Surinamese singer Empress Miriam Simone makes no secret of her dislike of guns. She blames easy access to these weapons for much of the hurt taking place in many countries today.

 The Amsterdam-based artist expresses hope for more caring societies in ‘Stop The Shooting’, her latest song which is produced by Paul Scott for the Sound System Club label.

 Having lost two uncles to violence, she knows the pain felt by families when they lose a loved one. Yet, ‘Stop The Shooting’, released in October, is not only meant for persons grieving the death of relatives.

 “This song is inspired by different tragic situations, look at (the) war in Israel and Palestine, or Russia (and Ukraine). There are so much innocent people dying, even in our communities in South America and in Jamaica,” said Empress Miriam Simone.

 From the Suriname capital of Paramaribo, she has collaborated with a number of top Jamaican artists, musicians and producers including Capleton, Sizzla, guitarist Earl “Chinna” Smith and Bobby Digital.

 ‘Higher Heights’, one of her previous tracks, also called for global peace. ‘We Don’t Want to Cry’, done with Capleton, is from her album, ‘Amsterdam Revival’, which was partially produced by Bobby Digital.

 In recent months, Empress Miriam Simone has conducted a number of recording sessions with London-based Scott, a protégé of dub icon, the legendary Osbourne “King Tubby” Ruddock.

Written By Howard Campbell

An influential, but understated member of Bob Marley’s inner circle, Neville Garrick designed some of the reggae king’s most riveting album covers. He died on November 14 from cancer in Los Angeles at age 73.

Garrick, a graduate of UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles) joined the Marley camp in 1974. His first album jacket for the singer-songwriter was ‘Rastaman Vibration’, released in 1976 by Island Records.

Marley and Island Records boss Chris Blackwell were so taken with Garrick’s creativity that they gave him free rein to design follow-up jackets for ‘Babylon by Bus’, ‘Exodus’, ‘Kaya’ and ‘Survival’, albums that rank among Marley’s finest work.

The lanky Garrick, who was from Kingston, was introduced to Marley by Alan “Skill” Cole, arguably Jamaica’s finest soccer player and the singer’s close friend. Cole and Garrick were schoolmates at Kingston College during the early 1960s.

Cole last saw Garrick in March when he was in Kingston, acting as consultant for ‘Bob Marley: One Love’, the Marley biopic produced by Paramount Pictures.

“We had a good chat, talk ‘bout old times. Neville Garrick was a great bredrin, know him stuff, very creative. He will be missed,” said Cole.

In addition to his work with Marley, Garrick designed album covers for Peter Tosh (‘Wanted Dread And Alive’), Burning Spear (‘Man in The Hills’), Steel Pulse (‘Earth Crisis’) and Bunny Wailer’s ‘Blackheart Man’.

Garrick was appointed first president of the Bob Marley Foundation, shortly after his death from cancer at age 36 in May, 1981. He was awarded the Order of Distinction, Jamaica’s sixth-highest award, in October.

Neville Garrick by is survived by three children, three grandchildren and a brother.

Written By Howard Campbell

‘Live From Tuff Gong’ is the name of an album by American singer Brandon Rootz, scheduled for release in December. It was recorded entirely at the legendary studio in Kingston, Jamaica with famed guitarist Earl “Chinna” Smith and his Binghistra acoustic group.

 The album has eight songs and is co-produced by Brandon Rootz and Smith. A studio version of ‘Live From Tuff Gong’ is also in the works.

 On November 7, Brandon Rootz released the song, ‘Without The Greed’, a collaboration with Luciano. In September, saw the release of ‘You’re Like An Angel’, his digital duet produced by Lloyd “King Jammy“ James.

 From the Sonoma region of Northern California, Brandon Rootz first visited Jamaica in 2015. Multiple trips later, he said his knowledge of the Caribbean country has grown tremendously.

 “Honestly, when I first came to Jamaica I didn’t know much about the music or artists but of course heard of some of the names from going to Reggae Rising Music Festival. There’s Beres Hammond, Tanya Stephens , of course I was very familiar with Bob Marley and his sons. But I wasn’t too deep into knowing the culture and making the connection to the Jamaican music industry,” he admitted.

 With the guidance of James, Brandon Rootz gradually found his footing. Two years ago, he struck up a quick friendship with Luciano with whom he lay tracks for what became ‘Without The Greed’, which features crack session drummer Kirk Bennett and ace saxophonist Dean Fraser.

 “My mission is to capture the hearts of the Jamaican people, that they will support my mission, which is to bring glory to all. Bring a frequency that can shift the demonic energy that has brought so much negative vibrations to the world,” said Brandon Rootz.

Written By Howard Campbell

As it comes to a close, 2023 will go down as another bloody year in Jamaica, with over 1,000 homicides recorded. Most of those incidents took place in inner-city communities.

 Singer Sixy Morris is aware of the lawlessness in his country and expresses deep concern in ‘Fih Real’, a song released in October. He co-produced it Carlton Hines, who wrote the track.

 ‘Fih Real’ addresses the mood of wayward inner-city youth, who Morris says are unwilling to listen to elders or politicians because they see little hope for improvement for their lives in Jamaica.

 "Let me declare that we're not advocating violence. But the message is absolutely relevant and sincere. Most youths in our inner-city today are not trying to hear nothing that the so-called government and leaders may have to say," he noted. 

 The hard-driving ‘Fih Real’ features Sly and Robbie and guitarist Earl "Chinna" Smith.  It reunites Morris and Hines, whose professional relationship can be traced to New York during the 1990s when they collaborated on songs such as ‘Ugly Days’ and ‘Jah nuh Love Dat’.

 Morris is from the working-class community of Maverley in Kingston, Jamaica’s capital. The son of ska great Eric “Monty” Morris, he followed his father into music and was once a member of Beres Hammond’s Harmony house camp.

 Hines, who is also from Kingston, was a member of Tetrack, a harmony trio that recorded songs for producers Augustus Pablo and Gussie Clarke during the 1970s and 1980s.

 An accomplished songwriter, his most famous composition is ‘Rumours’ by Gregory Isaacs. Hines has also written songs for Dennis Brown and The Mighty Diamonds.

Written By Howard Campbell

Whenever Audley Rollen composes a ballad, his wife Dawn Marie Wisdom is part of its theme. Songs like ‘Never Knew Love Till You’ and ‘Close to You’ were inspired by her.

 Recently, Rollen released the video for ‘Close to You’, which was filmed in Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, Jamaica’s most famous resort areas. Dawn Marie figures prominently in it.

 “My wife and I have been together for 26 years, we spend a lot of time together and yes she has been the inspiration to many of the love songs I’ve written, and I give thanks for that,” said the affable singer, who is an ordained minister of religion.

 ‘Close to You’ is from ‘I Need You’, Rollen’s album which was released in the summer of 2022. That set also contains ‘Never Knew Love Till You’, which topped the South Florida Reggae Chart’ for several weeks in 2021.

 Born in Kingston, Rollen is among a handful of survivors from the Vere Johns Opportunity Hour, Jamaica’s version of American Idol, which ran from the 1940s to the 1960s.

 In the early 1970s, he was a Rastafarian roots artist who did songs like ‘Repatriation’ for producer Lloyd “Matador” Daley. He migrated to the United States in the mid-1970s, establishing himself on the Philadelphia reggae scene, before relocating to South Florida.

 Although he has done covers, Rollen prefers to write his own songs.

 “I’ve been writing, singing and playing the guitar, piano, and bass guitar for a very long time, and being able to play these instruments have helped me tremendously over the years. Over time, my subject matter has expanded and that’s why in my catalog you’ll find something for everyone,” he said.

Written By Howard Campbell

Legendary singer-songwriter Burning Spear hunts his third Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album with ‘No Destroyer’, one of five albums nominated in that category for the 2024 ceremony.

The Recording Academy announced the candidates on November 10. ‘Simma’ by Beenie Man, ‘Born For Greatness’ by Buju Banton, ‘Cali Roots Riddim’ from Collie Buddz and ‘Colors of Royal’ by Julian Marley & Antacus, are the other  nominees.

Like Burning Spear, Beenie Man and Buju Banton are previous winners of the Best Reggae Album category. The 78 year-old Spear won in 2000 with ‘Calling Rastafari’ and 2009 for ‘Jah is Real’.

Beenie Man’s win came in 2001 for Art And Life, while Buju Banton won in 2011 with ‘Before The Dawn’.

The 2024 Grammy Awards are scheduled for February 4 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

This is the 13^th nomination for Burning Spear, who like Bob Marley, is from St. Ann parish in northern Jamaica. Born Winston Rodney, his landmark ‘Marcus Garvey’ and ‘Man in The Hills’ albums were released during the mid-1970s by Island Records, when roots-reggae was taking off internationally.

It is the fourth Best Reggae Album call for Beenie Man, who turned 50 this year. ‘Simma’ has a number of collaborations with dancehall acts such Shaggy, Sean Paul, Dexta Daps and Shenseea.

Reggae gained Grammy status in 1985, with the inaugural award going to Black Uhuru with the Sly and Robbie-produced ‘Anthem’. The 2023 award went to Kabaka Pyramid for ‘The Kalling’.

Written By Howard Campbell

Gully Bop, one of the most covered dancehall artists of the past decade, died in Kingston, Jamaica on October 30. His pastor, Reverend Christopher Tate, said the deejay died at the Kingston Public Hospital from complications of kidney disease.

According to Tate, Gully Bop was admitted to hospital two weeks ago after a rapid deterioration of his health.

“God has taken him away from this cruel world,” said Tate, who disclosed that Gully Bop was baptized by the Holy And Deliverance Ministry in Jamaica early this year.

The flamboyant deejay was born Robert Lee Malcolm. He hailed from the Grant’s Pen community of Kingston, a tough enclave that is also home to Jahshii, one of the hottest acts in dancehall music.

In 2014, Gully Bop hit the charts with ‘Body Specialist’. That song, along with his homespun appearance, won him a place on Sting, the Boxing Day event billed as the ‘Greatest One Night Show on Earth’.

He did well enough there to have a rousing 2015 that saw the release of his EP, ‘Rags to Riches’, as well as other hit singles.

But it was his tumultuous relationship with his equally contentious fiancé, Shauna Chin, that made Gully a regular in Jamaican tabloids.

No announcement has been made if Gully Bop is survived by immediate family.    

Written By Howard Campbell

Being a working mother is challenging for many women. NikkiSpice, a mother of three children and notary public, knows what it is like to juggle parenthood and work.

She hails women whose toil is oftentimes overlooked in ‘M.O.D.E.L.’, her song which was released in late 2022. The title is an acronym for Mom On Dat Elevated Level.

“This track is personal as it is my true story and experience as a mother trapped inside mental religion. I overcame my fear of success. I knew after releasing ‘M.O.D.E.L.’ that I can do this big music career and fulfill my purpose which is to heal many through songs,” she said. 

Born in Kingston, Jamaica’s capital, NikkiSpice has lived in South Florida for several years. Four years ago, she started her recording career which has to date produced songs like the patriotic ‘I Miss You Jamaica’, an entry in the 2022 Jamaica International Independence Festival Song Competition.

While ‘M.O.D.E.L.’ is a shout-out to the fighting woman, it also appeals to anyone facing personal struggles.

“It is universal, here’s why. The ‘M’ can also stand for man, mother and me . It can be personalized to everyone who suffers from self-doubt that has been planted by a negative experience with other people in their lives,” said NikkiSpice.

Written By Howard Campbell 

There is no doubt in singer Isiah Mentor’s mind that many of the astonishing incidents taking place in the world, are results of a “devil agenda”. He believes it is his duty as a parent and spiritual artist to expose such “evilous” action.

That is what he does with ‘Demons Among Us’, his latest song, which he produced for the Village Records label. It was released on October 5.

The veteran artist says he has never seen the level of evil, as now, shown by seniors and young adults alike.

“I’m sure bad things happened in the past but this generation of people and their behavior and how they treat each other, all over the world, in my mind is demonic. The level and the length of barbarism, and hatred and evil in their hearts; and I see the younger generation in this time practicing behaviors that I see as demonic also,” Isiah Mentor reasoned.

On ‘Demons Among Us’, he encourages persons to “love with an open heart, but love with caution.”

 A protégé of legendary dub pioneer, Osbourne “King Tubby” Ruddock, Isiah Mentor started his career as Lily Melody. He was part of “the immediate residency” at King Tubby’s studio, along with Anthony Redrose, Wayne Palmer and King Kong.

Isiah Mentor’s strongest market is Europe, where he has been performing since the late 1980s. He lived in Ethiopia for seven years.

Written By Howard Campbell