News

The 2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will feature an interesting mix of musical performances when it kicks off its 83rd annual parade on November 26th. The son of Bob Marley is scheduled to perform alongside pop music veterans Carly Simon and Cyndi Lauper, opera singer Andrea Bocelli and country music star Billy Currington. Other musical performers include Gloria Gaynor, American Idol's Katherine McPhee, rock band Boys like Girls and Jimmy Fallon and his late night band, The Roots.

Multiple Grammy winning artist Ziggy Marley, and Tuff Gong Worldwide present "Dancehall Originators Vol 1," the first in a new series of dancehall reggae albums designed to pay homage to the groundbreaking original artists that paved the way for dancehall artists today. The album, which will be released on February 2, 2010. In 1992, producer/songwriter Phillip Smart, founder of Long Island's HC&F Studios, created the scorching "Hot This Year" riddim, whose bouncy keyboard riffs and resounding bass were considered ground breaking at the time. From its initial release, "Hot This Year" inspired numerous other artists, including Shaggy, Yellow Man, Buju Banton, and Chaka Demus, to use it as a basis for their own songs. It...

Grammy-winning musician Ziggy Marley has bought a Los Angeles home for more than $700,000. Mature trees shade the Spanish-style house in the Beverly Centre area of LA. It was built in 1929 and described as a 'fixer-upper'. The home includes high ceilings, a living-room fireplace and hardwood floors. The 1,600sq ft house has three bedrooms and two bathrooms while fruit trees fill the backyard.

It was certainly a statement-making entry for Ziggy Marley, eldest son of reggae icon Bob, this week, when his newest release entered at pole position on the Billboard Top Reggae Album Chart. Family Time, Marley's disc which is on the Tuff Gong imprint, toppled Easy All Stars, Easy Stars Lonely Hearts Band, sending it to the number two position formerly held by deejay Buju Banton, with his just-released Rasta Got Soul. Banton, who made his debut at number two, peaked in that position and now sits at number 3. Family Time was produced by Don Was and features members of the Marley family including Rita, Cedella and his daughter Judah alongside other international acts including Paul Simon, Jack Johnson and Willie Nelson as well as...

The mother of a 13-year-old is in custody while the police are searching for entertainer, Zebra, who has been accused of sexually assaulting the child. Garfield 'Zebra' Vassell, who the police said is wanted for rape, was released from prison on September 6 after serving seven of a 10-year sentence for a similar crime. In the latest allegations, it is said that several persons became concerned about the child when she began to behave in a strange manner. The police were informed and an investigation launched. The mother of the teenager was taken in after she admitted that she suspected that her child was sexually active but did nothing about it. As a result, she is being held on suspicion of aiding and abetting, while the...

Garfield "Zebra" Vassell was sentenced to 30 years in prison with hard labor in the St. Catherine Circuit Court yesturday morning. Zebra sexually assaulted the teenaged daughter of his girlfriend. He was arrested in June last year, after eluding the police for four months. Zebra, who was represented by attorney-at-law Everton Dewar was convicted on Tuesday. He was sentenced to 20 years on the rape charge and 10 years on the carnal anal assault charge. Zebra was previously convicted on a rape charge in 2002 and sentenced to eight years of hard labor. Prior to that in 2001, he was sentenced to three and a half years prison term with hard labor after being found guilty of two counts of assault with intent to rape.

Garfield Vassell, more popularly know as Zebra, have been arrested and is now held by the St Catherine North police and is scheduled to face the Linstead Resident Magistrate's Court for rape charges. Zebra was handed over to the Bog Walk police on Friday december 11, 2009by their St James police department. Zebra have been on the run for over ten months. It's allegedly stated that the stepchild of Zebra, was sexually assaulted. This came to light in early February 2009 when residents observed the child behaving strangely.

It is understood that police are seeking the artiste in connection to reports of sexual abuse by a 13-year-old girl in June this year. The entertainer however, is disputing the allegations. In an interview with IRIE FM, Zebra said the allegations are false. He says the allegations stem from the efforts of the girl’s aunt and grandmother, to get back at him and his girlfriend, who is the girl’s mother. He says the aunt and grandmother are upset with him and his girlfriend over what they claim to be their refusal to hand over money that, according to Zebra they are claiming was left by the girl’s father. Zebra says he and his girlfriend have sought the services of an attorney and will be doing all possible to clear his...

Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake said he would rather miss the Tokyo Games than get the COVID-19 vaccine, although getting vaccinated will not be required of the athletes competing in Japan this summer. “My mind still stays strong, I don’t want any vaccine, I’d rather miss the Olympics than take the vaccine, I am not taking it,” he was quoted as saying in Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner. Blake, a one-time rival of Jamaican great Usain Bolt, will likely still be able to participate in what is expected to be the 31-year-old’s third and final games even if he does not get the vaccine. The International Olympic Committee has said getting the vaccine is “encouraged” but not compulsory for athletes. The Olympics, which were pushed back by a...

Former Miss Universe World runner up Yendi Phillips and artiste Daniel "Chino" McGregor have announced that they are expecting a baby together last night on facebook. The announcement last night confirmed months of rumours that were swirling in Jamaica that there was a relationship between Yendi and Chino. Yendi posted this message on her facebook page:

2010 Miss Universe runner-up Yendi Phillipps and dancehall artiste Daniel Chino McGregor welcomed their first child together last friday. Yendi gave birth to a baby girl on friday September 21, 2012, with her baby weighing in at approximately 7lbs, 11 ounces. The name of Yendi's baby has yet to be released to the public. Congratulations Yendi and Chino.

Here is a sad news. The great roots singer and producer Vivian Jackson aka Yabby You aka Jesus Dread passed away on the 12th January in Clarendon, Jamaica. Born in Kingston in 1946, he was the author of many classics such as Conquering Lion, Rally Round Jahovah, Jah Vengeance, Deliver Me From My Enemies, Love Thy Neighbour, Deliverance, Ballistic Dread Locks, Dread Locks Man, Black Starliner, Natty Bongo. He also produced artist such as Michael Prophet, Michael Rose, Jah Stitch, Trinity, Tony Tuff and Wayne Wade. Reggae music loses one of its legend. RIP.

Wyclef Jean, the former Fugees singer, formally announce his candidacy for president of Haiti yesturday. In the eight months since Haiti's devastating earthquakes, Jean has become a high-profile spokesman for the country. In 2007, Haitian president René Préval named Wyclef Jean the country's ambassador-at-large, after his help in a 2006 election campaign. Préval is not permitted to run for a third consecutive term as president. Instead, Jean's likely rivals include former mayors, prime ministers and Michel "Sweet Micky" Martelly, another Haitian musical star. Perhaps the most formidable opponent is Jean's uncle, Raymond Joseph, Haiti's ambassador to the United States, who has already announced that he is running.

Wyclef Jean has been shot in Haiti on the eve of presidential elections on the Caribbean island. The singer was shot in the hand just after 11pm Lastnight and was rushed to hospital for treatment. Wyclef was treated at hospital and was later released following the attack in the city of Delmas, just outside the capital Port-au-Prince Haiti. It is unclear who the gunman was or if he was caught.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Haitian-born musician Wyclef Jean defended his charity on Monday in the wake of questions about its practices while calling on the international community to enable the evacuation of his homeland's earthquake-ravaged capital. "Port-au-Prince is a morgue," Jean said at a Manhattan press conference, recounting how he collected the corpses of small children and adults from the festering streets on his recent trip. Tears streamed down his face as he looked into the camera, speaking to his countrymen. Residents should be evacuated to tent cities outside Port-au-Prince to allow for aid to reach them and so cleanup can begin in earnest, Jean said, asking for help from around the world in building encampments...

One day after it was reported that Wyclef Jean would run in the next Haitian presidential election, The Smoking Gun reported Wednesday that the musician owes the Internal Revenue Service more than $2.1 million. The IRS reportedly hit Jean with a $724,332 tax lien this past May, one of multiple liens tied to Jean's individual 1040 returns dating back to 2006. The federal tax liens are against his current residence, a $1.85 million home at 8 Cameron Road in Saddle River. Jean, whose birth name was Nel Wyclef Jean, has lived in the home with his wife Claudinette and family since 1998 when he bought it.

Wyclef Jean, the hip-hop singer who stirred the pot by saying he’d run for the Haiti’s presidency after a devastating earthquake, is not qualified to run. Wyclef Jean The decision, confirmed by a Haitian government official, brings an end to the Wyclef Jean bid to campaign for the country’s top post which is up for election in November. The commission rejected Jean’s application, saying that he had not met residency requirements to run.

Wyclef Jean was hospitalized over the weekend due to symptoms of stress and fatigue, Jean’s rep said in a press release. The musician has since been released, and his rep added that Jean “will be fine – just needs the space to recover.”

The world bank is providing $2.5 million to support private sector energy efficiency efforts in Jamaica. The funds from its World Energy Security and Efficiency Project will support a pilot energy efficiency financing mechanism that will give the private sector access to renewable and energy efficient equipment. If the pilot scheme is successful, additional resources could be made available, said Jamaican Minister of Energy and Mining, James Robertson. Robertson also announced that the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) has earmarked $700 million from the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) Agricultural Support Fund as credit for energy efficiency and conservation measures, along with $500 million for SMEs.