse posse as well as Sly Dunbar, Bobby Digital, and Mikey Bennett, vocals by Beres Hammond, Wayne Wonder, Tony Rebel and Terry Ganzie. The only βcrossover moveβ on the album was a track called βWicked Act,β a reggae-boom bap mashup featuring a young Busta Rhymes tapping into his own Jamaican roots. Buju would also collaborate with the American rap star Heavy D during the early β90s but the Banton never strayed, always compelling the foreign artists he worked with to adapt to his style rather than the other way around.
In 1994 the Jamaican music community was shaken by a series of tragedies. Rising dancehall stars Panhead and Dirtsman both fell victim to gun violence, cutting short two promising careers just as they were taking off. Soon thereafter a powerful roots singer named Garnet Silk lost his life in a tragic and suspicious house fire while trying to save his mother from the blaze. Buju expressed the sadness and discontent with a song called βMurdererβ which literally changed the course of dancehall music as we know it. The song offered a critique of the βgun lyricsβ that had once held sway, appealing to a sense of decency and respect for human life. Recorded over a Penthouse version of the classic βFar Eastβ rhythm, the song would become an anthemβinspiring multiple βanswerβ songs by other artists and shifting the cultural mood almost overnight. Buju had become more than a superstar, he was now becoming a leader.
It is strange this feeling Iβm feeling
But Jah love we will always believe in
Though you may think my faith is in vain
Til Shiloh we chant Rastafari name
The opening lines from Bujuβs 1995 album Til Shiloh marked the dawning of a new era in music. Universal songs like βUntold Stories,β βNot An Easy Roadβ and βTill Iβm Laid To Restβ revealed a whole new dimension to the artistβs talent, as he expanded his sound beyond the barriers of genre. βI see this as a total compilation of my concept of the music and how I feel about this music in depth,β Buju said at the time. βThis whole thing is reggae, you know, despite whatever fusion. Too much fusion bring about too much confusion and everyone want to carry the music into a different channel. Hence people will either determine that this is dancehall or reggae or calypso or whatever. But as far as I am concern, this is reggae music. Donβt abuse it.β
Aside from musicological debates, the substance of Bujuβs message had evolved as his knowledge increased through the passage of time. βWhat happen bascially is Jah have to be praised,β Buju explained shortly after Til Shilohβs release. βEverywhere in the township in the churches in the rural partsβeverywhere, And we are the soldiers and he called upon the youths because we are strong. Right now we have to clean up this business thoroughly!β
On one haunting song called βComplaint,β Buju collaborated with the late-great Garnet Silk aka βThe Archangel,β chanting lyrics that still bring goosebumps to the listener: βLet Jah rise and the heathen scatter / Got to give thanks and praises no matter / Even though the flame is getting hotter and hotter / Everybody should know and donβt believe inna rumor.β Those words would prove prophetic in years to come.
In years to come, Buju Banton would elevate his stature within the world music community, collaborating with American rap stars like Fat Joe as well as the rock band Rancid, not to mention his close working relationship with the Marley family. He toured the world, spreading consciousness-raising music to the four corners of the earth. He also built up his own studio on Red Hills Road in Kingston Jamaica, establishing his own Gargamel Music imprint to release his own work and give aspiring youths a chance to be heard. He continued releasing timeless albums like Inna Heights, Unchained Spirit, and Friends for Life.
And then in December 2009 Buju was arrested at his home in Florida after getting entangled in a complex drug conspiracy which had been orchestrated by a paid government informant. The charges were completely out of character for an artist whose music had criticized drug use over the years, but after a mistrial, and a long court case marred by charges of juror misconduct, Buju elected to do his time and put the whole experience behind him. As he once stated on that record with Garnet Silk: βDonβt believe inna rumor.β
βThere is a big void without Buju Banton in the music,β veteran reggae singer Cocoa Tea told Billboard. βHe was always touring, always working. He started that work as a teenager, and he worked until he was decades into his career,β said Pat McKay, director of programming for reggae at Sirius XM. βIn that time he built a world community fanbase. They still miss him and they still want to hear from him. His work still has value, itβs still quotable and the aspirations of that work will always ring true.β
It has been a long time coming, but the dawn Buju sang about in his Grammy-winning album is almost here. And just as the artist promised, βJoy cometh in the morning.β
08/14/2024 CHRONIXX ANNOUNCES CHRONOLOGY - THE 7TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
07/31/2024 ETANA @ WHAβ GWAAN MUNCHY?!? #80
07/31/2024 VYBZ KARTEL FREE! RELEASED FROM PRISON AFTER 13 YEARS
08/16/2024 MARLON ASHER X STRESS NADA - NEVER BLIND
08/16/2024 JUNIOR KELLY - PROTECTION
08/15/2024 R ZEE JACKSON - KEEP ON PUSHING RASTAMAN
Β© 2024 REGGAEVILLE.COM
We are using cookies on this website to give you the best, most relevant experience. By continuing to use the website, you agree to the use of cookies. Further information on cookies can be found in our privacy policy
I
βEveryone kind of likes garage, right?β asks Zachary Bruceβaka Interplanetary Criminal, one of the leading lights of the UK garage renaissance, dubbed βNUKG.β The scene has been bubbling away in the underground for the last four years or so, and in 2022, Bruce broke into the mainstream with his instrumental for Eliza Roseβs colossal, sun-kissed chart-topper βB.O.T.A (Baddest Of Them All).βAnd his words ring true: Thereβs just something about the spinbacks, the subby bass, and the skippiness of UKG that has made a new generation of music fans giddy with β90s nostalgia.
βYou look at that legendary Todd Edwards video where everyone is going mad for it,β Bruce continues. βI feel like that is what kids want when they go to the club. They wanna recreate those moments from back in the day. Itβs so weird to think that the soundβs got a number one, but also it gives me a lot of hope for all of these artists that Iβm surrounded by.β
Curated by Bruce, All Thru the Night is a new 16-track compilation from iconic UK label Locked On Records (famously home to The Streets) that showcases some of those artists in songs bursting with new takes on the old-school UK garage sound. It caters to present-day club tastes while also respecting the genreβs originators. It also marks the 25th anniversary of Locked Onβs first-ever compilation by garage pioneer Todd Edwards.
UK garage first emerged in the mid-β90s, taking its cue from the soulful garage house records coming out of the U.S. that had made their way over to the UK toward the end of the previous decade. When British producers began putting a distinctly UK spin on these soundsβmelding rave, R&B, and Jamaican soundsystem cultureβgarage was born.
UKG eventually splintered off into the jungle-influenced basslines and four-on-the-floor warped βnβ wobbliness of speed garage (also known as βplus eightβ) and jittery 2-step (which changed the time signature from 4/4 to 2/4) and by the turn of the millennium, had become a chart-dominating commercial phenomenon, as documented by DJ EZβs top-selling run of Pure Garage CD compilations. It also paved the way for other Black UK genres like grime and drill, which have been popping up in garage 2.0 productions along with a host of other styles.
Chronixx has become one of the biggest names in reggae by doing things his own way. He releases music on his own imprint β Soul Circle Music, which he co-founded with two of his managers, London-based Pierre Bost and Kingstonβs Brendon βDaddi Barnzβ Sharpe β instead of working with a major label or an established independent. This approach has led him to some of the biggest festival stages in the world, including both Glastonbury and Coachella.
With much of the music industry scaling back during the pandemic, Chronixxβs extended period at home in Jamaica allowed him time to focus on another task: Signing the first artist other than himself to Soul Circle. Hector βRoots Percussionistβ Lewis, the 31-year-old son of the late Jamaican reggae/gospel singer Barbara Jones, has played in Chronixxβs band, Zincfence Redemption, since 2013. His vibrant percussion playing and animated backing vocals, not to mention his energetic dance moves, add texture to the bandβs sound, which is anchored in classic one-drop reggae grooves but incorporates contemporary influences into a more progressive blend. βI donβt think of it as signing my first artist,β explains Chronixx. βI think of it as if I have a car and someone needs a lift, I am going to give it to them.β
In a business that is so cold, so hard to navigate, I give thanks that I met Chronixx. He has always encouraged me, so I thought why wait to record?β Lewis says. βAs I was finishing up the project, I knew I could go to Chronixx with it and he would listen to me on a deeper level than just as his band member. I told him, βI want you to help me bring the project to the world.β It is a step I wanted to take, and I know he respects things that show that you are trying to better yourself.β
The son of dancehall singer Chronicle, known for such hits as 1995βs βMy God,β Chronixx β born Jamar Rolando McNaughton in Spanish Town, about a 30-minute drive from Kingston β learned from his father how to hold a microphone and perform before an audience. As a high school student and aspiring producer, he reached out via Facebook to Jamaican sing-jay Protoje, 11 years his senior. The confident teenager told Protoje he wanted to work with him, and Protoje invited Chronixx to his house. βI always listen to people, because you never know who you are talking to, so he came over and started to play some songs; then casually, out of nowhere, he started to sing, and I said, βYou are an artist, bro, not just a producer,ββ Protoje told me in a 2018 interview. βHe was singing songs like βBehind Curtainβ and βWarrior,β which became his earliest hitsβ¦ I was blown away from that very first day.β In the same interview, Protoje unequivocally stated: βChronixx is the greatest musical talent I have ever had the opportunity to witness work, and I just hope people appreciate the gift to music that he is.β
He is the Jamaican legend who liberated reggae, taking it out of Kingston, drenching it in horns β and giving it a joyous, spiritual kick. As Burning Spear hits the road, he looks back on his astonishing life Rodney was born in Saint Ann's Bay, Saint Ann, Jamaica. As a young man he listened to the R&B, soul and jazz music transmitted by the US radio stations whose broadcasts reached Jamaica. Curtis Mayfield is cited by Rodney as a major USmusical influence along with James Brown.[
Shauna McKenzie (born 22 May 1984), known by her stage name Etana, is a Jamaican reggae singer. Her debut studio album, The Strong One,[1] was released in June 2008. In December 2018, Etana was nominated for the 61st & 64th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Reggae Album.
(Also known as 'Lakshmi')A school student, who is passionate about dance, sets out to join a national-level competition without her motherβs knowledge. Starring: Aishwarya Rajesh, Ditya Bhande, Prabhu Deva
WOLVERHAMPTON COMMUNITY EVENT
HERITAGE C
Janet Kay Bogle was born in Willesden, North West London. She was discovered singing impromptu at a rehearsal studio by Tony "Gad" Robinson, the keyboardist from Aswad, who recommended Kay to Alton Ellis. The Jamaican-born Ellis, a successful rocksteady vocalist, had relocated permanently to London, where he continued to be involved with reggae music and was looking for a female vocalist to record a reggae cover of Minnie Riperton's song "Lovin' You".[3]
Johnny Gill Jr. (born May 22, 1966) is an American singer and actor.[1] He is the sixth and final member of the R&B/pop group New Edition and was also a member of the supergroup called LSG, with Gerald Levert and Keith Sweat.[2]Gill has released eight solo albums, three albums with New Edition, two albums with LSG, and one collaborative album with Stacy Lattisaw.
Healthy Beverages
Copyright Β© 2025 NONI SOLUTIONS HEALTH CARE DISTRIBUTION - All Rights Reserved.

Follow us to watch our regular livestreams
It's not always easy to take care of our wellbeing. Or to know where to start.