9 to be recognised as ‘Reggae Legends’
Nine artistes will be recognised at the 44th Tribute To The Reggae Legends, which takes place February 21-22 at Worldbeat Cultural Center in San Diego, California.
Makeda “Makeda Dread” Cheatom, founder of the annual event, told the Jamaica Observer that Toots Hibbert, Sister Nancy, Johnny Osbourne, Little John, Michael Palmer, Ranking Joe, Triston Palmer, Etana, and Warrior King are recipients of the Bob Marley Peace Award.
Opening day is dubbed ‘Virgin Island Meets Jamaica Sound System’. Featured acts are Michael Palmer and Ranking Joe from Jamaica, with Dezarie and Ninjah P representing the United States Virgin Islands.
‘Roots Legends’, which closes Tribute To The Reggae Legends, features Sister Nancy, Johnny Osbourne, Warrior King, Etana, Triston Palmer, Junior Toots — the son of Toots, the legend died in 2020 at age 77.
Makeda Dread, an American, started the show as Reggae Legends in the early 1980s to salute Marley’s music. Typical of California reggae shows, it is dominated by roots acts.
In an interview with the Observer, the Texas-born promoter spoke about the event’s achievements.
“Working up to the San Diego Sports Arena (the show’s previous venue) with sold-out concerts of 16,000, we were able to bring reggae artistes from all over the world, including Lucky Dube. As a promoter, it’s rewarding to know that the magnitude of the festival was able to not only spread the message of reggae but also build the career of many reggae artistes. Today it is fulfilling to know that the show has continued annually despite the appropriation of reggae music in recent years,” said Makeda Dread.
The 82 year-old, who is also a civil rights activist and restaurateur, is synonymous with reggae in San Diego. She has hosted the Reggae Makossa show on Fusion Radio 102.5 FM for over 25 years, and promoted numerous reggae events throughout that city.
California was a strong market for Marley, who died in May 1981 from cancer at age 36. In November 1979, he performed at the San Diego Sports Arena as part of his Survival tour.
