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Letter: Is there a conspiracy to prevent soca/calypso music from making it?Based on what I read on BBC Caribbean News, Popular Barbadian and Caribbean calypsoian John King thinks there is an international conspiracy against that popular Eastern Caribbean music genre. However, I personally believe that soca/calypso will break into the international music market.
Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 18-Nov-2008 01:00
Movie 'Che' to be shown at Cuba film festival
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): "Che," the movie about Argentine Ernesto "Che" Guevara who fought alongside Fidel Castro in the Cuban revolution, will be shown next month in Cuba, the director of Havana's New Latin American Film Festival said. Puerto Rican-born actor Benicio Del Toro played the role of Che.Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 15-Nov-2008 01:00
OECS secretariat express sympathy on passing of Byron Lee
CASTRIES, St Lucia: OECS Director General Dr Len Ishmael has written to Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding expressing deepest sympathy on behalf of the OECS Secretariat on the passing of the legendary Jamaican and Caribbean musician Byron Lee, who died in his native Jamaica on Tuesday.Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 08-Nov-2008 01:00
Jamaica saddened by the loss of music icon
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): Olivia "Babsy" Grange, Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports with responsibility for Entertainment, has said that she is deeply saddened by the passing of Jamaican music pioneer and bandleader extraordinaire, Byron Lee, who died Tuesday morning.Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 05-Nov-2008 01:00
Calypsonian Black Stalin gets honorary doctorate from UWI
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Well known calypsonian Leroy ‘Black Stalin’ Calliste, immortalised for his ‘Caribbean Man’ calypso, was conferred with an honorary doctorate from the University of the West Indies (UWI). He was the third calypsonian to have received an honorary doctorate from the UWI.
Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 03-Nov-2008 01:00
Famous bandleader Byron Lee passes in Jamaica
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Bandleader Byron Leader, who entertained the Caribbean for more than 50 years, died on Thursday night at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Jamaica. A few days before his passing the Jamaican government had bestowed on him the Order of Jamaica (OJ).Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 01-Nov-2008 01:00
St Kitts is a haven for music lovers
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: Staying true to the island’s deep-rooted musical heritage that remains a key component of its culture today, St. Kitts continues to grow as a premier destination for music events in the Caribbean. St Kitts served as the host destination for the 6th Annual International Soca Awards.
Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 31-Oct-2008 01:00
Live from New York, it's Trinidad and Tobago Carnival
NEW YORK, USA: The spirit of Trinidad and Tobago's carnival comes to New York this Thursday, October 30 when Caribbean-owned special events company, Antilia, Inc. and the Trinidad and Tobago Tourism Development Company (TDC) join forces to host an evening of entertainment and elegance.
Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 30-Oct-2008 01:00
Critically ill bandleader Byron Lee receives Jamaican honour
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Bandleader Byron Lee who has entertained the Caribbean for more than 50 years is now critically ill and the Order of Jamaica was bestowed upon him in his sick bed at the University Hospital of the West Indies. Jamaica’s Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall went to the hospital to make the presentation.Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 28-Oct-2008 01:00
Jamaican singer Hammond readies 25th album
NEW YORK, USA (Reuters): With a voice as soulful as Otis Redding's, as romantic as Luther Vandross and as purely Jamaican as reggae itself, Beres Hammond has been a consistent hitmaker since the '70s. Those qualities are still on display on his 25th album, "A Moment in Time."Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 27-Oct-2008 01:00
Book review: It's Bigger Than Hip Hop
Nobody in the world can accuse you of being predictable. Take your iPod, for instance. You’ve got Prince on there, and some Queen of Soul. A little Elvis, both Costello and Presley. There’s a Snoop Dogg tune, and one from the Pussycat Dolls. You’ve got Stevie Wonder on there, and some songs that make you wonder.Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 16-Oct-2008 02:00
Jamaica's Rocksteady king Ellis dies at 70
LONDON, England (AFP): Jamaican reggae star Alton Ellis, known as the "Godfather of Rocksteady", died overnight of cancer in London, a hospital spokeswoman said Saturday. He was 70 years old. Ellis passed away peacefully at Hammersmith Hospital, the spokeswoman said.Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 13-Oct-2008 02:00
Bahamian motivational speaker creates new television show
NASSAU, Bahamas: Spence Finlayson, Bahamian-born motivational speaker and occasional Caribbean Net News columnist, has created a new motivational television show called Dare To Be Great. Dare To Be Great is a half-hour motivational, educational and inspirational programme, which makes its debut on Tuesday.
Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 29-Sep-2008 02:00
Formidable line-up for this year's World Creole Music Festival in Dominica
ROSEAU, Dominica: As Dominicans celebrate Reunion Year this year on the occasion of the country’s 30th anniversary of political independence, Dominica’s Tourism Minister, Ian Douglas has promised a formidable line-up of artistes for the 12th edition of the Annual World Creole Music Festival.Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 24-Sep-2008 02:00
Soderbergh film on Che Guevara has world premier in Spain
MADRID, Spain (AFP): "The Argentine", a new movie by Oscar-winning US director Steven Soderbergh based on the life of Latin American revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara, had its world premier Friday in Spain to mixed reviews. The film stars Puerto Rican actor Benicio Del Toro.Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 06-Sep-2008 02:00
BET J previews Anguilla Tranquility Jazz Festival
NEW YORK, USA: The Sixth Annual Anguilla Tranquility Jazz Festival, one of the Caribbean's truly authentic jazz experiences -- set for November 6 to 9, 2008 -- starts its countdown on top cable network BET J. The 2008 Anguilla Tranquility Jazz Festival Preview Show debuts on BET J this Saturday.
Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 05-Sep-2008 02:00
Cuban punk rocker goes to court for 'dangerousness'
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): A Cuban punk rocker whose songs have ridiculed the Cuban government went to court in handcuffs on Friday charged with "social dangerousness," which could bring a prison sentence of up to four years. Gorki Aguila, 39, received applause and shouts of support from about 15 friends.
Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 30-Aug-2008 02:00
Anguilla Tranquility Jazz Festival set for November
NEW YORK, USA: The Anguilla Tourist Board and BET Event Productions have announced the special performers for the Sixth Annual Tranquility Jazz Festival set to take place in the island of Anguilla on November 6-9, 2008. The Festival has earned a reputation as one of the Caribbean’s only true all jazz events.
Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 30-Aug-2008 02:00
Balkan musicians unveil Bob Marley 'peace' statue
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BANATSKI SOKOLAC, Serbia (AFP): Musicians from the former Yugoslavia have unveiled a statue of late Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley as a symbol of peace. Several thousand gathered at a rock festival in the tiny Serbian hamlet of Banatski Sokolac for the uncovering of the statue.Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 26-Aug-2008 02:00
Theatre Guild opens doors to first CARIFESTA stage show in Guyana
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): The Theatre Guild playhouse in Kingston opened its doors for the first performance for the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) X on Saturday, with the play “Gravity.” The play, an urban inc production, highlights the journey of a young Chinese woman.Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 25-Aug-2008 02:00
Danny Glover's Haiti film lacked 'white heroes', producers said
PARIS, France (AFP): US actor Danny Glover, who plans an epic next year on Haitian independence hero Toussaint-Louverture, said he slaved to raise funds for the movie because financiers complained there were no white heroes. Due to be shot in Venezuela early next year, the film will star Don Cheadle.Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 26-Jul-2008 02:00
BET J to air Barbados Jazz Special on Satruday
NEW YORK, USA: The 15th Barbados Jazz Festival, held every January, takes to the airwaves across North America and the Caribbean this weekend on BET J, one of America's top digital cable networks. This Saturday, July 12 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. (Eastern Time), viewers will discover and appreciate the authenticity of Barbados
Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 10-Jul-2008 02:00
Reggae artists getting back to their roots
NEW YORK, USA (Reuters): A widely held perception among music aficionados is that quality roots reggae passed away with Bob Marley in 1981. Although no current reggae acts possess Marley's mesmerizing stage presence and his unparalleled appeal across various social, racial and religious divides...Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 16-Jun-2008 02:00
St Lucia Jazz Festival strikes a new chord
CASTRIES, St. Lucia: The recently concluded St. Lucia Jazz festival was one of the most successful in the 17 year history of the world renowned event, say organizers of the landmark Caribbean music-fest. The high quality of the event coupled with the record number of locals and visitors attending significantly raised the bar.Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 14-Jun-2008 02:00
Wyclef Jean performs at St Lucia Jazz Festival
CASTRIES, St Lucia: Haitian star Wyclef-Jean delivered a show stopping, performance on the final day of this year’s St Lucia’s 17th Annual Jazz Festival. This is one session that you had to be there to witness. Up to six thousand revellers had already enjoyed a scorching day in the sun at St Lucia’s Pigeon Island National landmark.Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 12-Jun-2008 02:00
Simply the best - 17th Annual St Lucia Jazz Festival
CASTRIES, St Lucia: St Lucia Jazz Festival builds slowly but its climactic four-day showpiece at the historic Pigeon Island National Landmark is a superb conclusion to the party. On these final days the event’s reputation for strong acts is confirmed. Three generations of female soul superstars share the bill.
Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 11-Jun-2008 02:00
Benicio Del Toro, 'Latino Brad Pitt', wins Cannes award as 'Che'
CANNES, France (AFP): Oscar-winner Benicio Del Toro, the Puerto Rican-born star often dubbed the "Latino Brad Pitt", won Cannes' Best Actor award Sunday for his role as "Che" Guevara in Steven Soderbergh's film on the revolutionary hero. "I'd like to dedicate this to the man himself, Che Guevara," said the actor.Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 26-May-2008 02:00
Epic film 'Che' looks at guerrilla's life and death
CANNES, France (Reuters): Benicio del Toro plays Argentine guerrilla Ernesto "Che" Guevara in an epic four-hour double bill which looks first at his role in the Cuban uprising before moving to his campaign and eventual death in Bolivia. Steven Soderbergh directed the Spanish-language movie "Che".Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 23-May-2008 02:00
Brazil heartthrob plays Raul Castro in 'Che' film
SAO PAULO, Brazil (Reuters): In his latest film, Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro portrays a man who is very much in the news himself these days -- Cuban President Raul Castro, though the similarities between the heartthrob and the normally dour Castro may not be immediately evident.Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 15-May-2008 02:00
Superstar lineup announced for 2008 Turks and Caicos Music and Cultural Festival
GRAND TURK, Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI-GIS): The fifth annual Turks and Caicos Music and Cultural Festival (TCMCF), is set to take place July 28 through August 4, will bring the some of the world's most popular artistes to the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). The annual Festival will electrify residents and visitors.
Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 25-Apr-2008 02:00
Cuba's Buena Vista Social Club tours Europe
HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): Great Britain has been the first leg of a new European Tour begun last Monday by The Cuban band Buena Vista Social Club (BVSC), which delighted the European audience a decade ago with traditional Cuban tunes played by musicians that first became stars in the 1950s.
Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 19-Apr-2008 02:00
BET J reviews St Lucia Jazz 2008
NEW YORK, USA: The 17th Annual St Lucia Jazz festival, one of the Caribbean's premier musical attractions, set for May 2 to 11, has already started its countdown on top cable networks BET and BET J. The 2008 St. Lucia Jazz Preview Show is currently spotlighted on BET J's popular "Island Lime" Saturday format.
Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 11-Apr-2008 08:00
Controversial Jamaican singer faces the music
NEW YORK, USA (Reuters): For most Jamaican dancehall artists, securing a successful rapper on a song's remix is a hard-won seal of approval. So when Jay-Z, who has never recorded on a reggae track, rhymed on a remix of singer Mavado's current hit "On the Rock," it became arguably the greatest endorsement.
Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 07-Apr-2008 08:00
Widow to produce Bob Marley movie
NEW YORK, USA (Reuters): Rita Marley is executive producing the first-ever biopic of her late husband Bob Marley, and if she has it her way, the reggae icon's daughter-in-law R&B singer Lauryn Hill will portray her onscreen.The Weinstein Co. will produce a big-screen version of her 2004 autobiography.Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 05-Mar-2008 08:00
Tobago to host two music festivals in April
SCARBOROUGH, Tobago: The “clean, green and serene” island of Tobago, which boasts lush rainforests, friendly locals and never-ending beaches, is scheduled to host two of the liveliest music fests in the Caribbean - The Plymouth Jazz Festival and Pan Jazz “in de Yard” 2008.
Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 21-Feb-2008 08:00
BET J and Barbados to pay tribute to Rihanna
NEW YORK, USA: BET J will air a 30 minute tribute this weekend for GRAMMY-winning international singing sensation Rihanna, who is from the Caribbean island of Barbados. Partnering with the Barbados Tourism Authority, BET J will premiere the InVideo special on Saturday, February 16 at 2:30 p.mSource : caribbeannetnews.com | 16-Feb-2008 07:28
'Sugar' a bittersweet tale of baseball dreams in Dominican Republic
PARK CITY, USA (Reuters): The immigrant experience has been seen many times on film before, but rarely with the authenticity, wit and intelligence of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck's "Sugar." The story of an aspiring young baseball player in the Dominican Republic, the film is more than a baseball story.
Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 29-Jan-2008 07:33
Record company launches search for unsigned new Caribbean artistes
NEW YORK, USA: New Creation Records, the home of an eclectic mix of reggae, R & B and hip hop artistes based in the US and Jamaica, is launching an A & R weekend at its studios just outside Atlanta from February 8 to 11 where it will review the positioning of a number of talented, unsigned artistes.
Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 22-Jan-2008 08:00
Urban Music Awards launches in the Caribbean
OCHO RIOS, Jamaica: The 1st annual Caribbean Urban Music Awards launches in Jamaica on the April 26, 2008 in Ochios Rios. The Urban Music Awards is one of the biggest international awards ceremonies held in the USA, UK, France, and Germany and broadcast worldwide to an audience of 14.5 million viewers.
Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 22-Jan-2008 01:25
Jamaica announces February as first ever 'Reggae Month'
KINGSTON, Jamaica (OPM): Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced yesterday that Jamaicans will for the first time this year observe the month of February as 'Reggae Month' to highlight the impact of the musical genre on the country's social, cultural and economic development.Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 11-Jan-2008 08:00
'Soca Queen' a success, despite problems with Canadian promotion
TORONTO, Canada: Alison Hinds, who became known as the lead vocalist in the calypso band Square One, recently ventured out on her own and has released her first solo album entitled “Soca Queen”. The album was released in Canadian retail stores on October 16, 2007 and on iTunes on October 9, 2007.Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 06-Dec-2007 08:00
Vincy soca superstar to perform at Miss Caribbean Pageant in St Kitts
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: St.Vincent and the Grenadines soca superstar Bomani has been confirmed as one of the guest performers at the Digicel Haynes Smith Miss Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant to be held in St.Kitts on December 29. The Pageant has seen many big name Caribbean entertainers grace its stage.Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 30-Nov-2007 07:21
Wyclef Jean still exploring sounds without borders
LOS ANGELES, USA (Reuters): "Eclectic" is a word critics have used to describe Wyclef Jean's music. But the musician/rapper/songwriter/producer says his vision was just ahead of its time. "Sampling Enya with the Fugees, doing combinations with Kenny Rogers ... I was doing that 13-14 years ago," Jean said.Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 19-Nov-2007 07:19
Twelve countries confirmed for Caribbean teen pageant
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: Organisers of the Miss Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant have announced the confirmed participants for the 28th edition of the event and pageant show for the St.Kitts-Nevis national carnival season 2007-08. Organisers of the the pageant have confirmed some 12 countries from around the region.Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 15-Nov-2007 07:27
Caribbean's new and old music sweeps Latin Grammys
LAS VEGAS, USA (Reuters): The tropical romance of Dominican Republic singer Juan Luis Guerra, the edgy urban sounds of Puerto Rico's Calle 13 and sensual Latin vibe of Ricky Martin garnered the top Latin Grammys on Thursday in a banner year for Caribbean music, new and old.
Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 09-Nov-2007 07:19
BBC global music talent search competition comes to Jamaica
KINGSTON, Jamaica: BBC World Service and BBC World Television are looking for the future of music in a major global music talent search - The Next Big Thing 2007. The BBC is scouring the world looking for exciting new music, bands and performers who will shape the future.
Source : caribbeannetnews.com | 01-Nov-2007 07:00