SINGER Devon Jorge first attracted attention with the release of his debut single Cold Heart. But that was just a taste of what was to come.

He has come a far way since his days of working as a waiter. However, he soon realised that he wanted to work as a bartender. He utilised his singing ability to impress his co-workers and customers. It was encouragement from friends and co-workers that initially led him on his musical path. He would later embark on formal training in playing piano before migrating overseas.

Devon would later join the Flex band which comprised reggae singer Glen Washington, Jr Jazz and Timmy Love. The band performed throughout the Northeastern States for a while. He has shared the stage with the likes of the late Gregory Isaacs, Freddie McGregor, Tinga Stewart, Benjy Myers and Glen Washington. He also performed at Spring Break 2008 in Negril alongside the likes of Bounty Killer, Mavado, Beenie Man and Elephant Man among others.

Devon’s current singles include a cover of John Henry Kurtz’s Drift Away. A video for the track was recently directed by noted music video director Janelle Dyer. The song has been enjoying steady rotation on the airwaves.

Coozie Mellers teams with Papa Biggy on Sweet Jamaica

Up-and-coming reggae artiste Coozie Mellers has teamed up with veteran dancehall artiste Papa Biggy to record the track Sweet Jamaica.

Both had previously teamed up for the track Special Friend (Your Pain).

Commenting on the single, Mellers said: “This song is primarily about my love for Jamaica. The idea for the song came about from a telephone call from my mother who expressed her feelings about my absence after ten years of being away from Jamaica. She basically put into perspective that I’ve been away too long after which I started to think about all the attractions, the beauty, and all the things I’ve left behind and realised it’s time for me to go back to Sweet Jamaica.”

After he heard the lyrics to the song, Papa Biggy: decided he wanted to get in on the action. Said Papa Biggy “I’ve added a verse here and there which gives the song a little of my character as well. Sweet Jamaica tells my story.”

Human Rights label scores big with Vybz Kartel’s Yeah Though I Walk

Producer and artiste manager Kevin McLean is one happy man these days. His Human Rights label recently scored its first hit with Vybz Kartel’s Yeah Though I Walk.

The song hit number one on various local charts. In a recent interview McLean beamed about the success of the single. “I am very confident that the success of Yeah Though I Walk will lead to even greater things for the label. My production team and I have been working on several projects, so you can expect more from the Human Rights label,” said McLean.

Artiste Kashu, who is currently enjoying rotation with songs such as Mi Amor and Orders, is one of the artistes signed to the Human Rights label.

Bits and Pieces

We’re really loving that new track from singer Courtney John which is entitled Hey Jamaica which features dancehall artiste Mr Lexx. Courtney John formerly known as Yogie, has been missing off the musical radar for a while. We understand that he has a new album set to be released later this year.

Dancehall artiste T’Nez is set to embark on a European tour next weekend. In the meantime, his latest single Me She Love continues to warm the airwaves.

Spragga Benz has in the past recorded collaborations with soca artistes including Machel Montano and Kevin Lyttle. His latest soca collaboration De Galz Choon features Bajan soca stars Allison Hinds and Mr Dale.

Expect Beyoncé’s new album 4 to debut at number one on Billboard’s 200 album chart next week. The album is project to move some 300,000 copies in its first week. Her last album, 2008’s I Am…Sasha Fierce debuted at number one with 418,000 copies.

CHART UPDATES

Jill Scott’s new album The Light of the Sun debuts at the top of Billboard’s 200 and R&B Hip Hop album charts with 135,000 copies sold. It took her all of 11 years to earn her first #1 album on the Billboard 200. In 2000 her debut album Who is Jill Scott debuted and peaked at number 17.

Over in the UK, Haitian-born American singer Jason Derulo debuts at the top of the UK Singles chart with Don’t Wanna Go Home. The song contains samples from the 1993 hit Show Me Love by Robyn S, as well as Harry Belafonte’s Day O (the Banana Boat Song). Over on the UK album chart, Lady Gaga moves back into the number one spot with Born this Way.

On the Billboard Hot 100, Latin rapper Pit Bull scores his first number one single with Give Me Everything which features Nayer, Afrojack and R&B singer Ne Yo. It’s the first number one single for both Nayer and Afrojack and the second for Ne Yo. Ne Yo’s previous number one Hot 100 single was 2006’s So Sick.

Vybz Kartel’s Kingston Story debuts at number seven on Billboard’s Reggae album chart. The chart’s current number one disc is Ziggy Marley’s Wild and Free.