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Guns out in the DANCEHALL

Sunday, May 16, 2010

It's all about the Intra, di Ruga, di Bereter, di Luga

Di Brico, di Lauma, di Glack, di Wringer

Di Astra wi mek yuh body colder than Nebraska

Yuh diss di yardy mobster, then we crack yuh like a lobster

Di AK nuh play play, mek blood run like alize

Marrow fly gone pan holiday, nuh diss Kartel any day

Vybz Kartel, Guns Like Mine

SHOOTING incidents involving three dancehall figures -- Oneil Edwards, Ewart 'Mad Cobra' Brown and producer Everton 'Rado' Minott -- in the same week have led to a rude awakening amongst artistes that gun violence is a reality. Those who didn't already know can now quote statistics that say over 500 persons have been murdered since the start of the year.

Last week, vigils were kept as entertainers united to send up prayers for the recovery of Voicemail member, Oneil Edwards, who was shot several times on Monday morning.

"Every artiste realise that it (getting shot) could happen to them. Oneil is not a bad person, he doesn't do gun lyrics, he isn't involved and it happened to him," stated Mr Vegas, the convener of the vigils.

As Stone Love CEO Winston 'Wee Pow' Powell, stated: "Gunmen don't usually turn them gun on entertainers because artiste is them idol. But gunmen don't regard anybody. There is nothing left ... no morals... it's outrageous. Tings get wicked yah now," the producer/selector declared, even as he acknowledged that violent lyrics and embracing of the gun culture has played a defining role in the events that have unfolded.

"This glorifying of the gun help to spread the virus... and it riccochet. But we still have to keep giving our best," Powell said.

Entertainers are now concerned about their safety in light of these attacks, but troublesome as it may be it is not something new to the industry.

The Sunday Observer has compiled a list of shooting incidents which have seen the deaths of members from the fraternity.

* Carl Johnson aka Sir JJ was shot in a record store in Kingston in 1971.

* Errol Robinson, aka General Echo, was shot and killed in Kingston on November 22, 1980 along with two members of his EchoTone HiFi Sound System Flux and Big John. General Echo is best known for his very popular single Arleen.

* Charlie Ace was gunned down in Kingston in the early 1980's

* Errol Archer, aka Errol Scorcher, best known for the hit song Roach Inna Di Corner, was murdered in Kingston in 1982.

* Errol Thompson, JBC's popular disc jock, was killed in 1983.

* Prince Far I was murdered in Jamaica on September 15,1983.

* Hugh Mundell was shot to death in Kingston while driving with Junior Reid in 1983. A teenage prodigy, he recorded Africa Must Be Free at the age of 16. The album received five stars from Rolling Stone magazine.

* Major Worries was shot and killed in Spanish Town in August 1987 by a security guard.

* Peter Tosh and Jeff Dixon (Free I) were shot and killed on September 11, 1987, inside Tosh's home in Kingston.

* Carlton Barrett (Carly), brother of Aston "Family Man" Barrett and an drummer and percussion player, met his demise when he was shot by his ex-wife's boyfriend in Jamaica 1987.

* Osbourne Ruddock aka King Tubby was shot and killed on February 6, 1989 by an unknown group of people outside his home in Duhaney Park, upon returning from a session at his Waterhouse studio.

* Anthony Johnson aka Panhead was shot dead as he left a dance in Spanish Town in October 1993. He recorded songs such as Respect Gunman and Gunman Tune.

* Patrick Thompson aka (Dirtsman) -- Papa San's brother was robbed and killed on December 21, 1993 in Spanish Town. He is best known for the single Hot Dis Year.

* Mikey Wallace, who was a member of Third World band, was shot and killed near his home in Kingston in 1999.

* Reggae singer, deejay and producer Pat Francis (Jah Lloyd) was shot and killed in Kingston on June 2, 1999.

* Junior Braithwaite, an original Wailer, was gunned down on Wednesday, June 12, 1999 in Kingston home by three armed men. He was 47.

* David Bingham aka Black Rat survived an attempt on his life prior to his death. On July 20, 2002, he went down in a hail of bullets (about 20) from gunmen who invaded his Dumbarton Avenue home in St Andrew.

* Shocking Vibes engineer Paul Tyrell was shot at the intersection of Springvale Avenue and Constant Spring Road in Kingston on February 24, 2004.

* Arrows Recording CEO Phillip Linton was shot dead at his recording studio on March 4, 2004. He was 51 years old.

* Gerald Levy aka Bogle was shot at a gas station in Kingston on January 20, 2005.

* Clive Jarrett, producer, murdered in his home in Vineyard Town on January 31, 2008. Co-owner of the Dynamite label, he enjoyed great success in the early 80's with LP's by Carlton Livingston (Rumours) Lone Ranger (Hi Yo Silver Away) and Welton Irie (Army Life).

* David 'Ice' Smith, was gunned down along Newark Avenue, Kingston 11 on December 26, 2008.

The killing of Jamaican entertainers are not only restricted to the island's shore.

Glen Augustus Holness aka Nitty Gritty was gunned down in 1991 at a record store in Brooklyn New York. Some of Nitty Gritty's popular songs are She's A Delilah and Hot In A Minty.

* Earlando Neil aka Early B was accidentally shot at the Windsor Cricket Club, Dorchester, Massachusetts on September 11, 1994. He is most known for the popular single Wheely Wheely.

* At the peak of his career Clive Bright aka Tenor Saw was found dead at a roadside in Texas in August 1988. Tenor Saw recorded hits such as Ring The Alarm, Pumpkin Belly and No Work On Sunday.

— Yasmine Peru and Cecelia Campbell-Livingston

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COMMENTS (10)

Sam Richards
5/17/2010

How come I never here wee pow mention that stonelove would consider not playing tunes that promote gun violence & slackness
Is it because him fraid
isn't it about time we start taking steps to curb the gun ti g by not promoting it
there would be more love if the soundman dem start buss some Gospel tunes in the dances trust mi

al jenkins
5/17/2010

WE are just to violent to each other the hatred seems to multiply whose really in control? Again I hate these negative transistions from those who do not love themselves. We purely hate each other and that a fact which is proven every month in jamaica. Let's make a change with new ideas and stop this cancer from spreading on the Island. Let us start of with the gun by back program it works.

al jenkins
5/17/2010

I realized that these unfortunate events are not getting better for people of Ja. I am always sad to hear these thing going on an can't believe that cobra was even shot. We blacks are to violent to each other for nothing god is watching but we should help ourselves an stop thinking like warmongers and devil worshippers! Okay some people have beef with each other and police aren't honest to the job they have but more do gooders are on the island. Let us put these people behind bars no matter who they are I love JA alot as american an these stories sound all to familiar since I been knowing about JA. Lets get some good ideas that work and can bring in more jobs in law enforcement and video security it can work. Lets work for a better Jamaica before this country becomes lawless. Also people who should take an interest in Ja are those who have gone abroad. Don't forget everyones idea can work and more motivational speakers are ready to emerge not only music but at functions/events.

Anancy Bedward
5/16/2010

The writer failed to mention police involvement in some of these deaths. General Echo, Big John and Flux were all killed at the same time in an alleged "shootout" with the police.
.
Errol "ET" Thompson of the JBC also came to his demise at the hands of the police.

junior wright
5/16/2010

Sad to say, lets do this article next year and im sure some more names will be added. shoot & kill people is how we deal with our differences. We are truly the offsprings of caine.

Randolph Fisher
5/16/2010

Black Music Promotions request the public to support “NO TO GUNS! YES TO LIFE” International Awareness Campaign Against GUN VIOLENCE 2010.
This campaign core achievement, is to maintaining peace and security and protecting human rights. Bring together citizens to live as one, and build a better relationship with the Police.
Jamaica is ranked Third (3rd) in the world, in relation to murders committed by GUN.
This is a crisis similar to A.I.D.S. and we need to address this issue NOW! It is quite unfortunate for the citizens of Jamaica, to let a few bad seeds, to tarnish the success of our NATIONAL HEROES and other public figure heads, who have toiled so hard for the freedom and development we now endure, as the strongest African Caribbean nation.
WHY SHOULD WE ALLOW A FEW NEGATIVE PEOPLE, TO CONTAMINATE THE ENTIRE ISLAND! WHEN WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!
THE LIFE YOU SAVE TODAY! MAY BE YOUR VERY OWN.
Let come together and fight CRIME NOW!
blackmuzik24@yahoo.com

Chloe Alexis
5/16/2010

I'm not sure if Tenor Saw should have been on this list as it is widely believed that he died after being hit by a car.

A. Croft
5/16/2010

Am I the only one who sees the madness in this. Why would anyone want to take a gun to a dance?

Paul Newman
5/16/2010

Dont forget Louie Lepkie, Rankin Toyan and Henry "Junjo" Lawes, I'm sure there are many more Jamaican entertainers who have died by the gun R.I.P

Jean-Marc PERRIER
5/16/2010

In Fact, there's a mistake. Errol Scorcher is still alive ...it's a confusion between him and another Errol Scorcher. He was intwed by a French mag' few months ago...telling the truth about his rumor of death. But the still alive.
Papa Hutch (Paris - France)

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Guns out in the DANCEHALL