Reggae Music Expo for Trelawny Western Bureau RAS Astor Black, independent candidate in the recent North-East St. Ann by-election, is up to his pioneering ways again. This time, however, the intention is not to garner votes, but to promote reggae music. He has planned a Reggae Music Expo for August 3 and 4 at the Diamond Hill Estate at Scarlett Hall in Trelawny. It is intended to fill what the organiser sees as a major gap in the music business. "As dynamic and revolutionary as the music industry is today, few opportunities exist for networking, selling products and gaining experience in a convenient and cost-effective way," he said. The exhibitors targeted for the Expo include distributors, labels and record companies, magazine publishers and retail suppliers, among others. Over the two days they will have access to and meet representatives of chain and independent record shops, music and mail order clubs and Internet companies, as well as other music interests. The organiser hopes that big business will result from the Expo. "This is ideal, because it is focusing directly on reggae music. In addition, because it will be in the Reggae Sumfest period, a lot of overseas people will be here to see and feel and touch new artistes. There are vast opportunities for local artists," Ras Astor said. A live artist showcase will also be a part of the Expo. Ras Astor Black is no stranger to promoting reggae music, having helped lay the foundation in Chicago, Illinois. "While going to Cornwall College I had my own sound. When I went overseas to work for American Islands I noticed there was no reggae on the north side of Chicago. I started playing on Wednesday nights at the Road House on Clark and Broadway. It became so popular that it became a reggae club, seven nights a week," he said. That was in 1975. He went on to work on radio, doing the Reggae Vibrations Show on WEEF and later on WNUR 89.3 FM and WJKL 94.3 FM. The Reggae Vibrations Show also appeared on television, first on Cablevision and then twice weekly on AT&T Television. Ras Astor went into promotion as well. "When I was bringing up Culture people thought it would be a lecture on Jamaican culture," he chuckled. He also worked with Jamaican artistes in the Chicago area such as Yabba Griffiths and The Reggae All-Star Band with Noel "Big Youth" Forbes. His efforts were rewarded with a Pioneer Promoter and Promoter of the Year Award from Martin's in 1986 and 1987. Now that he has come full circle, Ras Astor hopes to push reggae from this side of the seas, a hope that is expressed in the theme: "Moving Reggae Music." For more information log on to www.jahmovement.org.
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