Jamaica
Island Records founder Chris Blackwell looks back on his life in music
Blackwell grew up in Jamaica, and, as the head of Island Records, helped launch the careers of reggae stars like Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff, as well as rock bands like U2. His memoir is The Islander.
'Vision Portraits' Filmmaker Wanted To Chronicle Other Artists Who Are Blind
Filmmaker Rodney Evans is still making movies, despite having lost much of his vision. His new documentary is about how he and three other blind or visually impaired artists continue to do their work.
Reggae Pioneer Desmond Dekker
Rock historian Ed Ward remembers Jamaican singer Desmond Dekker, who died last week at the age of 64. His 1969 hit "Israelites" was for many Americans the first reggae they'd ever heard.
Early Recordings for The New Ska Revivalist.
Critic Milo Miles reviews reissues of ska albums.
Trumpeter Nathan Breedlove on the Ska Revival
Breedlove plays with the Jamaican group, The Skatalites. They're credited with creating the music known as ska, a precursor to reggae, which is often mistaken for reggae. The group got their start in the 1960s. Breedlove is an American musician who worked with Lionel Hampton, and began playing with The Skatalites about seven years ago. The Skatalites have a new album, "Greetings from Skamania."
Novelist Terry McMillan Discusses "How Stella Got Her Groove Back."
Novelist Terry McMillan. The film adaptation of her 1992 novel, "Waiting to Exhale" was last year's box office hit.The book sold nearly 4 million copies. McMillan has recently completed her fourth novel, "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" (Viking) which is available in bookstores this week. It tells the story of a 42-year old career woman on vacation in Jamaica who falls in love with a 20-year old unemployed resort worker. According to McMillan, "it's as close to autobiography as I've written in a long time".
Reissue of a Legendary Lost Reggae Album Lives Up to its Mythic Past.
Milo Miles reviews "Heart of the Congos" by The Congos. (Blood and Fire, USA--in L.A.)
A Label that Promoted Artists from Two Islands
Rock Historian Ed Ward continues his five part series on what impact several small record companies have had on the music world. Today he discusses Island Records, founded in England by Jamaican-born musician Chris Blackwell.
A Boxed Set That's Actually Worth the Price.
World music commentator Milo Miles reviews the newly released boxed CD set "Tougher Than Tough: The Story of Jamaican Music" (available on the Mango label).
The Jolly Boys in Concert.
A live concert with The Jolly Boys. They're a Jamaican band that plays a style of music called mento (It's the Jamaican analogue to calypso, and it paved the way for reggae and ska). The Jolly Boys have a new album on Rykodisc, called "Sunshine 'N' Water." The Jolly Boys include: Moses Deans on banjo, drummer and singer Allan Swymmer, Noel Howard on guitar, and Joseph Bennett on thumb piano.