Mr. “Too Experienced” Barrington Levy will take his experience to Jannus Landing in St. Petersburg on Saturday March 18 when Jahfari Promotions continue their concert series. Levy will be joined by Kymani Marley for the event which is schedule for 7:00 p.m.

Barrington Levy, who hasn’t performed in St. Petersburg for quite some time, is expected to take the fans on a musical journey rich with his unique style from his vast catalogue. Yes, we all know “Too Experienced,” but fans can also look forward to hits like, “Teach the Youth,”
”Shine Eye Girl,” “Prison Oval Rock,” “Moonlight Lover,” “Looking My Love,” “Collie,” “Here I Come,” and don’t rule out the possibilities of some “Money Move.”

Barrington not only has the hits to entertain all night long, but he’s also a super showman who will no doubt rev up the crowd, inducing them to sing along to his popular tunes.

Kymani Marley, walking is the shoes of Damian “Junior Gong” Marley these days, has his own style of conscious Reggae songs to captivate any audience. One has to look no further than “Sensimelia Haffi Bun,” and his ode to his father the legendary Bob Marley, “Dear Dad,” which evokes an emotional reflection on the legend.

Watching the various carnivals come and go, I often wonder, will there ever be a carnival with no drama involving the music that brings us so much joy?  In recent years, Barbados musicians took a stance against piracy by not releasing new music. The government of Barbados did very little to those guilty of piracy.  Consider the amount of money it takes to produce a CD (studio fees, marketing, and production).  Then think about the guilty parties receiving a slap on the wrist.  Their punishment can be compared to a parking violation.  This was rather short-lived as many musicians released new music anyway.  While they felt the government and other involved parties needed to do something, the artistes needed to pay bills and support families.  Since then, steps have been made to discourage piracy and more thought has been put into how these artistes can make what is rightfully theirs such as receiving royalties from radio airplay.  Barbados is not the only island with piracy issues, but the first to come together as performers and demand action. 

Damian “Jr Gong” Marley is set to have “whole heap of awards”!! For example he just won two Grammy awards and is nominated for more, such as the 25th Annual International Reggae and World Music Awards this year. He has been nominated for a whopping five awards. The categories include: The Bob Marley Award for Entertainer of the year, Recording Artist of the Year, Best Song, Best Album/CD and Best Music Video. You can show your support for Damian by voting for him. All ballots should be submitted by Thursday, April 6. The Award show happens at the Harlem’s World Famous Apollo Theater, in New York City, on Saturday, May 6, commencing at 8:00 pm. Currently, Damian is in Europe promoting his album. He'll be making appearances in countries like Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Switzerland, Italy, France, Germany and others, so by the time he comes back he will have many more awaiting him meanwhile, he is set to release the third single from his double Grammy award winning album “Welcome to Jamrock, Beautiful.” This single is an upbeat collaboration with former New Edition crooner, Bobby Brown and legendary saxophonist, Dean Frazer, and is another avenue for Gong to demonstrate his lyrical prowess proving that he is a creative writer and excellent lyricist. Good job Damian!!

Bob Marley Birthday Festival certainly topped off some of the celebrations of Black History month here in South Florida. Bob’s 61^st birthday was celebrated in fine style with an attendance of over 20,000 fans at the Bayfront Amphitheatre (downtown Miami) on Saturday, February 25. The Marley brothers, Toots & the Maytals, Diana King and more graced the stage with their hottest hits, but Grammy winner Damian (Junior Gong) sent the crowd in a frenzy with his platinum hits while Mother Booker (Bob’s mom) swayed to the beats as she sat on stage.

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Speaking of Bob’s birthday, celebrations were also held last week in Ghana with special festivals in a Reggae Sunsplash style in the Garden City, Kumasi and the Nation’s capital Accra. It involved musical shows, and organized by the Bob and Rita Marley Foundation, dubbed the “February Africa Unite.” An event featuring concert by family members and Marley’s backing singers the I-Threes, also in the show were local Ghanaian artists. It’s the second time the foundation has undertaken such a celebration to commemorate Marley’s birthday – the first ‘Africa Unite festival’ was staged in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, last year.

After a several attempts to make his debut in South Florida, Lloyd Brown, one of the U.K.’s top Reggae vocalists, finally touched down – and what a landing it was!

His tarmac was the Inverrary Hotel Ballroom, in Plantation, on Saturday, February 18. Irie Beat Productions and Da Real Promotions presented for the first time in 2006, the series “Up Close & Personal.”

With good support from Da’ville (former lead singer of the group A.R.P.), and South Florida – based Screwdriver, Mr. Brown was in tip-top shape as he peeled off hit after hit. Backed by his own selected musicians from his hometown, London, he had the full capacity crowd eating out of his hands. For one hour and thirty-five minutes, he got real “up close and personal.” When he was joined on stage by Fiona (who was providing background vocals along with Marcia Ball), Brown turned the heat up few notches. They performed songs from their duet album, “Really Together” – to the delight of the audience, who was shouting and cheering for more!