Freddie McGregor
THE short-term fallout from the September 11 terrorist incidents in the United States, included media and entertainment stocks plunging, as was the case in a number of other sectors of that economy. However, that has not prevented the music industry from rallying to the call to raise funds to assist the victims of the unfortunate events.
American artistes have been giving full support to fund-raising efforts, ranging from Dr. Dre's personal US$1 million contribution, to Haitian-American Wyclef Jean's participation in the 'America: A Tribute To Heroes' telethon, which raised US$150 million in late September.
Now Jamaican artistes are set to play their part in raising some funds towards the New York relief effort by staging a benefit concert. The concert is a joint effort by the artistes involved, the C.B. Smith park in Pembroke Pines, the Broward County Commissioners, the Pembroke Pines parks department and the Jamaican music fraternity.
Vonnie McGowan's Nostalgia in Gold has teamed up with a group of community volunteers to produce and present the event, named 'A Tribute To New York: From Jamaica With Love', for families of the victims of the World Trade Center tragedy.
"The response has been overwhelming," she told Inside View on Thursday. "The Pembroke Pines parks department has given us the venue free of charge, we have the co-operation of the police and we have invited a number of state and city officials in Florida to take part."
She says that the Jamaica Federation of Musicians and president Desmond Young have been very supportive, as has been the case with many of the Jamaican artistes involved, who feel that they owe the American music market something for the support they have given them over the years.
"For the past 20 years, the United States has been a very important market for Jamaican music, both live and recorded. America has given a lot to our industry and we just want them to know that, as Jamaicans and Jamaican-Americans, we're standing up with them in their hour of grief. We need to help alleviate some of their pain," she added.
Miss McGowan, who has been responsible for promoting and producing Jamaican reggae shows in both New York and Miami for the past 20 years, confirmed that since the terrorists attacks there have been a number of cancellations of reggae shows.
She says that, "there has been a general aura of fear, even in Florida, which has affected the turnout at the shows since."
The concert will be staged as a Jamaican family day, starting at 10 in the morning, and she expects about 10,000 patrons.
Jamaican students in several Florida educational institutions have volunteered to assist with the parking, the collections and the handling of the stage. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the event will feature gospel music.
Artistes who have already volunteered for the event include Ernie Smith, Dean Fraser, Lovindeer, Fiona, Born Jamericans, Glen Washington, Mikey Spice, Freddie McGregor, Joan Andrea Hutchinson, Junior Kelly, Jimmy Riley, Marcia Griffiths, Kashief Lindo, Eric 'Monty' Morris, Dawn Penn, the Tamlins, Tony Rebel, Screw-Driver, Audley Rollins, Admiral Tibet, Shinehead, Terry Ganzie, Tony Green and Pam Hall.
ROIR
Most Jamaicans have never heard about a New York new wave band from the 1970s named the Terrorists and the role they played in promoting Jamaican music. But, U.S. label, ROIR (Reachout International Records, Inc.) is seeking to correct that situation.
ROIR has just released a very important CD called Terrorist Forces (1977-1982), covering the period of collaboration between the band and Jamaican producer Lee 'Scratch' Perry.
According to David Katz in his new biography of Perry, People Funny Boy, the collaboration started in November 1977 during a show in New York. The band was backing the late Jamaican saxophonist Roland Alphanso, when Perry jumped on stage to join them, grabbed the mike and started an impromptu performance.
According to ROIR sources, the CD offers an important slice of ska, reggae, punk and Manhattan dub music from the late 1970s and is considered a 'historic document' with 'absolutely marvellous' and unique material.
Most of us are learning about this collaboration for the first time, but those of us who are interested in the basics of the history of Jamaican music, ought to listen to this CD and see how progressive the music was two decades ago and, probably, wonder what has happened since.
