Capelton in St Mary
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ST MARY, Jamaica – Dancehall superstar Capleton, the conceptualiser of the popular charity show ‘A St Mary Mi Come From,’ has revealed that the event will be back on the entertainment calendar in 2024 after a five-year hiatus.
The event will be held at the Gray’s Inn Sports Complex in Annotto Bay, St Mary on August 5.
Capleton, who is a staunch advocate for charity, especially the financial and spiritual upliftment of residents of impoverished communities, stressed the importance of the show.
“It is very important because giving and sharing is the act of God and I am a humanitarian. I love to give back to schools and hospitals, reform centres and community centres. I keep back-to-school treats in St Mary, even in Kingston,” the Raggy Road singer said.
A St Mary Mi Come From’s last staging was in 2018. The event was first held in 2000.
The show has contributed to the development of a substantial number of young and upcoming artistes, who are always excited to showcase their talents. Proceeds from the show go to selected charitable projects across the island.
For his tireless advocacy on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised, Capleton was awarded the Marcus Garvey Humanitarian Award from the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA). Established in 1982, IRAWMA acknowledges the accomplishments and contributions of reggae and world music artistes, songwriters, performers, and promoters.
“The need is great and so are the opportunities to make a difference. We as a people must not lose faith in humanity because that is our greatest resource. I strive to make a difference because I would rather light a candle than curse the darkness,” he said.
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Stephen Marley still topping charts
Old Soul, the fourth studio album by Stephen Marley, has become his fifth charted title on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart.
The 15-track set which was released September 15 via Ghetto Youths/Tuff Gong Worldwide/UMe, débuts at #10 on the latest chart.
Old Soul features the collaborations Cast the First Stone (with Damian Marley), Thanks We Get (Do Fi Dem) with Buju Banton, There's a Reward with Ziggy Marley, a remake of I Shot the Sheriff with Eric Clapton, and Standing in Love with Slightly Stoopid.
Stephen's has four #1 titles to date. Mind Control spent 14 weeks on top beginning in April 2007 (it spent 78 weeks on the chart), Revelation Part 1: The Root of Life was #1 for four weeks in 2011 (spent 78 week on the tally), Revelation Part 2: The Fruit of Life clocked two weeks at #1 in 2016, while Mind Control: Acoustic logged a single week on top in 2008.
Still on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, Stephen's dad Bob and the Wailers continue their dominance in the #1 spot, spending 193 non-consecutive weeks.
Shaggy's The Best of Shaggy: The Boombastic Collection logs another week at #2, while Dutty Classics Collection by Sean Paul is steady at #3.
No Love by Byron Messia rebounds to #4, while Sean Paul's Dutty Rock dips to #5.
Greatest Hits by UB40 inches up to #6, with Set in Stone, Wisdom, and World on Fire by Stick Figure holding positions #7, #8 and #9.
Byron Messia's Talibans II with Burna Boy continues to lose steam on the Billboard US Afrobeats Songs chart, sliding down from #5 to #6. The song spends its 8th week on the chart, having peaked at #3.
The original version of Talibans is firm at #24 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, while inching up one spot from #14 to #13 on Rap Airplay.
On the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, Talibans holds firm at #21, but fares better making an upward tick from #21 to #20 on Rhythmic Airplay Top 40.
Wind Me Up, the collaboration between American inspirational singer Dante Bowe and Jamaican reggae artiste Anthony B, re-enters Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart at #50, while remaining at #15 on Adult R&B Airplay.
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Jamaica annual Jerk festival in Florida
Keeping a huge crowd entertained for hours is no easy task. But for veteran music selectors Richard "Richie D" Martin and Jazzy T, and the members of Extatic Sound, reading a crowd and the choice in music, can go a far way in achieving this goal.
At Sunday's staging of the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival in South Florida, patrons were taken on a musical high, skipping through decades of music as each selector upped the ante delivering songs that rocked the crowd and which appealed to both young and old.
According to Martin, he doesn't need much preparation to take on the task of an event such as the jerk festival.
"To be honest, I don't really prepare too much, knowing that the jerk festival is a family-oriented event. It really isn't difficult for me, having experienced many events like this. It is not until I actually see the type of crowd I'm working with, and whatever the situation is at the moment, I just go with the flow," said Martin in an interview with Jamaica Observer's Splash shortly after he finished one of his sets at the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival.He shared what he enjoyed most about playing at the event.Richie D."What I enjoy most is the freedom of playing pretty much anything and having patrons of all ages singing, dancing, and enjoying themselves. While I was playing, my five-year-old niece Kacy came on stage and hung out with me on my shoulder. I continued playing and persons were singing and enjoying the moment," said Martin.His set included Shaggy's 1993 updating of Oh Carolina, Eric Donaldson's timeless Cherry Oh Baby, Justin Hinds and the Dominoes' Carry Go Bring Come, and Millie Small's cover of Barbie Gaye's My Boy Lollipop.
Martin, who has played at the jerk festival at least 15 times, is known for producing a number of hit songs. He wrote and produced Lady Saw's Billboard-charting single I've Got Your Man.
For veteran selector Jazzy T, of the famed Renaissance Disco, preparation starts upon arrival at the event.
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Artiste TJ song drift hitting the charts
While Byron Messia's Talibans has made its exit from at least one Billboard chart, Teejay's Drift has now entered multiple charts.Drift re-enters the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart at #41, while debuting at #37 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay. On Rhythmic Top 40 Airplay, Drift steps up from #36 to #33.As for Talibans, the version with Burna Boy and Byron Messia inches up from #8 to #7 on the US Afrobeats Songs chart, while the original version rises from #88 to #76 in its 15th week on the Nigeria Hot 100 chart.Talibans exits R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, however it backtracks from #9 to #10 on Rap Airplay. Over on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, Talibans crashes from #11 to #20, while inching down from #37 to #38 on Rhythmic Airplay.Byron MessiaOver now to the streaming and sales-driven Billboard Reggae Albums chart, Bob Marley and the Wailers spend another week on top with Legend, which clocks 200 non-consecutive weeks at the top.Shaggy's Best of Shaggy: The Boombastic Collection remains unmoved at #2, so too Sean Paul's Dutty Classics Collection at #3.Sean Paul appears again at #4 with the Grammy-winning Dutty Rock, while Catch a Fire by Bob Marley & The Wailers revisits the chart at #5.
Greatest Hits by UB40 is down to #6, while Wisdom, Set in Stone, and World on Fire by Stick Figure are #7, #8, and #9 respectively.No Love by Byron Messia is on its way off the chart, sliding down to #10.On the South Florida Reggae chart, King Banton's cover of Dennis Brown's Love Has Found Its Way takes over the #1 spot, while Mind Games by Paul Elliott improves from #4 to #2. Niceness by Marcia Griffiths rebounds from #12 to #10.This week's new entries are She Said by G Cole at #23, I Shall Be Released by Hezron and Big Youth at #24, and Faith Over Fear by Hopeton Lindo at #25.Bad Boy Johnny by Tony Roy is the new #1 on the New York Reggae chart, while Look a Girl by Stephen and Chino McGregor inches up from #3 to #2.
Cut Me Open by 1Mr Smooth and Yello Stone bullets from #15 to #13, and Boxing Around (#28) and Lonely Soldier by Sleepy Wonder (#29) are the new entries.
Swept Away by Jamaican-born, Canada-based Andre Duhaney takes over the #1 spot on the Rebel Vibes Top Ten Canadian Reggae chart.Jamaica it Nice by Tasha T rises to #6, while Stir This Thing by JUNO nominee Ammoye featuring Turbulence is #8.