Roots singer J Written will be in the United Kingdom this month to promote ‘Kaleidoscope’, his debut album which was released in June by Tafari Music. He will conduct listening sessions in Birmingham and London on October 23 and 24th, respectively.

Tafari Music is owned by Gary “Dr Dread” Himelfarb, founder of RAS Records, an American independent label that worked with major acts such as Culture, Israel Vibration and Gregory Isaacs during the 1980s and 1990s.

Himelfarb agreed to work with J Written after meeting him through music industry veteran Lloyd Evans.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica’s capital, J Written is from Payne Land, a tough working-class community that has inspired several of his songs.

In a recent interview with the Jamaica Observer newspaper, he said ‘Kaleidoscope’ is a reflection of his life in inner-city Jamaica.

“Every song I sing is a reflection of how I feel, what I see, and how I perceive the world in those moments. My journey led me to those opinions and my journey is ever-progressing, so I continue to learn and try my best to understand my actions, my words, my influence, my thoughts, and myself,” he explained.

Written By Howard Campbell

Having spent most of her music career working with artists and musicians in her native California and Jamaica, Ione Angeles’ roots-reggae credentials are strong. She called on that experience when working on ‘Wheelahs Riddim’, a compilation album released October 10. 

The album’s 11 songs feature roots acts based in Jamaica, California and New York, all selected by Ione Angeles, a singer who has worked with legendary acts like the Soul Syndicate Band. 

The Wheelahs ‘riddim’ was created by engineer Tuviel Levi.

“I chose the artists because I either know them or loved their work, and a few new artists came as referrals from artists I chose. Everyone just did themselves, I did not request anything, as the beauty of it is to bring out all of our unique styles,” said Ione Angeles.

Some of the artists on the compilation are Tony Chin, best known as rhythm guitarist with the Soul Syndicate Band. He does ‘Lovely Feeling’, while veteran singer Earl Zero contributes ‘Just For You’.

Ione Angeles shares the mic with Revelashan on ‘Never Alone’, while Prezident Brown does ‘Sweetest Ting’ and Isha Bel shines on ‘Jah Time’.

Born in Southern California, Ione Angeles’ love for Jamaican culture grew after she visited the country 34 years ago. She lived there for six years, recording songs with Soul Syndicate drummer Max Edwards and teaching school.

‘Inna World’, her lone album, was released in 2019.

Written By Howard Campbell

An unapologetic ‘disciple’ of groundbreaking gospel-reggae acts like The Grace Thrillers and Lester Lewis, Canute Neil Ellis pays tribute to his heroes on ‘Slingshot’, a six-song EP released in early August. 

This project hears the Jamaican artist/producer sampling classic gospel songs in his bid to introduce himself and their work, to a contemporary audience.

“The power of this project is to introduce a new generation to songs that would be foundational to Jamaican and dare I say, Caribbean gospel. The thing is, these aren't just my heroes. These are the heroes of anyone who has been in the (Christian) faith for the last 40 years. Dare I say even close to 50 years,” Ellis explained.

The songs on ‘Slingshot’ include ‘Rescue Me, which samples The Grace Thrillers’ ‘He Saw my Need’; ‘Undefeated’, inspired by Lester Lewis’ ‘Winner Man’; and ‘Nah Miss It’ which has snippets of ‘If I Miss Heaven’ by Reverend Glen Graham.

They feature several neo-gospel acts such as Samantha Gooden, DJ Nicholas, Ryan Chew, J.DAT, Jason Mighty and Zabbai.

Based in Orlando, Ellis started his career as an engineer at the Kingston, Jamaica studio of The Grace Thrillers during the 1990s. That group is largely responsible for breaking gospel into mainstream music with songs like ‘He Saw my Need’ and ‘Can’t Even Walk’.

Ellis’ credits as an engineer include projects by Beres Hammond, Kirk Franklin and The Commodores. He considers ‘Slingshot’ “one of the most forward thinking projects that I’ve done.”

Written By Howard Campbell

For the past 13 years, Keisha Salmon has been an ordained pastor, leading the flock at Ministry of God’s Love Inc on Facebook and through her prayer line. In her teens, she was a bit of a wild child who got tamed by the Word.

Salmon gives thanks to the Almighty for transforming her life on ‘Thank You Father’, her first song, which was released in December. It is produced by Andre “Dretegs” Hawthorne, a rising star in the New York City gospel scene.

The Montego Bay-born Salmon speaks openly about her life in the world.

“I see for myself that God is real and He has brought me out safe and alive from all the bad situations. If it wasn’t for God I could have been dead; or in prison etc, so I wrote the song inspired by the Holy Spirit,” she said.

‘Thank You Father’ came out two years after the release of ‘From Pit To The Palace’, her autobiography which not only reflects on Salmon’s life in Jamaica and the United States, but the importance of faith in an individual’s life.

“I need people to understand that when we make wrong choices in our life, there are serious consequences and that each one teach one, so that person reading my book will relate to my story because they are faced with similar situations and they will understand that they are not alone and if they seek God’s help they too can overcome,” she said.

Written By Howard Campbell | Observer

Just over one year ago, gospel artists Wingy Danejah and Da’Ville discussed working on a project to express their love for God and the wonders of His Word. They accomplished that with ‘I Need Your Presence’, their song which also features American artist, Kidd Lee.

Da’Ville, the singer of the trio, said they clicked on the uptempo track which was released on January 5. He and Wingy Danejah, being Jamaicans from a dancehall background, brought that flavor which gave Kidd Lee, who is from North Carolina, gave ‘I Need Your Presence’ a hip hop edge.

“When you listen to us, you can hear that we’re musically rounded and are no strangers to the multiple genres and vibes infused in this song,” Da’Ville noted.

Wingy Danejah, who lives in Florida, has been recording gospel music for over 25 years, but never turned his back on the dancehall sound that inspired him as a youth in Jamaica. Those secular beats drive most of the songs he has released.

He has also collaborated with American hip hop artists and Latin acts.

Known for lovers rock anthems such as ‘Always on my Mind’ and ‘This Time I Promise’, Da’Ville embraced Christianity when he got baptized in July, 2021. Since then, he has released inspirational songs including ‘To Jireh’.

Written By Howard Campbell 

Anyone hip to ‘90s dancehall/roots-reggae knows ‘No Heathen’ by Anthony Redrose. Released in 1994, it caught the ears of a budding singer known as Terry Linen, who vowed to one day cover the song.

He did that last year with Redrose. Their collaboration, scheduled for release on January 12 by Tad’s International Record, is produced by Tad Dawkins Jr.

“Is jus’ a song mi always love an’ anytime mi would see Anthony Redrose mi tell him we should do a version. Is a song with many powers,” said Terry Linen, who handles lead vocals on ‘No Heathen’, with Redrose singing the hook. They are backed by saxophonist Dean Fraser, trumpeter Okiel McIntyre, guitarist Mitchum “Khan” Chin, drummer Kirk Bennett and Donald “Danny Bassie” Dennis.

The original ‘No Heathen’ was done during a revival of roots themes in Jamaican reggae thanks to acts like Garnet Silk, Tony Rebel and Everton Blender. It was produced by Richard Bell of Startrail Records on a revamped version of the Tempo ‘riddim’ on which Redrose broke through in 1985 with a song of the same name.

Terry Linen is best known for the songs, ‘Couldn’t be The Girl For Me’ and a cover of Whitney Houston’s ‘Your Love is my Love’.

Written By Howard Campbell 

What would the dancehall scene be without some bling? Or as they call it in Jamaica, ‘flossing’.

Kajj salutes the genre’s extravagant lifestyle in ‘Count Bricks’, his song released in early December by Pert Entertainment.

It is accompanied by a video depicting the Jamaican artist rolling with his crew through stores, shopping for the latest in leisure wear.

“It’s all about money. The message I’m trying to get across is, anything I do, I have to have money,” said the deejay, who hails from St. Ann, a rural parish in northeastern Jamaica.

‘Count Bricks’ is his first song for Pert Entertainment which is based in South Florida. It is also Kajj’s debut single since he changed his moniker from Ruppshon, under which he recorded a handful of songs including ‘Yah So’.

Growing up in the farming area of Moneaque, Kajj was drawn to the music of Bob Marley, another St. Ann native. He also admires the music of dancehall kingpins Vybz Kartel, Masicka and Skillibeng.

According to Kajj, ‘Counting Bricks’ gives a vivid portrayal of what’s happening in the Jamaican dancehall.

“If you listen to the artists nowadays, they’re singing about what them drinking, what them wearing, where they’re going. Is jus’ reality,” he said.

Written By Howard Campbell | Observer

Singer Richard "Richie Mac" McDonald, former member of The Chosen Few, died at the Kingston Public Hospital in Jamaica on October 28. He was 68 years-old. 

Francine McDonald, his wife of 24 years, confirmed his death from lung cancer. She said he had been diagnosed with the disease last year and it had since spread to his brain. 

McDonald got involved in music during the late 1960s and joined The Chosen Few early in the next decade. At the time, his colleagues in the group were Franklyn Spence, Noel "Bunny" Brown and David "Scotty" Scott. 

Brown died last year in Atlanta from bone cancer while Scott died in Kingston in 2003 from prostate cancer. 

Like Scotty, McDonald left the Chosen Few in the early 1970s and went solo. In 1972, he had a big hit for producer Glen Brown with "Realise" on the popular Dirty Harry rhythm. 

In the 1980s, McDonald recorded two albums --- "Jah is I Light" and "Missions Are Possible" He last performed on stage at the Red Rose For Gregory show in Kingston in February.

Written By Howard Campbell

Guitarist Dalton Browne is recuperating after undergoing quadruple bypass surgery at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica Thursday evening. 

Singer Freddie McGregor, Browne's friend of 50 years, said the surgery was successful and the veteran musician is resting. 

The 64 year-old Browne suffered a massive heart attack four days earlier while at home in Kingston. 

His family requested donations of blood to help with the surgery. 

Dalton Browne, 64, is the second of five brothers all of whom are musicians. Glen (bass), Noel (keyboards), Cleveland (keyboards) and guitarist Danny are his siblings. 

He and McGregor first met as members of the Generation Gap band in the early 1970s. Since the early 1980s, Dalton Browne has been musical director of McGregor's band. 

He has also played on many of McGregor's hit songs including "Big Ship", "Push Come to Shove" and "All in The Same Boat". 

Both are members of the 12 Tribes of Israel. 

The Browne brothers performed together as The Browne Bunch, also during the early 1970s. They have established themselves as session/touring musicians and producers. 

Glen has toured with Jimmy Cliff, Tarrus Riley and Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers. Cleveland is best known as half of Steely and Clevie, while Danny operated Main Street Records before becoming a Christian and concentrating on gospel music.

Written By Howard Campbell

His brother, Cleveland Browne, disclosed that Dalton is expected to undergo quadruple heart bypass surgery this weekend at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston. 

He said the Browne family are asking for blood donations to assist with the surgery. 

Dalton Browne, 64, is the second of five brothers all of whom are musicians. Glen (bass), Noel (keyboards), Cleveland (keyboards) and guitarist Danny are his siblings. 

Dalton, a member of the 12 Tribes of Israel, is the longtime musical director for Freddie McGregor's band. He has played on the singer's biggest hit songs including "Big Ship", "Push Come to Shove" and "Prophecy". 

Glen has toured with Jimmy Cliff, Tarrus Riley and Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers. Cleveland is best known as half of Steely and Clevie, while Danny operated Main Street Records before becoming a Christian and concentrating on gospel music. 

The brothers were once known as The Browne Bunch which formed during the early 1970s.

Written By Howard Campbell