:
Thanks VC, Warrior King, Abijah, Junior Gong
BASIL WALTERS, Observer staff reporter
Tuesday, January 22, 2002

Shaggy
Last year was among the most vibrant, if not the most vibrant year as far as the local music industry goes, in the last 10 years or so, and despite some negatives, it was, overall, a good year for reggae music.

On the international scene, the year belonged to Shaggy who was like a loose cannon on the international charts.

It was a busy year with non-stop touring for acts such as Morgan Heritage, father Denroy Morgan and siblings, LMS. Luciano was kept busy touring also.

And for the likes of Burning Spear, Israel Vibration and a host of other veteran roots and culture artistes, touring all year round has long been a routine exercise, even in the worst of times.

George Nooks
One is not talking here about one night gigs in New York or Miami or England but rather extensive tours that cross borders, musically, culturally or otherwise.

At home, 2001 was marked by the rebirth of the singers with beautifully composed and arranged songs. Whereas over the last decade or so, mainly deejays called the shots on the local charts, not so last year. Led by George Nooks, the old school deejay turned singer, singers came into their own after many years in the shadow of their deejay counterparts.

Nooks' efforts have already been recognised in the United States where he has been rated by New York's popular Hot 97 FM as Reggae Singer for 2001, a sentiment that is also shared by more than a few local chart watchers.

The evergreen Beres Hammond enjoyed another remarkable chart-topping year capped by a Reggae Grammy nomination, and the indomitable reggae diva Marcia Griffiths, like Hammond, seems to get better each year.

Marcia Griffiths
By the way, next year (2003) will mark the 40th anniversary of Marcia Lennette Griffiths' hit-making career, which she started as a teenager in 1963. Four decades later, to say that she is still going strong would be an understatement.

The fact is, many a Young Turk in the business today, cannot carry her mike, let alone carry or hold her notes.

This brings me to the current crop of singers who made a mark last year. Many a fan welcomed the breath of fresh air brought by some equally fresh and mainly young talents such as Valton "VC" Craigie, Warrior King, Abijah and Damion "Junior Gong" Marley.

They have proven that there is still a market for singers with a message and that social commentary outside of the realms of gay bashing and the bashing of oral sex, is not something of the past.

With VC's By His Deeds 2001 reggae anthem, music fans rocked to the finest social commentary recorded since Beres Hammond's Putting Up Resistance in the early1990s. VC has revived a seminal role for which reggae music has always been recognised, which is to critique the ills in the society and not promote them, as some of his misguided colleagues who are incapable of making that distinction, are wont to do.

VC, with this timeless winner, strikes at the heart of the social problems the society is grappling to come to terms with, where he blows the whistle on those Rastas, Christians, businessmen, politicians as well as fellow entertainers who act contrary to their lofty ideals.

And he does so in a way that would make all of the above want to dance. A remarkable composition, the kind fans are hoping to hear many more of. One sincerely wishes that VC can live up to such high expectations.

Warrior King returned dignity to women in the sphare of musical content. With his debut single, Virtuous Woman, he shut up deejays who seek ratings by degrading women. What is a heartening is that there is measure of consistency about him. Already Warrior King has proven that the label 'one-hit-wonder' is not for him to wear. His follow-up, Pagan, has tremendous potency and Breath of Fresh Air is buzzing.

On the matter topic of man/woman relationships, the Tony Rebel/Swade combination, Just Friends, is one of those tunes that will never fade.

And if ever there was a list of singers that forces one to stop and listen, then Abijah would be high on that list.

His Revelation is on the lips of many a fan, and his spectacular stagemanship is captivating even though there are those who feel that he needs to develop his own style as a performer. He has his own distinct sound, they say, but his stage mannerism is not original.

However, that apart, Abijah is one of the bright sparks on the recording scene, and given the confidence that he exudes, in time he will mature into his own inimitable self.

Another youngster making his mark is Junior Gong. His Halfway Tree Grammy-nominated set is creating waves, and it's not surprising that it is in the runnings.

What is interesting about the youngsest of the Marley musical siblings is that, from day one, he established his own identity. He has long taken over from big brother, Steve (who gives him a lot of support) as the deejay of the Marley clan.

The writing skills of Junior Gong are also something to keep a close eye on in the days ahead.

This is just a salute to some of the entertainers who made a difference in the popular music genre for the year just passed. Artistes who didn't join the "lickover rhythm" bandwagon in order to make their mark. A set of entertainers who do not rely on profanity to get 'a forward' during performance.

There are some on the horizon, like Natural Black whom we will look at in the future, but the above are those who created the greatest impact.

So 2001 was more than the 'passa passa' that was the feature of some stage shows and which is sadly seeming to be seeping into an event like Rebel Salute. But the recording future looks good.

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Thanks VC, Warrior King, Abijah, Junior Gong
BASIL WALTERS, Observer.

Last year was among the most vibrant, if not the most vibrant year as far as the local music industry goes, in the last 10 years or so, and despite some negatives, it was, overall, a good year for reggae music.

On the international scene, the year belonged to Shaggy who was like a loose cannon on the international charts.

It was a busy year with non-stop touring for acts such as Morgan Heritage, father Denroy Morgan and siblings, LMS. Luciano was kept busy touring also.

And for the likes of Burning Spear, Israel Vibration and a host of other veteran roots and culture artistes, touring all year round has long been a routine exercise, even in the worst of times.

One is not talking here about one night gigs in New York or Miami or England but rather extensive tours that cross borders, musically, culturally or otherwise.

At home, 2001 was marked by the rebirth of the singers with beautifully composed and arranged songs. Whereas over the last decade or so, mainly deejays called the shots on the local charts, not so last year. Led by George Nooks, the old school deejay turned singer, singers came into their own after many years in the shadow of their deejay counterparts.

Nooks' efforts have already been recognised in the United States where he has been rated by New York's popular Hot 97 FM as Reggae Singer for 2001, a sentiment that is also shared by more than a few local chart watchers.

The evergreen Beres Hammond enjoyed another remarkable chart-topping year capped by a Reggae Grammy nomination, and the indomitable reggae diva Marcia Griffiths, like Hammond, seems to get better each year.

By the way, next year (2003) will mark the 40th anniversary of Marcia Lennette Griffiths' hit-making career, which she started as a teenager in 1963. Four decades later, to say that she is still going strong would be an understatement.

The fact is, many a Young Turk in the business today, cannot carry her mike, let alone carry or hold her notes.

This brings me to the current crop of singers who made a mark last year. Many a fan welcomed the breath of fresh air brought by some equally fresh and mainly young talents such as Valton "VC" Craigie, Warrior King, Abijah and Damion "Junior Gong" Marley.

They have proven that there is still a market for singers with a message and that social commentary outside of the realms of gay bashing and the bashing of oral sex, is not something of the past.

With VC's By His Deeds 2001 reggae anthem, music fans rocked to the finest social commentary recorded since Beres Hammond's Putting Up Resistance in the early1990s. VC has revived a seminal role for which reggae music has always been recognised, which is to critique the ills in the society and not promote them, as some of his misguided colleagues who are incapable of making that distinction, are wont to do.

VC, with this timeless winner, strikes at the heart of the social problems the society is grappling to come to terms with, where he blows the whistle on those Rastas, Christians, businessmen, politicians as well as fellow entertainers who act contrary to their lofty ideals.

And he does so in a way that would make all of the above want to dance. A remarkable composition, the kind fans are hoping to hear many more of. One sincerely wishes that VC can live up to such high expectations.

Warrior King returned dignity to women in the sphare of musical content. With his debut single, Virtuous Woman, he shut up deejays who seek ratings by degrading women. What is a heartening is that there is measure of consistency about him. Already Warrior King has proven that the label 'one-hit-wonder' is not for him to wear. His follow-up, Pagan, has tremendous potency and Breath of Fresh Air is buzzing.

On the matter topic of man/woman relationships, the Tony Rebel/Swade combination, Just Friends, is one of those tunes that will never fade.

And if ever there was a list of singers that forces one to stop and listen, then Abijah would be high on that list.

His Revelation is on the lips of many a fan, and his spectacular stagemanship is captivating even though there are those who feel that he needs to develop his own style as a performer. He has his own distinct sound, they say, but his stage mannerism is not original.

However, that apart, Abijah is one of the bright sparks on the recording scene, and given the confidence that he exudes, in time he will mature into his own inimitable self.

Another youngster making his mark is Junior Gong. His Halfway Tree Grammy-nominated set is creating waves, and it's not surprising that it is in the runnings.

What is interesting about the youngsest of the Marley musical siblings is that, from day one, he established his own identity. He has long taken over from big brother, Steve (who gives him a lot of support) as the deejay of the Marley clan.

The writing skills of Junior Gong are also something to keep a close eye on in the days ahead.

This is just a salute to some of the entertainers who made a difference in the popular music genre for the year just passed. Artistes who didn't join the "lickover rhythm" bandwagon in order to make their mark. A set of entertainers who do not rely on profanity to get 'a forward' during performance.

There are some on the horizon, like Natural Black whom we will look at in the future, but the above are those who created the greatest impact.

So 2001 was more than the 'passa passa' that was the feature of some stage shows and which is sadly seeming to be seeping into an event like Rebel Salute. But the recording future looks good.