South Florida Sends Cedella Marley Booker Home: A Loving Tribute in Word, Song, and Dance
By M. Peggy Quattro
April 23, 2008, Miami, FL –
One week following Mother Booker’s journey to Zion, hundreds in the South Florida community joined hands and hearts at a memorial service inside Miami’s beautiful Garden House at Fairchild Tropical Garden. The lush botanical garden is only minutes from Ms. B’s home, a large residence on a sprawling estate. In the late ‘70s, son Bob Marley bought the home in Pinecrest for his mother, and it is where Ms. B lived a life surrounded by her children, grand and great-grandchildren, and the home where, on April 8, she passed on in her sleep, surrounded by her loving family.
The Booker/Marley family, in paying tribute to their matriarch, also paid tribute to her devoted friends and fans when they presented an exquisite memorial service that honored the “smiling woman of song.” The setting was amazing and beautiful, from the gorgeous green of the garden and tropical trees to the touches of Africa and Rastafari that adorned and decorated the intimate Garden House. The presentation was fit for a queen, and in South Florida’s eyes and hearts, that is exactly who Cedella Marley Booker will always remain. Continue reading →
The Music of Sonia Pottinger–High Note & Gay Feet V9#3 1991
(2020 Update below)
By Lee O’Neill
Sonia Pottinger, Reggae’s first female producer
Many consider the mid-to-late sixties the golden age of Jamaican music. As the early Ska beat was changing into what would become Reggae, artists such as Ken Boothe, The Paragons, Alton Ellis, the Techniques, and the Gaylads were making hit after classic hit, and producers like Clement Dodd, Duke Reid, and Clancy Eccles were busy making bundles of money while defining the sound of Reggae music.
One of the most successful of these early producers was Sonia Pottinger, owner of the Gayfeet and High Note labels, possessor of a keen commercial sense and artist’s touch in the studio. Some of Reggae’s greatest songs were released on her label. Until recently, Pottinger’s reputation was in danger of disappearing. New anthologies of Pottinger productions on Heartbeat (Musical Feast) and Trojan (Put on Your Best Dress) join a few scattered tracks on anthologies, reissues of two of the Culture albums she produced, and some out-of-print Jamaican LPs, in a growing tribute to her talent Continue reading →
With the release of “Mind Control,” the debut chart-topping CD from the second son of Reggae’s original lion, Stephen Marley raises the bar and sets the standard for the future of Reggae music. Not bothered by the inevitable comparisons of looks and sound to his famous father, Stephen is honored by the resemblance and proud to deliver the same message of love, unity, and awareness that made Bob Marley a household name.
Personally, this is one CD I cannot listen to enough. From first hearing the title track, you know that this is going to be a breakthrough album. Each song that follows is a musical journey that permits the listener to become intimate with its creator. Stephen is fearless in displaying his political and social consciousness, as well as exposing a personal vulnerability seldom witnessed in Reggae music. Continue reading →
There are many great singers in Reggae, and a few able to mix in Soul and Pop to create a unique sound. But there are very few who possess that golden voice – a voice that when you hear it, you know instantly who it is. At the top of that list stands veteran singer and songwriter Jack Radics. For more than 25 years, Jack Radics has quietly and deliberately guided his career to become an extraordinary artist, songwriter, and performer; a singer so recognizable, that from the first moment you hear those smooth, golden bass tones you suddenly feel caressed and warm all over. Think Barry White mixed with Lou Rawls, add a little Otis “Love Man” Redding for good measure, and you get close to the unique golden voice of Jack Radics. Continue reading →
The Jamaica Observer continues its 20-part series, 20 Days of Silk, which looks at the life of roots singer Garnet Silk. This month marks 20 years since his death.
M. Peggy Quattro did not know what to expect when she arrived in Kingston to interview reggae star Garnet Silk for her Reggae Report magazine in February 1994.
The last time she saw the singer was five months earlier. He was being helped off the stage at a New York City nightclub, unable to complete a show due to what doctors later diagnosed as exhaustion.
He had not performed in concert since.
When Quattro showed up at Silk’s home in the St Andrew hills, his mood was completely different. Continue reading →
The Love Within the Music Tour 2011
By M. Peggy Quattro / Photos by Don Parchment
Beres receives roses from a fan
Theres no more beloved Reggae singer and performer today than Beres Hammond. For more than 30 years, Beres has given 100 percent of his energy and love to writing, recording and performing. He has been quoted as saying that he’s happiest when in his convenient home recording studio. Well, after witnessing the outpouring of love and affection on July 29, 2011, inside the 5500-seat Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL, all bets are on that the stage is his second happiest place.
Performing for thousands of loyal South Florida fans was the perfect way to kick off the eastern USA leg of the Love Within the Music Tour. The show began promptly at 8 p.m. with Brooklyn-based singer and dynamo Ed Robinson. His energetic performance included his Number One hit Our Heroes, as well as paying tribute to greats Dennis Brown with If I Follow My Heart and Bob Marley with Talking Blues.
At 9 p.m. the ladies went wild when Wayne Wonder strolled on stage in a dark blazer, jeans, and his trademark dark shades. Flashing that winning smile, he began with Its All Right, a Donovan Germain-produced hit for Penthouse. Mr. Germain was in the house, so Wayne added another Penthouse hit, The Saddest Day of My Life. Choosing from an extensive song catalogue, the sexy crooner launched a mini-version series of I Dont Know Why, Live and Learn, and Forever Young, displaying his DJ prowess by also filling in the Buju Banton and Louie Culture parts. Upon dedicating this to “my favorite girl,” Wayne Wonder went into Search Dem Search over screams from the enthusiastic audience. He introduced his new love ode, If I Ever, with a moving vocal, and closed his set with the popular No Letting Go.
Beres – King of Lover’s Rock
After a short set change, and a rocking DJ set of current and past hits, you could feel the charge in the air. The man of the night was about to appear and the crowd cheered in anticipation. As Beres Hammond sauntered on stage, the Hard Rock Live erupted into screams. Looking fine in his black leather cap, jeans, soft tangerine-colored patterned jacket, and leather shoes, Beres greeted the crowd and began a series of short song snippets. The jacket came off immediately to reveal a loose white linen shirt; however, the most attractive part of his attire was that beaming smile. Beres truly loves performing on stage and it shows in every song, every step, and the crowd went wild. No Disrespect, What One Dance Can Do and She Loves Me Now were full of fun and energy. He playfully led the audience with Falling in Love (All Over Again) and adeptly filled in for his friend Buju, Dancehall style, on the wildly popular Stay Longer. A touching moment was when he asked the crowd if they remembered the great Garnet Silk before launching into Mama Africa.
With hundreds of hits to choose from, Beres offered up as much as time would allow. In between Come Back Home, Tempted to Touch, Sweetness, Putting Up Resistance, and Groovy Little Thing, he blew kisses to crowd and smiled at the adoring throng of ladies who pushed to the front waving and offering bouquets of long-stem red roses. Double Trouble saw Beres offering up his famous skank as he held out the microphone for his fans to sing along.
The band and back-up singers were in top form also. Coming to the front of the stage, they contributed lead guitar, bass, sax, and trumpet solos, which brought more excited screams of approval. In a moment of Beres humor, he spoke with the audience and told them: “If everyone would vote for me [as president], no one would need visas to come up here,’ perhaps a reference to the missing Harmony House Singers.
Wayne Wonder
During Pull Up the Vibes, Beres took a minute to show off his multi-talents. He took a short spin on the drums and played on the bass players axe with drumsticks; a short and sweet presentation, but enough to have the Hard Rock massive cry out ‘can you play some more?!’ As he flirted throughout Feel Good, Beres had every lady wishing they were dancing to this Reggae song with the subtle sensual singer. Beres slowed it down with an emotional No Disturb Sign while Love Means Never To Say Im Sorry had the audience passionately singing along.
Beres continued to tease and draw in the ladies with They Gonna Talk, while throwing mad kisses and smiling his mega-watt smile. With no shortage of songs left to performand no time left to perform themBeres brought the show to an end with the classic feel-good Rockaway. Hesitant to leave the love and unity, Beres disappeared stage left with an a capella tribute, singing How do you say thank you.for all you need is love they say no more time
We give thanks to Redline Media Group and Hard Rock Live for bringing South Florida fans a memorable night of Love Within the Music.
