TODAY, the official Reggae Month activities commence with the Dennis Brown Celebrations at ‘Big Yard’, his birth-place on Orange Street. While Dennis’ birthday (February 1st) actually falls on Tuesday, the organisations staging the event — The Dennis Brown Trust, Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA), Leggo Records and Sounds & Pressure — thought it more appropriate to implement this free mass stage-show and party on the weekend, to allow for an earlier start of, and maximum attendance at the festivities in his honour.

In my view, there could not be a more appropriate way to launch Reggae Month activities. Without a doubt, during his lifetime, this dynamic, charismatic artiste with the moniker ‘the crown prince of Reggae’ was unequalled as Jamaica’s favourite and most prolific hitmaker, singer and performer; even reggae king Bob Marley always declared so. He was the best closing act that Jamaica has so far produced and his performances were of a consistently high quality, energy and entertainment value. Dennis was one of a trio of singers around which Sunsplash Singers Night was built annually, significantly assisting to develop that massive audience (28,000 at its peak in 1992) and awesome reputation that it gained internationally. The other two were Gregory Isaacs, ‘The Cool Ruler’, and Barrington ‘The Canary’ Levy.

The line-up for his celebrations includes such Reggae luminaries as Beres Hammond, Freddie McGregor, John Holt, Ken Boothe, Marcia Griffiths, Tony Rebel, Big Youth, Julian and Damian Marley, George Nooks, Horace Andy and Uprising Roots with Fredlocks.

Back by popular demand, is the weekly series of free concerts being produced by JaRIA, each Wednesday during February, at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts. This programme was first successfully instituted last year, to highlight the main genres of music created and/or performed by Jamaican musicians since the dawn of our nation, in an edutainment format. They chronicle the evolution, development, diversity and versatility of our musical art forms, history and practice.

The first in the series, branded ‘Heritage’, on February 2, will focus on Folk, Mento, Jazz, Classical, and Drumming, featuring Nexxus, Jolly Boys, Dennis Rushton, Ashes (Peter Ashbourne Ensemble) and Calvin the master drummer of NDTC and Pantomime fame.

On the second week, February 9 has been labelled Classical Rhythms — Ska, Rocksteady, Gospel and Dancing, will be highlighted by The Nambo Robinson workshop, Chinna Smith and Inna Di Yaad, Horsemouth and crew, Grace Thrillers, Carlene Davis, Edna Manley Dancers and Edna Manley Band.

Reggae Gone Global aptly describes the musical offerings of February 16, with its emphasis on dub, dub poetry and Rockers. This promises to be a truly splendid night, epitomising the best of Jamaican musical fare, with Sly Dunbar & Lloyd Parkes leading a band, Junior Reid, Big Youth, Cocoa Tea, Fab Five Band, Dub Tonic Crew, Uprising Roots, Pentateuch, and Blueprint, already confirmed.

The final in this year’s series of concerts called Fusion, will take place on February 23, and will feature dancehall and alternative music, headlined by Tony Rebel and the irrepressible Queen Ifrica.

Two other very important events that are being organised by JaRIA are the sacred Praise and Worship thanksgiving church service at Swallowfield Chapel on Sunday February 6th, and a repeat of the Trench Town tour on February 20th.

The Marley family is co-ordinating the 19th staging of the annual Bob Marley Birthday Bash on February 5 and 6, while Bob’s foundation organises their customary Bob Marley Day at the Museum. The Rita Marley Foundation will also hold a Youth Symposium on the 7th of February

Each Tuesday, during the month, the Negril music cluster stages their One Love Reggae Concert series.

The Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates have added the Cool Ruler to their annual tribute to the King and Crown Prince, and their venue this year is the Police Officers Club, because the event has now outgrown the previous one. Yet they still can’t get adequate corporate sponsorship.

As usual, the authentic, exclusive — by invitation only — eagerly anticipated JaRIA Honour Awards will be staged on February 26, culminating the events produced by that umbrella organisation, during the current edition of Reggae Month. This year, three new categories have been added, to give credit where it’s due. These are: Duo/Group (vocals); Band; and Outstanding contribution to Industry (Media or Promoter); bringing the categories up to eleven, with seventeen Honourees in total.

The artiste fraternity and members of JaRIA must be congratulated for giving their talent, time, skills, services and networks to the JaRIA events, free of charge, in salute to our heroes, our music and the Jamaican nation at large, as we continue to build the Reggae Month brand.

Email: che.campbell@gmail.com