Toni Braxton

Manhattan, New York:

Six-time Grammy Award winner Toni Braxton and R&B singer and songwriter Ne-Yo have been added to the star-studded Reggae Sumfest 2009 line-up.

Sumfest Productions' executive director, Johnny Gourzong, made the announcement to a full house of media personnel at the event's New York launch in Manhattan last Thursday night.

Braxton, who has sold more than 40 million records worldwide and is known for her number-one single Unbreak My Heart, the second-biggest selling single by a female singer in Billboard history, is billed to share the stage with the likes of Nas, Damian 'Junior Gong' Marley, Inner Circle and the prince of reggae, Tarrus Riley, on Saturday, July 25.

international act

Ne-Yo

While Ne-Yo, who has five top 10 songs on Billboard's Hot 100, and two number-one albums on Billboard's 200, takes the spotlight on Friday, July 24, with acts including Jah Cure, Coco Tea and Morgan Heritage.

Keeping the name of one other international act close to his chest, Gourzong said he would make that announcement next week at the local press launch in Kingston.

However, one of the biggest pronouncements the Summerfest executive director could have made last Thursday was the plans to pay tribute to the 'Doctor' Beenie Man at this year's event. The festival's theme will surround Beenie, who is celebrating 30 years in the music industry, Gourzong proudly told the gathering.

The veteran, tagged the King of the Dancehall, is still remembered for his high-energy finale to Dancehall Night last year. He is billed to take the stage with his lyrical counterpart, Bounty Killer, the high-riding dancehall 'Gully Gad' Mavado and his Alliance counterpart and top-flight artiste Busy Signal, the controversial female artiste Spice and her cohort, Vybz Kartel, and the dancing dynamite Elephant Man, and are expected to attract the largest crowd support at the Catherine Hall venue on July 23.

Over the years, Dancehall Night has been the promoter's saving grace, bringing in millions of dollars to the event.

This year, Gourzong said the festival is estimating a budget of US$1.5 million.

But that money does not come near to the US$9 million that the festival brings to the island, said Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, who was at the launch.

"It (the event) provides jobs, fills our hotel rooms and keeps the industry alive," said Bartlett, adding that because of activities such as Sumfest, he has been able to buck the trend in a year of recession.

"By July, Jamaica will be the leader of the pack in terms of tourist arrivals in the Caribbean," he predicted.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com