All posts by M. Peggy Quattro

#ReggaeReport Founder-Publisher; Reggae Pioneer; Author "Reggae Trilogy: 200+ 80s & 90s Artist Headshots", Writer/Editor; Consultant

My Response to “Where Have All the Music Magazines Gone?”
Aaron Gilbreath| Longreads | Dec. 2018

By M. Peggy Quattro

Reggae Report International Magazine began as a one-page newsletter in 1983. However, my interest in, and commitment to, spreading the music and message began years earlier. One day, I promised myself, I would do all that I could to get the word out to a world of fans I knew were there – fans ready for and waiting for Reggae.

Remember, Reggae, as most of the universe knows it today, was born in Jamaica in the late 60s-early 70s, proudly rising on the shoulders of Ska and Rocksteady. 1983 was considered to be in the early stages of this Reggae phenomenon. I knew branching out was going to be a long, hard road to hoe…but hey, let’s get started! Continue reading MPQ’s Response to Where Have All the Music Magazines Gone? →

Bands & Groups - All, Read the Music! Magazine Articles & More! - All, Vol 13-1995

Inner Circle – ’94 Grammy Nomination – V13#02 1995

November 1, 2018 M. Peggy Quattro

Miami’s “Bad Boys” Nominated for ’94 Grammy
by Sara Gurgen

They won the Grammy for best 1993 Reggae album, and now Inner Circle–Miami’s world famous, hard-working “Bad Boys” of Reggae–have been nominated for the 1994 Grammy with their latest Big Beat/Atlantic release, Reggae Dancer.

“It’s doing excellent, man, everywhere in the world; and when I mean excellent, I mean excellent,” said band leader and rhythm guitarist, Roger Lewis, in a recent Miami interview during a brief respite from Inner Circle’s hectic touring schedule. “It is one of the biggest selling foreign albums in Japan. Over 300,000 albums [have sold] in Japan [as of Dec. 21]. Hundreds of thousands in Mexico. In Brazil, in Europe–very well. In America, it’s not doing too bad. I think we made it up to about 200,000 copies.”

Continue reading Inner Circle – ’94 Grammy Nomination – V13#02 1995 →

Dancehall - All, Read the Music! Magazine Articles & More! - All, Vol 13-1995

Musical Forecast: Look for Snow V13#3 1995

October 29, 2018 M. Peggy Quattro

by Patricia Meschino

EPSON scanner image — SNOW – 1996 Reggae Report Calendar – October

One of the most satisfying cuts on Canadian DJ Snow’s new release, Murder Love, is a tale of his love affair with Reggae music called “Dream.” Here Snow reminisces about his days in Toronto’s Allenbury housing project, where he first became acquainted with Reggae through the friendships formed with the many Jamaicans who had moved into his area: Listen Shabba Ranks playing faintly from the speaker/I would eat mi curry chicken, that’s my favorite supper/If you think mi joke or lie, gwaan ask me mother/I would living on the island sweet, sweet Jamaica/Fish with Coco Tea down in the river/Hanging at the ghetto with me boy they call Ninja/No, but it’s only a dream. Continue reading Musical Forecast: Look for Snow V13#3 1995 →

Dancehall - All, Read the Music! Magazine Articles & More! - All, Vol 12-1994

Pato Banton – V12#09 1994 Interview

October 4, 2018 M. Peggy Quattro

GIVING THANKS STILL

by Matthew G. Wallace

Pato Banton and I are sitting atop the roof of the club where he is scheduled to perform in a few hours. Rather than conduct our interview in a stuffy tour bus or shout over the sound check taking place below, he obliges as I lead him through a cluttered storage room and up a make-shift ladder better suited for an acrobat than one of the most recognized names in Reggae. Below us, the seven members of his band, The Reggae Revolution, are tuning up and, one by one, joining in on a smoldering Dub of “Satta Amassagana.” We are watching a beautiful, and especially long, Santa Barbara sunset as the moon climbs high over the Pacific Ocean a few blocks away. He is nearing the end of an extensive three-month tour and looks forward to spending some time at home with his wife and two children, who are back in England. A few weeks away from his 33rd birthday, he seems as energetic and upful as ever.

Energetic and upful seem to define Pato Banton. He is like a constant whirlwind of touring and recording. As we sat down to talk, he is finishing up yet another North America tour, promoting a greatest hits package called Collections for long-time label, I.R.S. Records, and anticipating the worldwide release of the video for the album’s first song, “Baby Come Back” (a duet with bredren Robin and Ali Campbell of UB40).

Continue reading Pato Banton – V12#09 1994 Interview →

Bob Marley, Read the Music! Magazine Articles & More! - All, The Marleys - All, The Women - All

Cedella Marley Booker & MPeggyQ Talk Bob Marley 1984

September 8, 2018 M. Peggy Quattro

A Conversation with his Mother… Cedella Marley Booker

Bob Marley: The Legend Lives On

By M. Peggy Quattro
(RR Publisher MPQ shares her 1st interview with Ms. B at her home in 1984)
(A link to a portion of the interview audio is below!)

mother booker & mpeggyq — Mother Booker & MPeggyQ

Walking around the grounds surrounding the great house in southwest Miami, you sense the peace and comfort Bob found there. MOTHER B, looking radiant and youthful following a loss of 60 odd pounds, cheerfully discusses her own interesting part in this lingering legend.

“In this great future, you can’t forget your past … so dry your tears I say…” (No Woman No Cry)

I listen attentively as MOTHER B proudly points to her growing garden explaining what is there… “there’s calaloo and sugar cane, a yam hill and pumpkin patch.” As she speaks you detect the knowledge, wisdom and love this woman has for the growing of food. And so it should be . . . as the daughter of a well-respected and gentle farmer, Mrs. B grew to learn and love planting and farming. Born and raised in St. Ann’s, a rural [Jamaican] parish, a youthful Cedella worked hard with her brothers and sisters in the field high up in the village of Rhoden Hall (Nine Mile). This is where BOB was born February 6, 1945, and it was at some point a few years later the two of them packed off for a new life “to town” (Kingston). Continue reading Cedella Marley Booker & MPeggyQ Talk Bob Marley 1984 →

ReggaeReport.com Exclusives!

10 Years Gone – Eulogy for Mother Booker – April 15, 2008

April 28, 2018 M. Peggy Quattro

10 Years Gone. M. Peggy Quattro presented an emotional eulogy for the amazing Cedella Marley Booker at Fairchild Tropical Garden, Miami, FL

Mother B Went Home to Zion on April 8, 2008.

Greetings brothers and sisters. It is an honor to be here and a privilege to share in this blessed occasion. Thank you Richard and Pearl, Anthony and Bob, Jimmy, Sharien and Rita, for sharing your mother with me – with all of us here – with the world. That could not have been easy.

Mother B's Life Celebration — Mother B’s Life Celebration, Miami, Apr 15, 2008

Ms B once told me that her purpose in life was to be around people, to share thoughts and to share love. That is our purpose here this evening. People at every turn wanted a moment with Mama…a quick visit …a word…a laugh… and those lucky souls, like me, left more inspired and uplifted than when we came. Continue reading 10 Years Gone – Eulogy for Mother Booker – April 15, 2008 →

ReggaeReport.com Exclusives!, USA Reggae

“Get Together” – Chronixx & Ky-mani Marley a Massive Success

May 13, 2016 M. Peggy Quattro

Wynwood Yard was Bursting with Fans of All Ages

By M. Peggy Quattro
Videos below

Miami – May 8, 2016 — The weather was perfect, the music was sweet as hundreds of fans flowed through Wynwood Yard for this special Mother’s Day show. The House of Marley, an eco-friendly brand of personal electronics, brought together two Reggae superstars – the genre defying Ky-mani Marley and the hottest new Reggae revivalist, Chronixx.

Wynwood Yard is a slice of Jamaica in the middle of the bustling Miami metropolis. Fab food, merch booths, & bars offering Red Stripe and Guinness surrounded the gravelly yard, while the stage was planted firmly on the NW 29 St. side. I would only request next time that the stage be a foot or two higher so the crowd in the back could actually see the show. Front stage was tightly packed with fans of all ages, shades, and cultures eager to sing and dance along with the eagerly awaited performers.

Ky-mani brought his hottah Konfrontation band, featuring two female singers who were simply entertaining to watch. Ky-mani kicked off with his father’s “Who the Cap Fit” and “Concrete Jungle,” which got the crowd fired up. He talked to the crowd and wished all the mother’s dem a happy mother’s day, which delivered a roar from all the women there. He turned out a super-energetic performance while delivering songs off his latest album, Maestro. Fans sang along with “Keepers of the Light” and “Love Over All” while Ky-mani danced and twirled around the very small stage. Continue reading “Get Together” – Chronixx & Ky-mani Marley a Massive Success →

ReggaeReport.com Exclusives!, USA Reggae

1st Annual DAB Music Festival with Third World & Next Gen Marleys

April 25, 2016 M. Peggy Quattro

Words & Pics – M. Peggy Quattro & Barbara Reuther

Third World, Marley brothers Jo Mersa and Yohan, and Big Harvest delivered the Roots Rock Reggae, while Miami’s 10-piece band The Baboons brought the hot Latin, Funk, Pop, and Caribbean groove. Between sets, DJ Gravy and DJ Tom Laroc kept the music spilling into the iconic North Beach Bandshell on Miami Beach. This music-filled Day at the Beach was sponsored by CAC, LargeUp, and Blackwell Rum.

The Bandshell is a Miami Beach treasure. It holds less than 1000 people, and offers the opportunity to be directly stage-front, witnessing the performers only a few feet in front of you. As usual, it was a peaceful, fun congregation, similar to a big family reunion. For the $20-30 ticket price, I expected the place to ram. Fortunately for those present, there was plenty of room for skanking and a pre-celebration of the 4/20 unofficial holiday.