Dr. Martin Luther King on Jamaica

Bonita Jamaica
Beautiful Place. Amazing People.

See you in Jamaica.

Irie Jamaica (Things & Place)

Create Your Own

Bonita Jamaica
Beautiful Place. Amazing People.

See you in Jamaica.

Asafa Powell - The Fastest Man On Earth Has Gotten Even Faster

For us, here at Bonita Jamaica, this is a very funny story. Take that all you naysayers! Congratulations to Asafa Powell, the fastest man on earth. Bim!

RIETI, Italy (AP) -- Asafa Powell bettered his world record in the 100 meters Sunday (September 9, 2007), running 9.74 seconds at the Rieti Grand Prix.

The Jamaican set the mark in the second of two heats to reach the 100 final.

"That's what happens when I start to listen to the coach," said Powell, who appeared to ease up before the finish line.

Powell lowered the mark by 0.03 seconds, having run 9.77 three times despite never winning a major competition.

"It's just to remind my fans that Asafa Powell is still here," Powell said. "I made a couple of mistakes and I corrected them."

The heat was run with a strong tail wind, but it was below the maximum allowed by track and field's governing body, making the record valid.

In the final, Powell won in 9.78. Michael Frater of Jamaica was second in 10.03, followed by Jaysuma Saidy Ndure of Norway in 10.10.

In the heat, Ndure was second to Powell in 10.07, and Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis was third in 10.14.

After the final, the Jamaican celebrated amid a crowd of photographers on the field of Raul Guidobaldi Stadium, throwing a bouquet of flowers into the stands.

"Me and my coach have been working to getting myself back to normal," Powell added. "I came here today and I executed properly and did what I was supposed to do."

Powell finished third in the 100 last month at the world athletics championships in Osaka, Japan. Rieti is known for a fast track on which six middle-distance world records have been set. Powell said he was attracted by the quick track as he sought to bounce back from his disappointing performance at the worlds.

"It's a very fast track. I love this track. It's very bouncy," said Powell, who trains in Italy three months of the year. "Italy is a good place for me. It's my second home."

Powell first set the world record of 9.77 in June 2005 in Athens, Greece. Justin Gatlin matched the time in May 2006, but the American faces a suspension of up to eight years following a positive doping test for testosterone and other steroids at the Kansas Relays a month earlier.

In June 2006, Powell again ran 9.77, and then did it a third time in August 2006.

But despite the fast times, Powell has struggled at major competitions, missing a medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. At the worlds, he finished behind gold medalist Tyson Gay and Derrick Atkins, running 9.96. The bronze was Powell's first major medal.

Time	Name, Country	Year
9.74	Asafa Powell, Jamaica	2007
9.77	Asafa Powell, Jamaica	2006
9.77	Asafa Powell, Jamaica	2006
9.77	Justin Gatlin, U.S.	2006
9.77	Asafa Powell, Jamaica	2005
9.79	Maurice Greene, U.S.	1999
9.84	Donovan Bailey, Canada	1996
9.85	Leroy Burrell, U.S.	1994
9.86	Carl Lewis, U.S.	1991
9.90	Leroy Burrell, U.S.	1991
9.92	Carl Lewis, U.S.	1988
9.93	Calvin Smith, U.S.	1983
9.95	Jim Hines, U.S.	1968
9.99	Jim Hines, U.S.	1968
10.0	Armin Hary, West Germany	1960
10.1	Willie Williams, U.S.	1956
10.2	Jesse Owens, U.S.	1936
10.3	Percy Williams, Canada	1930
10.4	Charles Paddock, U.S.	1921
10.6	Donald Lippincott, U.S.	1912

Source: Associated Press

Asafa Powell Photo Gallery

Bonita Jamaica
Beautiful Place. Amazing People.

See you in Jamaica.

Yendi Phillips - Miss Jamaica World 2007

On Saturday August 25, 2007, Yendi Phillips won the coveted title of Miss Jamaica World 2007. Congratulations, Yendi. Go get 'em at the Miss World Competition. Win or lose, you are already our winner.

Yendi Phillips Photo Gallery

For full coverage of this event visit:
www.MissJamaicaWorld.com

See you in Jamaica.

Bonita Jamaica
Beautiful Place. Amazing People.

Then Came Hurricane Dean

Hurricane Dean struck Jamaica on Sunday August 19, 2007. No problem. As they say, it comes with the territory.

Jamaica remains firm and resilient and will pick up the pieces. And of course, Jamaica will forever be the greatest place on earth.

See some pix of the damage caused by Mr. Dean here:

Hurricane Dean Photo Gallery

See you in Jamaica.

Bonita Jamaica
Beautiful Place. Amazing People.

Bim!

Trevor Rhone Named Among Top Three All-Time Black Screen Icons

RHONE. I'm pleased that I was able to represent my country well

Jamaican playwright, screenwriter, actor, director and lecturer, Trevor Rhone has been voted among the top three all-time Black Screen Icons of the past century in an on-line poll that sought to identify 100 of the most significant international Black/African Diaspora personalities in film and television.

Rhone received 10 per cent of the votes to place third behind Sidney Poitier in second place and Denzel Washington who topped the poll.

"This is not at all a bad performance from a Jamaican from the little district of Bellas Gate in St Catherine, and I'm pleased that I was able to represent my country well," a news release from public relations firm Innovative Ideas quoted Rhone yesterday.

According to the release, Spike Lee and Morgan Freeman placed fourth and fifth respectively, in the "All Time Black Screen Icon" category.

The 100 Black Screen Icons was initiated by Every Generation Media, in partnership with the British Film Institute with funding from the Film Council and the BBC.

A special website was created to profile the icons, highlighting the nominees' key achievements and, in addition to showcasing the better-known personalities, shed light on those "unsung personalities whose contribution has furthered the development of global film and TV culture", said the Every Generation website.

"Nominees were drawn from Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and North America and were part of a 100 Black Screen Icons online campaign which promoted African Diaspora creative screen talent, while educating and engaging audiences from all backgrounds and ethnicities," the news release said.

Courtesy of the Jamaica Observer
Tuesday July 31, 2007

See You in Jamaica

Marley For Her Majesty

The Queen was serenaded with Bob Marley yesterday, as the Jamaican regiment took over the Queen's Guard.

The regiment's 34-strong band attracted a crowd of thousands outside Buckingham Palace, and they played some traditional military music, as well as some Calypso songs and the famous Bob Marley hit, 'One love'.

The British brass band mostly stuck to more traditional songs, with the exception of the Star Wars theme tune.

The ceremony, in which the Queen's guards are exchanged at 11.30, is always a popular event with tourists, but this time it was a particularly special sight.

Mrs Bedford, an Australian visiting Britain, said: "Tourists love coming down for the changing of the guards, and we enjoyed something different".

Many Jamaican members of the crowd were waving their national flag to celebrate their regiment's prestigious honour.

The Jamaican High Commissioner to the UK seemed to share their enthusiasm when he said: "This is a proud summer for Jamaicans in the UK. I urge Londoners and Jamaicans to unite and enjoy together the spectacle of
these remarkable men, each of whom is a soldier and a musician, whose colourful uniform together with their musicianship captures the pride and glory of the Jamaican Defence Force, and indeed our wonderful country".

However, Jamaican pride may be overshadowed by critics who claim that the Jamaican Regiment are being used for the Queen's Guard because the Coldstream Guards, who usually fulfil the duty, may be deployed to Afghanistan later this year.

These allegations have been denied by the Ministry of Defence. A spokesman called the event a "routine exchange", and pointed out that the Jamaican regiment has fulfilled this duty before, eight years ago.

The regiment will also guard the Queen at Windsor Castle, which is thought to be her favourite home, at the end of July.

Their band will be playing in St James's Park on August 1st, to celebrate Jamaica's emancipation day, and on August 6th, which marks Jamaica's 35th year of independence from Britain. They will also appear at Notting Hill Carnival.

Meanwhile, Brits can be safe in the knowledge that the Queen will be well protected. Col Derek Robinson, commander of the Jamaican Regiment, said:

"Training has been intense and the best of my men are looking forward to the honour of guarding Her Majesty".

Story by: Jane Ashford-Thom (July 19, 2007)

Click This Link For More Photos

See You in Jamaica

Jamaican-Born Pilot, 23-yr Old Barrington Irving, Sets World Records

"They told me I was too young. They told me I didn't have enough money and that I couldn't do this, that I don't have the wisdom, the strength or the experience. They told me I would never come back home."

Safe and sound! Standing tall on the tarmac of the Opa-Locka Airport in Miami yesterday, Barrington Irving, the world's youngest and first black man to set two world records by flying solo around the globe, responded to all those who didn't believe in him.

In an emotional and touching speech, he said, "Guess what? All those people who tried to put me down, it's done, and now what?"

Arriving to a water salute from two fire trucks, a praying group of clergy, youth drummers, thunderous cheers and flag-waving Jamaicans, complemented by cameramen and journalists falling over each other, Irving disembarked from his US$600,000 Lincair Colombia 400 single-engine aircraft, escorted by his younger brothers, Ricardo and Christopher.

The 23-year-old, Jamaican-born, raised in inner-city Miami, Florida, pilot stood proud.

In the midst of the excitement, his mother Clover Irving fought back tears, his father Barrington Irving took giant steps, and Jamaicans in the audience applauded, having witnessed the historic moment.

Housed in the veritable Ferrari of small aircraft, Irving traversed four continents, clocking more than 130 hours of flight time on a 97-day, 26,800-mile 'World Flight Adventure' that included stops in the Azores, Spain, Greece, Egypt, Dubai, India, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan.

In the tradition of Charles Lindbergh

Returning two months later than expected and at a cost of US$2 million, the young pilot has followed in the tradition of Charles Lindbergh, the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, his heroes the Tuskegee Airmen, and his mentors Erik Lindbergh, Steve Fossett and Dick Rutan, who supported his efforts.

Paying tribute to his family and sponsors, Irving, whose purpose in making the flight was to inspire inner-city and minority youth to consider pursuing careers in aviation and aerospace, said there were times during the flight that he became mentally and physically broken, but it was worth it.

Irving, who named his aircraft 'Inspiration', told the hundreds that gathered that there were times when he became very discouraged and frustrated, "mentally frustrated", to the point that he lost 15 lb.

"And I now need a haircut," he quipped.

See You in Jamaica.

Jamaica Stand Up!

See You in Jamaica.

Jamaicans Cook Up a Storm On 'Liberty'

They are waiters, chefs, cabin attendants, bartenders and jacks and jills of all trades. Yes, they are Jamaicans, working on Liberty of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International's (RCI) newest and the world'slargest cruise ship.

As they say, if you visit anywhere in the world, and you don't meet a Jamaican, then something must be seriously wrong. So, it was no surprise when I participated in Royal Caribbean International's two-night pre-inaugural cruise 'to nowhere' on Liberty of the Seas and found out that 126 Jamaicans out of a crew of 1,360 are employed to the ship and are making a positive and inspiring impact on the thousands of people they come in contact with daily.

As I strolled through the Windjammer restaurant on day one of the cruise in Miami, trying to find something to eat, I met Cavette Gabbidon and Jason Gentles who are chefs on the ship, which will make its maiden voyage to the western Caribbean on Saturday.

It was Cavette's love for cooking and his mother's encouragement that got him involved in the hospitality sector.

"My mom told me she want me to learn to cook because she didn't want ladies to give me junk food to eat," he told The Gleaner. A graduate of Hotelympia Institute in St. Mary, Cavette, who hails from Ocho Rios, St. Ann, worked in two hotels before taking up this job in 2005.

Eight-month Contract

Each contract lasts for eight months, then they return home for two months before they set sail again. The 23-year-old is now on his third contract and has worked on RCI's Jewel of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas. He has visited countries such as Ireland, Scotland, England, Germany, France, Norway, among others, where he has met persons from different countries and has learned to appreciate their culture as well as learn some of their languages.

But Liberty of the Seas, he says, is the best thing that could've happened to him because this ship will sail to Jamaica, among other Caribbean islands, every other week.

Great Experience

Like Cavette, Jason worked in a restaurant before he was employed to RCI. This is his second contract and he says the experience has been great.

"Working on a ship is agreat experience. It has its ups and downs and the rules and regulations are very strict but, on the other hand, you get to go to the different islands and meet different people, free of cost."

The 25-year-old, who has his girlfriend back home, says it is difficult to be away for long periods of time but he tries to remain positive and tells himself that he is doing this because he hopes to return home full time and set up a prestigious restaurant.

A Heart Trust/National Training Agency graduate, Jason's responsibility is to cook an American speciality each day. On Caribbean night, he cooks jerk chicken, among other tasty Caribbean dishes.

Like Jason, Cavette does not intend to work on a ship for the rest of his life. In fact, as soon as he makes enough money he also intends to return home and set up a restaurant.

Go For It

And for young Jamaicans who are thinking of applying for a job on a ship, Cavette says, go for it, but ensure that you remain focused.

"You have to be determined, because this is not an easy road and you have to have the heart of a lion," he said with a roar.

Cavette, a graduate of Claude McKay High School in Clarendon, says he misses home but tries not to think about the island until it's near time for his contract to expire.

"My girlfriend and my mom are at home and sometimes when I call back home and things are not right, I have pure headache," he said while laughing and rubbing his chin.

They both work about 10 hours per day, seven days per week.

Liberty of the Seas is to dock in Jamaica on Wednesday and, for them, this is the most anticipated trip because they will have a chance to see family members and show off the ship to their friends.

Photo of: Jason Gentles (left) and Cavette Gabbidon, Jamaican chefs on Liberty of the Seas. - Photo by Petrina Francis

Source: The (Jamaican) Gleaner

See You in Jamaica

Jamaican Judge Selected As Yale World Fellow

Monday, April 30, 2007

Judge Marlene Malahoo Forte. selected among 500 emerging leaders.

Jamaican judge Marlene Malahoo Forte has been selected as one of only 18 persons worldwide to participate in the Yale World Fellows Programme at the top-rated Yale University in the United States, the US Embassy in Kingston announced.

Judge Malahoo Forte was selected from "an exceptionally qualified and competitive group of 500 emerging leaders from over 100 countries", the embassy said in a press statement at the weekend.

The participants in the programme will spend four months at Yale, where they will explore critical world issues, sharpen skills and build relationships with other leaders, the embassy said.

It said World Fellows were selected at early-to mid-career point and came from a range of fields including business, government, media, international organisations, the military, religious organisations, and the arts. They "are uniformly of star quality with established records of accomplishment and upward trajectory". In her submitting her nomination, the embassy said, Judge Malahoo Forte exhibited "a quiet determination and an unshakable confidence in Jamaica".

"To that end, she has embarked on a life of public service and the Yale Fellowship should only enhance her leadership capability and capacity to contribute to Jamaica."

Malahoo Forte is a judge at the Corporate Area Civil Courts in Kingston and a lecturer in Criminal Practice and Procedure at the Norman Manley Law School, Mona Campus, Jamaica. She is a Commonwealth Scholar who holds a Master of Laws Degree, with merit, from the University of London, King's College; a Bachelor of Laws Degree with honours, from the University of the West Indies, Barbados and a Certificate of Legal Education from the Norman Manley Law School.

She is a former headgirl of Manning's School in Savanna-La-Mar, Westmoreland. Before taking up her judicial appointment in February 2001, she was an assistant director of Public Prosecution, with a success rate of over 98% at both the trial and appellate levels, the embassy said.

Courtesy of The Jamaica Observer

See You in Jamaica

Marley Makes Swiss Teen's Dreams Come Through

Marley makes Swiss teen's dreams come true All Magalie Billod ever wanted was to visit the birthplace of her idol

BY KERRY MCCATTY Sunday Observer staff reporter mccattyk@jamaicaobserver.com Sunday, April 08, 2007

BOB Marley made 18-year-old Magalie Billod's dreams come through yesterday. The late Reggae icon passed away eight years before Magalie was born, yet yesterday he proved that he still has the power to make women happy. In life he did it through music, and yes, charm. But even in death, he continues to keep people happy the world over through the legacy he has left behind.

So powerful is that legacy that 26 years after his death, this young Swiss girl - who is the first to admit that she did not understand a word he sang initially - travelled thousands of miles to experience that legacy first-hand.
Two years ago, then 16-year-old Magalie made one wish from her home in La Neuville, Switzerland - to visit Bob Marley's home country.

Eighteen-year-old Swiss national Magalie Billod (centre) poses with her parents Marlene (left) and Claude-Alaine, who arrived in Jamaica Friday on Magalie's granted wish from the Make-a-Wish Foundation to see Bob Marley's home country. (Photos: Joseph Wellington)

She began living that dream yesterday thanks to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, which specialises in granting wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Magalie wrote a letter to the foundation, explaining her passion for Marley's music and her desire to see Jamaica.
"I explained exactly what I wanted," Magalie told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

Within six months, Magalie, who suffers from Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic disease in which the muscles gradually weaken, got a phone call that her wish had been granted.
"I was very surprised and excited," Magalie said, her face lighting up as though she still had not gotten over that initial surprise - even though she was sitting in the cafe at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.

Since Magalie arrived in Jamaica on Friday, she has experienced many firsts. She had her first taste of Jamaican beer shortly after she landed. But she got her first real taste of Jamaica yesterday with a visit to the Bob Marley Museum.

Among the other items on Magalie's itinerary, which was organised by My Tropic Escape, is a visit to Tuff Gong Recording Studio, the kite festival in Seville and a meeting with Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller. She will also get a chance to visit Marley's resting place in Nine Miles, St Ann.
She will spend a week in the island.
"It's [being in Jamaica] incredible," Magalie said. She was sitting with her parents Marlene and Claude-Alaine, and her hosts from My Tropic Escape, Imani Duncan Waite, Stewart Wanliss and Robert Alexandre.

Before she departed the airport in Geneva on Thursday - the day Magalie turned 18 - the Make-A-Wish Foundation presented her with a special Bob Marley birthday cake.
There was a buzz of French and English around the table yesterday morning, for while Magalie speaks fairly good English, her parents don't. Alexandre is their translator.
But Magalie wasn't always an English speaker. In fact, when she just started listening to Marley, who died in 1981, she never understood the words.

"First I never used to listen for message or lyrics, just for the music. Then I learnt English, and listened for message. Then I wanted to see his country, where he has grown," Magalie said.
Now, she listens to other reggae acts, including some French artistes and Burning Spear, who she has seen in concert in Switzerland.

Magalie and her parents travelled for more than 24 hours from Switzerland to Jamaica. In fact, mom Marlene admitted that she had concerns about geographic distance when she first learnt that her daughter's wish to visit Jamaica had been granted.

"It was her wish and she wanted to go, but I said 'Oh, it was too far,'" Marlene said.
Because of her illness, she is not able to walk. But she uses a four-wheeled, moped-like machine to get around.
The affable high school student says she has many friends who will definitely be hearing more about Jamaica.
"I'm going to tell them about the trip and take some gifts," Magalie said.

Magalie and her family will leave Kingston today for Breezes Runaway Bay where they will spend the duration of their visit.
They will return to Kingston and see the Tuff Gong studio before they depart next Friday, and Duncan Waite hinted that there might be a Marley surprise in store for Magalie.

Source: www.JamaicaObserver.com

See You in Jamaica

Young Jamaican Pilot Takes Off On Historic Journey

By Alva James-Johnson

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - When Barrington Irving wants to get into the flying mood, he jumps into a tan flight suit with a logo that says: Experience Aviation.

So it is no wonder that he wore the outfit confidently as he prepared for the most daunting flight of his young life.

Irving, a 23-year-old aerospace student at Florida Memorial University, expects to take off from Opa Locka Executive Airport Friday on a mission to become the youngest person and first black pilot to fly solo around the world. "It keeps me focused and puts me in a different mode," he said, sporting the snug flight outfit Thursday. "I'm ready to fly."

Irving is founder and president of Experience Aviation, a Miami-based organization that encourages minority youths to pursue aviation careers. He is scheduled to depart about 10:30 a.m. in a Lancair Columbia 400 single-engine aircraft that he calls "Inspiration." About 2,000 elementary to high school students are expected to witness the historic event. They will be able to track Irving's flight and travel with him at experienceaviation.org, thanks to equipment donated by Microsoft.

Irving originally planned to circumnavigate the globe a year ago, but the $1 million project was delayed due to a shortage of money. He is still $20,000 short, he said, but plans to fly regardless.

"I want this completed before the year is over so kids can see that someone who started off with nothing, set a goal and completed it," he said. "Even with the challenges, everything is starting to fall in place. It's just my time."

Irving plans to fly around the world in 41 days, starting with stops in Cleveland, Ohio, and Farmingdale, N.Y. He expects to cross into Canada on Tuesday, and then travel across the Atlantic, through Europe, the Middle East and Asia. He plans to return to Miami April 30, just in time to be recognized at the McDonald's Air and Sea Show in Fort Lauderdale.

Irving said the most difficult leg would be from Japan to Alaska, as he crosses the Bering Strait.

"It has big waves and drastic weather changes," he said. But the pilot, who plans to travel with a special Bible from his mother, is not afraid.

"Because I have a strong relationship with God, I can accomplish what I'm about to do," he said.

Those who helped prepare Irving for the flight said it would be a historic moment.

"I wasn't there to see the trials and tribulations of the Tuskegee Airmen and what they went through in World War II," said Marc Henderson, community relations coordinator for Miami International Airport. "I think this is historic, not only for aviation, but for those of us of African descent."

Fabio Alexander, CEO and owner of the Opa-Locka airport, compared Irving to other aviation pioneers like the Wright brothers and the first astronauts to go to the moon.

"It took feats like this to take our minds and imagination to the moon and beyond," he said. "Aviation provides a lot of opportunities and it makes you believe."

Irving was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and grew up in the Carol City neighborhood of northwest Miami-Dade County. He saw few opportunities for success, he said. But that all changed when he met a Jamaican-American United Airlines pilot at his parents' Christian bookstore.

Capt. Gary Robinson took the then-15-year-old to the airport to see a Boeing 777. Irving was mesmerized and decided to become a pilot. He turned down college football scholarships to pursue his dream. For two years, he attended Broward Community College, majoring in aeronautical science. In 2003, he received a joint Air Force and Florida Memorial University Flight Awareness Scholarship to cover his college tuition and flying lessons.

Today, he has several pilot licenses, including private and commercial ones.

In 2003, Irving decided to make aviation history and inspire other youths. When he could not convince aircraft manufacturers to lend, lease or donate a plane for the project, he asked them to just donate the parts.

With the help of Alexander, he visited aviation trade shows and secured more than $300,000 in donated parts. Columbia Aircraft built him a $600,000 airplane, which aviation enthusiasts consider the Ferrari of small aircraft.

One of Irving's mentors was none other than Erik Lindbergh, the grandson of aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh, who re-created his grandfather's 1927 Spirit of St. Louis transatlantic flight for its 75th anniversary.

Irving said people like Lindbergh helped him overcome many obstacles.

"For me, when someone says I can't do something, it's like a challenge," he said. "Not everyone is going to understand the vision and mission at first. But there are good people out there who will want to get involved."

See You in Jamaica

Ska - One of Jamaica's First Gifts to the World

Ska is a Jamaica-originated music genre that combines elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. It is characterized by a walking bassline, a scratchlike tempo, accented guitar or piano rhythms on the offbeat; and in some cases, jazz-like horn riffs. Originating in the late 1950s, it was a precursor to rocksteady and reggae.

In the 1960s, ska was the preferred music genre of rude boys, although many ska artists condemned the violent rude boy subculture. Ska was also popular with British mods and skinheads, so artists such as Symarip, Laurel Aitken, Desmond Dekker and The Pioneers aimed songs at members of those two subcultures. Music historians typically divide the history of ska into three waves, with a revival in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and another in the 1990s, mostly based in the United States.

Origins

After World War II, Jamaicans purchased radios in increasing numbers, and were able to hear rhythm and blues from Southern United States cities such as New Orleans by artists such as Fats Domino and Louis Jordan. The stationing of American military forces during and after the war meant that Jamaicans could listen to military broadcasts of American music, and there was a constant influx of records from the US. To meet the demand for that music, entrepreneurs such as Prince Buster, Clement "Coxsone" Dodd and Duke Reid formed sound systems.

As jump blues and more traditional rhythm and blues began to ebb in popularity in the early 1960s, Jamaican artists began recording their own version of the genres. The sound was initially characterised by a guitar chop on the back beat, with horns and piano later playing the same riff. Drums kept 4/4 time, and the bass drum was accented on the second and fourth beats. The upbeat sound can also be found in other Caribbean forms of music, such as mento and calypso.

One theory is that Prince Buster created ska during the inaugural recording session for his new label, Wild Bells. The session was financed by Duke Reid, who was supposed to get half of the songs to release, but he only received one, which was by trombonist Rico Rodriguez. Among the pieces recorded were "They Got To Go" and "Shake A Leg". According to reggae historian Steve Barrow, during the sessions, Prince Buster told guitarist Jah Jerry, to "change gear, man, change gear," and the guitar began emphasizing the second and fourth beats in the bar, giving rise to the new sound.

The first ska recordings were created at facilities such as Studio One and WIRL Records in Kingston, Jamaica, with producers such as Dodd, Reid, Prince Buster and Edward Seaga. Ska music was showcased at the 1964 New York World's Fair. Byron Lee & the Dragonaires were selected as the band for the occasion, and Prince Buster, Eric "Monty" Morris, and Peter Tosh performed with them. Prince Buster and U-Roy brought ska from Jamaica to the United Kingdom in the early 1960s.

There are different theories about the origins of the word ska. Guitarist Ernest Ranglin said the offbeat guitar scratching that he and other musicians played was referred to as "skat! skat! skat!". Some believe that bassist Cluet Johnson coined the term ska when explaining the ya-ya sound of the music amd rhythm.[citation needed] This may be because he greeted his friends with the word skavoovie, perhaps imitating American hipsters of the era. Johnson and the Blues Blasters were Coxsone Dodd's house band in the 1950s and early 1960s before the rise of the Skatalites.

The ska sound coincided with the celebratory feelings surrounding Jamaica's independence from the UK in 1962; an event commemorated by ska songs such as Derrick Morgan's "Forward March" and the Skatalites' "Freedom Sound". Because the newly-independent Jamaica didn't ratify the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works until 1994, copyright was not an issue, creating a large number of cover songs and reinterpretations. Musicians such as Clement Dodd's house band, The Skatalites, often recorded instrumental ska versions of popular American and British music, such as Beatles songs, movie theme songs, or surf instrumentals. Bob Marley's band The Wailers covered the Beatles' "And I Love Her", and radically reinterpreted Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone".

As music changed in the United States, so did ska. In 1966 and 1967, when American soul became slower and smoother, ska changed its sound accordingly and evolved into rocksteady.

The 2 Tone era began in the late 1970s in England. The genre was a fusion of Jamaican ska rhythms and melodies with punk rock's uncompromising lyrics and aggressive guitar chords. The music is characterized by faster tempos, fuller instrumentation and a harder edge than original 1950s and 1960s ska. The genre was named after 2 Tone Records, a label founded by Jerry Dammers of The Specials. Although 2 Tone bands were respectful to the original Jamaican ska artists, the Specials failed to credit Prince Buster, Toots and the Maytals, Dandy Livingstone or Andy and Joe as the composers of songs on their 1979 debut vinyl release. However, the reworking of classic ska tracks in many cases turned the originals into hits again.

Tone

The 2 Tone movement promoted racial unity at a time when racial tensions were at a high point in the UK. Most of the bands on the record label had multiracial lineups, such as The Beat (known as English Beat in North America) and The Selecter.[1] Although only on the 2 Tone label for one single, Madness was one of the most effective bands at bringing the 2 Tone style into the mainstream. Their high public profile was partly due to their videos getting heavy airplay on MTV and the BBC's Top of the Pops.

Third Wave Ska

In the 1980s, bands influenced by the 2 Tone ska revival began to form in the United States and other countries. Three of the earliest American ska revival bands were The Toasters, The Uptones and Bim Skala Bim. The Toasters, formed at the end of the 2 Tone era, were one of the main driving forces behind the third wave of ska. Bands like Operation Ivy, Sublime and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones helped popularize ska punk. This new sound was heavily influenced by various styles of punk rock instead of the R&B sound found in the first two waves. During the rise of ska punk, some third wave ska bands continued to play in the 1960s ska style, such as Hepcat, Skavoovie and the Epitones, and The Slackers.

In 1983, The Toasters' frontman Robert "Bucket" Hingley created Moon Ska Records, which became the biggest American ska record label. It featured many bands that became staples in third wave ska, including Dance Hall Crashers, The Allstonians, The Slackers, Skavoovie and the Epitones, The Scofflaws, The Pietasters and Let's Go Bowling. Moon Ska Records officially folded in 2000, but Moon Ska Europe continued operating in the 2000s. In 2003, Hingley launched a new ska record label, Megalith Records.

By the early 1990s, ska revival and ska punk bands were forming throughout the USA and many other countries. An enormous growth of the ska punk genre occurred after the The Mighty Mighty Bosstones signed with Mercury Records in 1993 and appeared in Clueless with their first mainstream hit "Where'd You Go?".

In 1996, Mike Park of the band Skankin' Pickle officially founded Asian Man Records, which was the biggest West coast United States third wave ska label. Asian Man Records showcased acts such as Big D and the Kids Table, MU330, Less Than Jake and Chris Murray.

In 1997, Brett Gurewitz and Tim Armstrong founded Hellcat Records, which mostly featured punk rock bands, but also presented ska and ska-punk bands such as Voodoo Glow Skulls, Choking Victim, Leftover Crack, The Slackers, The Pietasters and Dave Hillyard and the Rocksteady Seven. Choking Victim (and their later incarnation Leftover Crack) fused ska, punk and death metal to create what they called Crack Rock Steady.

By the late 1990s, mainstream interest in ska punk bands had waned as other music genres gained momentum. However, several ska punk bands have maintained a steady following in the 2000s. These have included Reel Big Fish, Suburban Legends, Streetlight Manifesto, Catch 22, The Aquabats!, Big D And The Kids Table, Mad Caddies, Spunge and Less Than Jake (most of which have moved away from their earlier ska-influenced sound to embrace various forms of rock or punk). Some third wave bands — such as The Slackers, Hepcat and Westbound Train — remained heavily influenced by the sound and style of first-wave ska and rocksteady.

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Willard White - One Of The World's Great Bass Singers

Knighthood For Opera Star White

Willard White, one of the world's great bass singers, has received a knighthood in the Queen's birthday honours list.

Jamaica-born Sir Willard White, 57, has sung in some of the great opera houses of the world and performed with many of the world's most celebrated symphony orchestras.

Often compared to US singer Paul Robeson, whom he honours in his repertoire, Sir Willard began his professional career in 1974, making his debut with New York City Opera as Colline in La Boheme.

Two years later he made his London opera debut with English National Opera as Seneca in Monteverdi's 'L'Incoronazione di Poppea.

In 1982 he sang the King in Prokofiev's Love for Three Oranges at Glyndebourne.

His large repertoire also includes bass-baritone roles in operas by Handel, Mozart and Gershwin.

He has worked with the London Philharmonic, La Scala Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic and Los Angeles Philharmonic, and has compelling dramatic skills.

His ability as an actor was especially noted in Porgy and Bess at Glyndebourne in 1986. He then won strong reviews starring in a Royal Shakespeare Company production of Othello.

He appeared as the soloist at The Last Night of the Proms in 1999, 2000 and at the opening ceremony of the Millennium Dome.

In many people's minds, his most outstanding role is as Mephistopheles in The Damnation of Faust, which he has sung many times.

Sir Willard studied at the Jamaican School of Music and Juilliard in New York, and says his upbringing in Jamaica influenced his way of thinking.

Spiritual

His parents, while not musical, gave him huge moral support in his career, even though it meant him leaving the island to train in New York.

He is a deeply philosophical and spiritual man, with a series of instantly quotable instances of his worldview.

"In all spheres of life it is very important for people with experience to assist those with less," he says.

"I say follow your heart and believe in what you do but always be prepared to adapt from day to day.

"Every man and woman has a place in this world and the right to be in that place.

"I believe in God but not a conventional God. I believe in a wonderful force around our lives, in our lives, in the midst of lives and in the midst of our bodies."

A father of seven children, he lives in London. In 1995 he was awarded a CBE.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/entertainment/3798349.stm

Published: 2004/06/12 08:02:16 GMT

Special thanks to: http://www.joyousjam.com/jamaicasclassicalmusicians/id22.html

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Agnes Macdonald - First Lady of Canada

Agnes Macdonald, Baroness Macdonald of Earnscliffe

Susan Agnes Macdonald née Bernard (August 24, 1836 – September 5, 1920) was the second wife of Sir John A. Macdonald, the first Prime Minister of Canada. She was granted the title Baroness Macdonald of Earnscliffe following her husband's death in 1891.

She was born in Jamaica to The Honourable T.J. Bernard and his wife, Theodora Foulks. She was raised there and in England before she came to Canada with her mother to live with her brother, Hewitt, a lawyer. It was through him that she met Sir John A. Macdonald for the first time in 1856. It was in 1866, in London, England, where Miss Macdonald had been with her mother that she saw her husband to be who was there to prepare the British North America Act. They married on February 16, 1867 and had one daughter, Margaret Mary Theodora Macdonald, who was severely handicapped both mentally and physiclly (1869-1933).

By 1896 she left her home at Earnscliffe to go back to England. Allthrough her life she was known as Agnes, she died in England and was buried in the Ocklynge Cemetery in Eastbourne, a city just south of London.

Personality

She was known as a lady of charming personality, with a courageous and happy disposition. She had the faculty of making and holding friendships, and was a true helpmeet to her husband.

During her stay in Canada with her husband, she became intimately acquainted with many of the intricacies of the political and historical events of the country and displayed her love of it in the sentiments expressed in many magazine and Press articles.

In England, despite the weight of years, her participation in social and philanthropic work was active.

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Sly & Robbie - Legendary Reggae Duo

No matter how advanced drum machine technology gets, reggae at its most genuine will always be characterized by at least one core element: a real live flesh-and-blood drums and bass team. Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare have been called the greatest such team in reggae, while their skills have carried them well beyond the reggae realm. It seems forever that they've been identified as a duo, but they'd both honed their respective chops prior to their first mid-'70s teaming. Dunbar had expanded the parameters of reggae drumming in sessions at Channel One studio. Shakespeare's resume included work with Jack Ruby's Black Disciples. After hearing and quickly coming to appreciate each other's playing, they cemented a partnership that's been 30 years long and is still strong.

Sly and Robbie's near-perfect steadiness is embellished by their own characteristic touches, including Shakespeare's subtly penetrating tones at key rhythmic moments and Dunbar's on-and-off-the-beat accents. Whatever the secret, their playing has graced the music of more reggae stars than you can shake a spliff at. Besides extended stints as the studio and touring rhythm section for Peter Tosh and Black Uhuru, Sly and Robbie have laid it down for Bunny Wailer, Gregory Isaacs, Sugar Minott, Dennis Brown, John Holt, Culture, the Mighty Diamonds, Horace Andy, Judy Mowatt, Yellowman and countless others.

Additionally, the volume of work they took on and the rewards reaped from it enabled them to start their own label, Taxi Productions, which came to be seen as a kind of Jamaican equivalent of Motown. With Taxi, Sly and Robbie were able to boost the profiles of such promising hit-makers as the Tamlins, Jimmy Riley and Ini Kamoze.

As much as they did for reggae, it didn't take long for the rest of the music world to take notice of the "Riddim Twins'" expertise. Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Herbie Hancock, Joe Cocker, Grace Jones, Carly Simon and others have enlisted the pair's services. And they've put out releases under their own name where the reggae beat was nowhere to be found, including the funk/hip-hop-leaning albums Language Barrier and Rhythm Killers. When dancehall replaced roots reggae as Jamaica's dominant sound, Sly and Robbie were on the cutting edge of that genre's programmed grooves, producing monster hits like Chaka Demus and Pliers' "Murder She Wrote." Keeping one foot in reggae and the other ever-willing to explore, Sly and Robbie continue to rule the drums and bass roost.

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Mighty Diamonds - Reggae Band

The reggae road is littered with the bodies of fallen vocal groups that contributed a couple of tunes or an album of note and then disappeared into the history books. But the Mighty Diamonds have persevered, the original trio lineup still intact, having logged some 40-plus albums during a career well into its fourth decade. Their close, soulful harmony sound, offered via both sweet, passionate love songs and conscious political and spiritual material, provided a template that countless others have followed.

Donald "Tabby" Shaw, Fitzroy "Bunny" Simpson and Lloyd " Judge" Ferguson first came together in 1969 in Kingston's Trenchtown ghetto. Inspired by America's Motown sound, they recorded a number of unsuccessful singles for various producers before racking up their first local hit with "Shame And Pride" for Jah Lloyd. It wasn't until they discovered the emerging Channel One studio in 1975, however, that the Mighty Diamonds became a genre-shaping force in reggae. With Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare's Revolutionaries behind them, the Mighty Diamonds established their presence with early R&B-flavored romantic hits such as "Hey Girl" and "Country Living," as well as the more lyrically aggressive "Back Weh A Mafia" and "Right Time."

That latter track also provided the title of their first release for Virgin, recognized as one of the all-time classic reggae vocal albums. The best songs on 1976's Right Time, among them "I Need A Roof," "Them Never Love Poor Marcus," "Africa" and the aforementioned "Right Time," placed the Mighty Diamonds in the pantheon of reggae's most outspoken roots artists, their often militant words belied by their refined, charming vocal harmonies.

Right Time made international stars out of the Mighty Diamonds, and they recorded their next album, Ice On Fire, in New Orleans, using the legendary R&B producer Allen Toussaint. They returned to Channel One for their next few albums, Stand Up For Your Judgement, Planet Earth and Deeper Roots. By the early '80s, the group was gone from Virgin and began releasing music on their own Bad Gong label and for other sundry companies. A 1981 single, "Pass The Kouchie," was covered by the British group Musical Youth, who took the ganja references out, retitled it "Pass The Dutchie" and took it to the Top 10 in America.

The Mighty Diamonds have continued to record and tour in the decades since their initial splash (although many of their classic albums are out of print, replaced by poor-sounding, ill-conceived compilations), and while they are no longer considered a front-line group, their past impact is undeniable.

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Culture - Reggae Band

In terms of his commitments to a strictly-roots outlook, an unwavering belief in Africa as a true homeland and upholding the iconic status of Marcus Garvey, Culture's Joseph Hill ranks with Winston Rodney (Burning Spear) as one of foundational reggae's mightiest spokesmen.

Though he's among reggae's most recognizable voices, Hill began as a percussionist in the Soul Defenders, one of the in-house bands at Clement Dodd's famed Studio One. It was also there that he took his first steps as a vocalist, singing lead on "Take Me Girl" (under the name the Neptunes) and the repatriation anthem "Behold The Land."

Hill's cousin Albert Walker proposed the idea of forming a full-fledged vocal trio, and with Kenneth Dayes and Walker harmonizing behind Hill's eloquently urgent leads, Culture (briefly known as the African Disciples) was born. Their initial tracks were laid at the studio of Joe Gibbs, who produced their early singles and their landmark 1977 debut LP Two Sevens Clash. That album, with its militant/spiritual air and rock solid consciousness, ranks alongside works from the same era by Bob Marley, Burning Spear, Israel Vibration and the Mighty Diamonds as a defining moment in the Rasta/reggae connection. After two more albums with Gibbs, the group moved on to Sonia Pottinger's High Note label, cutting such enduringly crucial discs as Harder Than The Rest and Cumbolo.

The trio went its separate ways in the early '80s, with Hill releasing Lion Rock under the Culture name. They were back together in full force by 1986, and subsequent albums like Culture at Work, 'Nuff Crisis and Wings Of A Dove brimmed with the same strengths as the early years: percolating riddims, heartfelt songs (penned mostly by Hill) and robust harmonies. Dayes left in 1993 and was eventually replaced by Telford Nelson. That one personnel change aside, Culture has remained a constant in reggae. Their albums have been released and/or re-released by various labels (Shanachie, RAS, Heartbeat, etc.), but any Culture disc is sure to be loaded with unwavering Jamaican roots vibes. A couple of recent in-concert offerings (Cultural Livity and Live In Africa) showcase the group's onstage muscle, and their latest studio album, 2003's timely World Peace, has them sounding as blazingly righteous as ever.

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Sister Carol - Reggae Artiste

Known as the "Black Cinderella" and "Mother Culture," Sister Carol has led the way for women in reggae. Her music is rich with cultural heritage and infused with a vital social consciousness that permeates every aspect of life in the '90s. Many were introduced to Sister Carol through Jonathan Demme's films Something Wild and Married to the Mob, but her greatest strength is her music — music that carries a social message for people all over the world. There are no books in this musical classroom; learning comes through listening to the teacher. Who knew that the dancehall scene of NYC in the '70s would lead Sister Carol to a path of movies, albums, television appearances and a Grammy nomination for her highly regarded release Lyrically Potent.

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