Farewell Roy Shirley

The body of Roy Shirley was laid to rest at the popular Dovecot Memorial Park on September 2008. The popular Jamaican singer/songwriter passed away in England on July 17 after suffering a heart attack.

Dubbed `The High Priest` Roy, whose real name is Ainstworth Roy Ruston was born on July 18, 1944. He made his entry into the music business during the mid 1960s with his unique choking style of singing. In 1967 he smashed the charts with the Joe Gibbs produced rocksteady song called `Hold Them`

Roy last performed in Jamaica on the popular vintage series `Stars R Us` held at the Mas Camp Village, Kingston in 2006.

A small crowd turned out at the headquarters of the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAAVA) to pay their last respect their beloved entertainer. Unique Vision Band provided the music as the likes of Ken Boothe, Bunny Brown and Bagga Case paid their last respect in songs. Also in attendance were Boris Gardiner, Dudley Sibley, John Holt, Bongo Herman, Dwight Pinkney, Winston `Merritone` Blake, Derrick Harriott and others from the music fraternity. The government of Jamaica, through the Jamaica High Commission in London, assisted in the funeral arrangement. Interment took place at the Dovecot Memorial Park.

The Carol Gardens Incident: `Blowing The Lid`

During the Holy Week of April 1963 the relationship between the Jamaican security forces (police and soldiers) and the Rastafarian sect reached its lowing point, resulting in what became known as the `Carol Gardens Incident`. For years, both have been at odds as the Rastafarians were determine to make the statement that the `Babylon system` was a fraud and they would not accept living under it. This led to anti-social behavior being perpetrated by Rastafarians and the security forces responding, often times in a high- handed manner.

Both sides had have enough of each other and one Rastafarian, Rudolph Franklin, initiated a violent uprising in the hills of Carol Gardens, Montego Bay. At the end of the ordeal, some 8 persons were killed and several Ratafarians rounded up, beaten and jailed. Ratafarians, innocent and having nothing to do with the initial uprising were severely mistreated by the security forces with support from the citizens of the area. The event is remembered yearly by the Rastafarian community and their call for compensation and an apology from the state.

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Celebrating Dennis Brown

The lawns of the prestigious Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston came alive on Friday, Feb. 22, 2008 as a star studded line up of artistes came out to to pay homage to the beloved Jamaican Superstar Dennis Brown. Staged annually by the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affliates (JAVAA), the large crowd was treated to some scintilating performances from the likes of Boris Gardiner, Ken Booth, Bob Andy, George Nooks, Derrick Harriott, Bunny Brown, John Holt and the man who had the crowd begging for more, Lincoln `Sugar` Minott



Supporting acts came from the likes of Charmaine Limonius, Carey Johnson, Mary Isaacs, Ras Mandito, Ras Manasseh, Sam Carty, Dwight Pinkney, Lloyd Parks along with the Tamlins, Suzanne Couch, Michael Pinnock and Bagga Case. Backing was solidly performed by the Unique Vision and the Fabulous Five Bands.

Sugar Minott connected well with the audience and M.C., Mutabaruka warmed to their request and called back the exciting entertainer who gleefully obliged the fans. Started off in a soulful mood, he had the fans singing along to `I want To Make It With You` after which he swung into `Mr. DC`with the fans singing to the chorus in `mass choir style`. `Buy Out The Bar` followed after which he made way for the `Preacher` Derrick Harriott. `The Chariot`, as he popularly known took the audience on a stroll down memory lane with songs such as `Walk The Street`, `Solomon`, `Stop That Train` and `Penny For Your Song`.

Bob Andy kept the good vibes going with hits from his repetoire, the likes of `I 've Got To Go Back Home` and `For You`. Ken Boothe started off with `What About The Half` followed by his famous `Seven In One Medley` and closed out with `Everything I Own`.


George Nooks hit the stage running with `Money In My Pocket` the Dennis Brown mega hit song, on which Nooks deejayed during the mid 1970s. `Forty Leg` brought a loud cheer from the crowd after which he held church service with `God Is Standing By`. John Holt was given the task of closing the show and in true work-man-like style he brought the event to a fitting finale. Boris Gardiner also got a rousing reception from the crowd when he performed songs such as `It's So Nice To Be With You` and `I Want To Wake Up With You`. The emceeing was also perfomed by Patrick Lafayette and Junior Sinclair.

Farewell Joe Gibbs

Legendary Jamaican record producer and businessman Joel `Joe Gibbs` Gibson was laid to rest on March 5, 2008 at the Dovecot Memorial Park, after a well attended funeral service held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, North Street, Kingston. His Worship The Mayor of Kingston, Desmond McKenzie along with Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Dr. Omar Davies headed hundreds of family members, friends and representitives from the music fraternity who turned out to pay their last respect to the great man.

Born in Salt Spring, Montego Bay on October 14, 1942 Joe Gibbs fell ill and was taken to the University Hospital of the West Indies where he died on February 21, 2008. At age 14 Joe Gibbs was fending for himself after his parents died. He sold food items in the Montego Bay Market where he earned the nickname, `Market Rat`. By his late teenage years he started learning radio technology and repair and became so versed at it, he became part of a national team charged with the responsibility of standardizing Jamaica's electrical cycle system which at the operated on more than one cycles. After coming into Kingston on regularly job assignment he eventually decided to settle in the capital city for a short time before heading off to Cuba to work on the United States Military Base at Gauntanamo Bay. He returned to Jamaica during the middle of the 1960s and set up a radio repair and electronics shop on Beeston Street, in the heart of the music scene in downtown Kingston. Joe Gibbs initially attempted singing but could not make the grade and was eventually encouraged to get into producing. One of his first artistes was Roy Shirley who recorded the hit, `Hold Them`, in 1966, and thus launching Joe Gibbs, the producer and the creation of the `Amalgamated Label`

Forging an association with Lee `Scratch` Perry, the combination went about producing songs with the likes of Peter Tosh, Errol Dunkley, The Pioneers, The Royals, Nicky Thomas and The Heptones. After a fall out with Perry the high-riding Joe Gibbs went about setting up his own recording studio at 24 Ritirement Crescent, Kingston in 1972. He teamed up with Errol Thompson, who at the time was the top engineer at Randy's Recording Studio. The association became known as the `Mighty Two`, and mighty they were. The 1970s saw the combination turning out some of greatest music from the era. Dennis Brown, Trinity, Prince Mohammed/George Nooks, Dillinger and J.C. Lodge along with others, all came to the fore during this period.

Joe Gibbs followed the trend at the time and left Jamaica and settled in the United States for 15 years after which he returned to Jamaica and expanded his businesses to include a supermarket, restaurants and farming. Not much recordings went on at the studio during the last few years, however Joe Gibbs, in partnership with VP Records is currently releasing material from the large Joe Gibb's catalogue.

Others in attendance included Bunny Lee, Don Lee, Derrick Morgan and wife Nelly, King Jammys, Alvin `Gee Gee` Ranglin, Chris Chin/VP Records, Winston `Merritone` Blake, Bongo Herman, Earl `Heptones` Morgan, Carey Johnson, Frankie Campbell/JAVAA, Desmond Young/Jamaica Federation of Musicians, Colin Leslie and Julian `Jingles ` Reynolds/Sounds and Pressure, Zac Henry/The Astronauts, Junior `Trinity` Bramwell, Tappa Zukie, Harry J, Neville Rennalls, Niney The Observer, Pete Weston, Georgia Henry and Dr. Carolyn Cooper. Father Kenneth Richards officiated while the organist was Michael Hunter. Joe Gibbs is survived by 11 children