Reggae’s finest are remembering Jo Mersa Marley as a promising artist determined to carry on his family’s rich music legacy. The 31 year-old singer died December 27 in Miami, reportedly from an asthma attack. 

Jo Mersa’s “unresponsive” body was found in a parking lot, according to Miami Police. He was the eldest child of eight-time Grammy winner, Stephen Marley and grandson of Bob and Rita Marley. 

Former UB40 lead singer, Ali Campbell, spoke of good times he and Jo Mersa spent together on the road. 

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Singer Rad Dixon gives himself a New Year’s present with the release of his first album on January 1. Titled 'Hard Times', it is produced by Tasjay Productions, the company that has guided the singer for most of his career. 

Dixon, who lives in South Florida, is from Manchester where his recording career started in 2000 as R Rated. He has released a number of songs since as well as an EP, 'DJ Treasure Music Presents Best Reggae Lovers Rock Covers', last year. 

“The songs on the album see the artiste…

Jamaicans often boast that they live up to their motto, 'Out of Many, One People'. Belinda Brady, who has multi-ethnic heritage, gave a nod to her Cuban roots on 'Dance With Me', her latest song. 

Produced by Leroy Brown, it has a Latin feel thanks to Canadian guitarist Steve Major. It was Brady who suggested that sound as acknowledgement to her Cuban background. 

Drummer Sly Dunbar, and keyboardist/bassist Paul “Wrong Move” Crosdale of The Firehouse Crew, also played on 'Dance With Me'. 

“The concept came…

Going into 2023, singer/songwriter Alpha One is determined to expand on the gains he made this year, his busiest since launching his recording career in 2018. 

The London-based artist released several singles that resonated in British reggae circles including "Can’t Trust Them”, “Fire Keep On Blazing" and "Just That Little Vibe”. 

Next year, he has even bigger goals. 

"My plan for my music is to become internationally known, and for my music to be consumed worldwide," said Alpha One who was born in…

Tyrone Downie, who was once reviled for playing the organ in the Kingston College chapel, was given a warm send-off there on November 26. 

The thanksgiving service for the former Wailers keyboardist was attended by his nine children, other relatives and fellow musicians. 

Respective speakers gave humorous and tearjerking stories of his passion for music, languages, Pan African culture and cooking. 

Downie, who toured with Bob Marley for seven years,  died in Kingston on November 13 at age 66. 

His storied…

Yishka’s ‘Day’ to blow 

  A musician for over 40 years, Yishka has an appreciation for diverse genres. Many of the songs and artists he admires cover the gamut of Jamaican music as well as American and British pop. 

On “Windy Day”, the singer/saxophonist’s fourth album, he gives listeners a taste of his skills as a composer of original songs. At the same time, he covers songs he has loved for many years. 

“Windy Day” is produced by Danny Breakenridge for Upstairs Music. It was released on November 11. 

The…

A place where trends change more frequently than the weather, Jamaica is, arguably, the most competitive music arena in the world. It’s even tougher for foreigners like Lil Hanky Panky.

The German singjay has lived in dancehall land for the past four years, showing her flamboyant dance moves in music videos and recording songs like "Active".

That track, her latest, was released in September. It is on the Green Dot Riddim compilation album, produced by Claude Mills for Chase Mills Records.

Lil Hanky Panky…

When Jah Niceness and producer Jason Bromfield began work on his fourth album one year ago, both agreed it should surpass the singer's previous efforts. 

Jah Niceness believes they accomplished that and more with "Nuh Diss Nuh Man", which was released in early October by Broomfield's Open Doors Records. 

According to Jah Niceness, "All the tracks are bangers."

"Nuh Diss Nuh Man" is the first solo artist album from Open Doors Records which launched in Orlando,  Florida two years ago. 

It contains…

Last year, Spiky was looking for a song to complement her flashy AssMazing leisure wear but ended up cutting her first-ever single with two of South Florida's most popular figures. 

"AssMazing" is also the name of her song which features singjay Honorebel. It is produced by JonFX, the man behind Gyptian's "Hold Yuh" and hits by rapper XXXtentacion. 

The single was released in July by her Diamond Distro label. Spiky said the track was born shortly after she told JonFX of her plans to use a catchy song to…

For many Jamaicans, even non-Christians, nothing gets the blood pumping like a good Revival song. Sister Bless knows that feeling; she was brought up in the Revival church and is an unapologetic disciple of that movement. 

On October 14, she makes her recording debut with “Crossover”, which features the uptempo, Afro-centric beat associated with Revivalists. It is produced by George “Brotha George” Wright, one of the leading lights in contemporary gospel music. 

Sister Bless, who is from Spanish Town in…

It’s all about the ladies on “Sex Tape”, Dizzle JA’s latest album which drops October 13 on La-Fam Entertainment and 300 Records. The deejay’s seventh full-length studio effort, it contains eight songs, all dedicated to the fairer sex. 

Dizzle JA said the lack of “girls songs” in dancehall music was one of the reasons for doing an album with all-female content. Another reason --- women are the biggest consumers of music. 

“Well, the ladies requesting a lot of songs from Dizzle JA so I just said, ‘Yow, mi a…

Noel Browne, a member of the respected Browne music family of Jamaica, died in the United Kingdom on September 17 at age 64. His younger brother, Cleveland Browne, confirmed his death. 

Cleveland, best known as half of the mega-successful Steely and Clevie production team, told the Jamaica Observer newspaper that he last spoke to his brother two days before his death. Noel told him he was working on a number of projects from his home studio. 

He is the second of the five Browne brothers to die in two years…

Even with challenging economic times, Jamaicans have a lot to cheer about. The success of its athletes at major meets and lifetime achievements of legends like Bob Marley, are reasons to celebrate. 

That is the backdrop for “Inspired”, a new song by singer Rasta Progrez. Co-produced by Gold N Rule Entertainment and Rockaz Elements Production, it is bolstered by a video projecting the hardships his countrymen face, as well as the triumphs of athletes like Olympic sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. 

Rasta…

Because she started in the music business 64 years ago, Patricia “Miss Pat” Chin has seen the evolution of Jamaican music —- from ska to rock steady, roots-reggae and dancehall. The co-founder of Randy’s Records and VP Records spoke about her favorite genre during her recent visit to Jamaica. 

“I really liked the rock steady period. That really brought about some great producers and singers…the competition with the producers to be the best was a good thing for rock steady, so I think I like rock steady out…

At the time of Wingy Danejah’s conversion to Christianity in the mid-1990s, George Nooks was still singing secular songs. In 2001, Nooks had a runaway hit with his reggae cover of Al Green’s "God is Standing By". 

As a contemporary gospel act, Wingy Danejah has long admired Nooks’ remarkable comeback as a spiritual artiste. Last year, he reached out to the former roots-reggae star for a possible collaboration, which came in the form of "Hallelujah", a song produced by Righteous Records. 

“It was like a…

On his new song, “Dumpling Plane”, Snappa Chef reminisces about the good old days when Air Jamaica was Jamaica’s pride in the skies. Although its title suggests humor, the New York-based artist insists the topic is serious business. 

“Dumpling Plane” is produced by Betty Luv Entertainment and will released in September. 

“It’s just a social commentary type a song, yuh nuh. The fact that Air Jamaica, dem sell it out, we need back our airline. Just going home sometimes yuh feel like yuh not in the right…

Gary “Dr. Dread” Himelfarb, founder and former head of RAS Records, has described Cecil “Skelly” Spence of Israel Vibration as a “rebel who was the personification of Rasta.” 

Spence died in a Brooklyn, New York Hospital on August 26 of Stage 4 lung cancer. He was 69 years-old. 

Israel Vibration signed to Washington DC-based RAS Records in the late 1980s. The group recorded and released 16 (studio, live, dub and compilations) for the independent label, starting with “Strength of My Life” in 1988. 

The three…

After a two-year break, the Atlanta Caribbean Jerk Festival returns. It is scheduled for September 4 at Southeast Athletic Complex in Lithonia, Georgia. 

The comeback event is produced by Glen Simmonds Events which is represented by Cheriel Simmons whose husband Glen started the Atlanta Caribbean Jerk Festival in 2005 as an intimate backyard affair. A stalwart of Atlanta’s Jamaican community, he died in 2019 at age 55. 

In addition to local and out-of-state chefs manning booths showcasing jerked cuisine…

After making his debut as a producer last year with the Syn Citi ‘riddim’, Alton Smith returns with the Nation, a beat featuring songs by several upcoming artists. It is scheduled for release on August 30. 

Smith said he took a meticulous approach before releasing a follow-up project. The Nation has songs such as “Truth” by Bibidon and “Paranoia” by Vycedon. 

He was encouraged by the latter’s father to work with both deejays. 

“He reached out to me about his son as a young talent and his best friend…

Most persons familiar with The Mighty Diamonds agree Fitzroy “Bunny Diamond” Simpson was the quiet presence who kept the group in check. Singer Irie, who met him during the 1990s, was taken by his humility. 

On August 4, he released “Pass me The Vegetables” in tribute to Bunny Diamond who died in April at age 71. Singer Irie produced the song. 

“My reason for doing a song like this is because of the friendship I had with Bunny Diamond, him was like a big brother to me. We use to hang out at Windsor Avenue…

After dabbling with pop on her previous songs, singer Oumië decided to go Jamaican for her latest single. "Bubble", her first dancehall single, was released in late July. 

"Bubble" is a collaboration with Jamaican singjay E-Dee who, like Oumië, lives in Los Angeles. 

“I wrote a song and had a dancehall male artist in mind for it. So, when we finished the song my engineer suggested that E-Dee jump on that song which became Bubble,” said Oumië. 

The uptempo track is produced by Huc, who also engineered the…

Although they are considered mainstays of the US Midwest reggae scene,  Dred I Dread would not mind shedding their regional tag. Which they hope to do with "Mount Zion", their fourth album. 

Released July 1 through VPAL Music on their Rapid Fire Records, the Minnesota band worked with some of Jamaica's top musicians on the Saunjay Kerr-produced project. 

"Yes, we are tired of the label of Midwest band. We just want to be labeled a reggae band, that’s it, and hopefully this album will help us realize that…

Although he has lived abroad for over 40 years, Clement Gordon lives and breathes Jamaica. The singer salutes his country’s resilience on "Rule The World", which was released on August 5. 

The song came out one day before Jamaica celebrated its 60th anniversary as an independent nation. Gordon, who has lived in Canada and the United States for over 40 years, recorded the song with patriotism oozing from his heart. 

“Mi play ‘roun’, play ‘roun’ with the idea till mi jus’ sey, ‘write it Rasta!’. I never…

When Wayne Wonder recorded “No Letting Go” 20 years ago, he knew there was something special about the song, which was recorded on producer Steven “Lenky” Marsden’s Diwali ‘riddim’. 

“From the moment we created it, the song just had a good, good feeling. Mix DJs started to play and at the time I was in the US doing groundwork with advice from Shaggy,” the singer recalled. 

That groundwork paid off. “No Letting Go” peaked at number 11 on Billboard Magazine’s Hot 100 Songs chart in 2003. Twenty years after…