40 years of reggae hits on Sunsplash closer
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Monday, July 03, 2006
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The question, What Makes Reggae Reggae? has been posed repeatedly since the start of the Reggae Sunsplash 2006 campaign.
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| Bob Andy |
The organisers are confident that the answer will be revealed inside the grounds of the Richmond Estate in St Ann on the closing night of the world's first Reggae festival, Reggae Sunsplash on August 6 (as well as on the preceding three days).
The closing Sunsplash night will feature artistes whose music covers forty years of hit material. World-acclaimed troubadour Toots and the Maytals has an impressive hit
list which includes 54-46, Bam Bam, Country Road, Pomps and Pride and Never Grow Old, which have all racked up number one status in Toots' heyday.
Bob Andy is perhaps the finest lyricist to evolve out of the Jamaican entertainment scene. His hits, including Too Experienced, Got To Go back home and Games People Play have been covered numerous times and remain timeless. Add those to the two mega combinations, Fire Burning and Young, Gifted and Black featuring songbird Marcia Griffiths, and know that Reggae Sunplash closing night has a lot to offer in terms of quality music.
Griffiths, who is readying an album of new material, has lost none of her youthful zeal and come August 6, the Richmond Estate will be rocking to the strains of her many hits.
The veteran John Holt also has a slew of hits accredited to his name.
The former Paragons lead singer cannot be overlooked on any line-up as his smooth easy-going style always wins fans over. He should also score well with Sweetie Come Brush Me, Love I Can Feel, Ali Baba and Stealing Stealing.
His introduction to the entertainment scene was as a boy wonder, but Freddy McGregor has blossomed into a well-known artistic personality who understands what really makes reggae.
It would be pointless to try and list this artiste's repertoire of hits, but Push Come To Shove, Big Ship, Hard To Get and Bobby Babylon come readily to mind.
Junior Murvin will also score well with his Police And Thieves and Penny For Your Song.
When the Reggae Sunsplash train rolls in, Ken Boothe is sure to do his customary shuffle and remember the 'girl he left behind' who had him like a Puppet on a String. He'll also remember 'when he fell in love' before 'Moving Away'.
The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari will certainly be calling for Oh Carolina, and for One Hundred Years.
George Nooks has been a hitmaker since the seventies when his moniker was Prince Mohamed and he had the nation eating out of his hand with Propoganda and Tribal War. In his latter-day dispensation, Nooks has also scored with God Is Standing By, a remake of the Al Green classic.
The Mighty Diamonds and The Tamlins are two of reggae music's top trios and should do well inside the spacious grounds of the Richmond Estate.
The man credited for creating some of reggae's most pulsating basslines, Leroy Sibbles, will also bring his bag of hit songs to the Reggae Sunsplash table.
Culture is expected to shine with Two Sevens Clash, Natty Never Get Weary, Stop De Fussin' And Fightin' and Jah Jah See Them a Come.
But the closing night of Reggae Sunsplash will not only be about the elder statesmen of reggae. The hitmakers of the dancehall in the 1980's and early 90's will also be on target.
You don't have to take a Minibus Ride, or 'go to Negril' to see General Trees.
The comedic Professor Nuts is sure to deliver a bellyfull of laughs, while Admiral Bailey is certain to extol the virtues of the Big Belly Man.
Expect the best from singers Frankie Paul, and Pinchers, the Bandelero.
Even the backing band, Lloyd Parkes and We The People have scored a number one song, titled Officially.
This year Reggae Sunsplash will be held from August 3-6 and will feature over 110 acts and 56 hours of continous performances.
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