Diversity of Music Belies the Unifying Message of Bayside Rocks
MIAMI, FL (October 5, 2011) – A cornucopia of music will provide a feast of multicultural delights as world beat music takes center stage at the Bayside Rocks Music & Arts Festival on Saturday November 19, 2011 in Miami. A melodic smorgasbord featuring a musical genre for every taste – including reggae, Jamaican, Latin American, Kompa, Caribbean, rock ‘n roll, and more – will highlight this year’s concert.
In addition to a special tribute to the life of Honorable Robert Nesta ‘Bob’ Marley and 50 years of Wailers music, this year’s Bayside Rocks will feature world music headliners Bunny Wailer and The Original Wailers. Also hitting the stage are a unique group of artists whose musical brilliance is eclipsed only by its message of love and hope.
“I carefully selected this lineup because every artist has devoted his life to spreading a message that is consistent with my purpose,†said ROCKAZ MVMT president and CEO Alfonso D’Niscio Brooks. “We are all striving to change the world for the better by empowering people to make a positive difference through the universal language of music.â€
According to artist Warrior King, “As a Rastafarian you just don’t sing music, you sing music with a purpose and a mission. To the four corners of the Earth I carry my music, and the message of love, to all people of all races.”
Cultura Profetica is a Puerto Rican reggae band with lyrics that center mostly on socio-political and ecological issues. Pato Banton sometimes invites his fans to join him in a prayer circle after the show and is committed to helping people “stay positive and never give in.â€
Connis Vanterpool is a brilliantly talented musician who has worked with scores of international artists but is most proud of his involvement with the volunteer work he has done in the community, providing free music workshops at various elementary and secondary schools. Tabou Combo’s vocalist and main songwriter Fanfan said, “We want people to dance and forget their sorrows.” And while there is no doubt that Tabou’s music is made for dancing, it also features lyrics that focus on social issues of the day.
Gondwana, from Chile, has been spreading the word of Jah Love, standing tall and strong in a peace-loving position of musical and lyrical creation. And according to artist Luciano, “We are all children of the Most High God and I just want my family and my fans to receive the blessings that God has given.” The Wailing Souls’ Lloyd ‘Bread’ McDonald adds to this, “Apart from the musical aspect of what we are doing, we see it as a very spiritual thing. Whenever you start singing, everyone come together. The bad guys come together, the good guys come together, everybody come together. The rich people, poor people, like one. The message what we a try to preach is love and unity.â€
“Our ultimate goal is to uplift the spirit and inspire people of every ilk to give of themselves to help make the world a better place in which to live,†said D’Niscio Brooks. “We’re accomplishing this task by spreading art, culture and music while raising money to end poverty, feed the hungry and shelter the homeless.â€
This year’s concert will include a food drive benefiting Curley’s House (www.curleyshouseinc.com) an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for low-to-moderate income individuals, families, the elderly, youth-at-risk, the abused, and HIV/AIDS infected individuals by providing the nutrition they need. Guests will be asked to contribute two or more cans of food as part of the cost of admission.
“Given the philanthropic nature of this event, we’re inviting all civic minded companies to join us as sponsors,†D’Niscio Brooks said. “It’s a great way to get your name in front of tens of thousands of people while ensuring that hundreds of thousands of dollars are donated to a very worthy cause.â€
On event day we will orchestrate an “island festival†of tents that will feature new products, special drinks, foods, art, and more. In addition we will have a non-profit village with a host of foundations offering information, art & crafts village, food vending village, green partners explaining the benefits of going green, workshops, bounce houses for children, skateboard show, a BMX bike show, Geen Mobility hosted bike valet, YOGA in the park, eco village, compost village, farmers market, Rock Star VIP lounge, Recycling bins will be placed throughout the venue along with signage alerting attendees to the importance of recycling.
Bayside Rocks Festival 2011 Promo Reel from ROCKAZ MVMT on Vimeo.
The Bayside Rocks Music & Arts Festival is scheduled for Saturday November 19, 2011 at Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami.
For additional information about corporate sponsorships and ticket sales for the 2011 Bayside Rocks Music & Arts Festival contact 305-763-4509 or email
info@baysiderocksfestival.com
Get your tickets now by calling 305-763-4509 or by clicking here: http://baysiderocks-sitebuytix.eventbrite.com/
GFBC NEWs NETWORK
September 11, 2011
Many have opinions when it comes to the coveted West Indian Day Carnival held on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, N.Y. A few have associated violent crimes with the annual occasion, and some media outlets have erroneously labeled crimes in other neighborhoods as parade-related violence. However, The NYPD enjoyed and shared in the festivities. The nation’s leading events-planning publication, BIZ BASH ranked the Caribbean parade No. 3 on its 2011 “New York’s Top Parades, Walks & Holiday Events” listing – only the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and New Year’s Eve in Times Square rank higher, No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. We also have the video to prove it, you be the judge as all was well and it was all love indeed.
US VIRGIN ISLAND – Love and peace will be the message in the music when Stop the Bleeding USVI: The LIATI (lee-ah-tee) Project premieres its first single entitled “Believe†on September 2, 2011.
Radio stations in the Virgin Islands, the Caribbean and on the mainland will simultaneously air the debut of the song at 7 a.m. on Friday. Internet listening parties will take place on the weekend of the release.
According to Cheryl Francis, Executive Producer of the musical project,â€Believe†is a unique musical collaboration of musicians who reside in the Virgin Islands and abroad. “It is such a beautiful example of how we can work together to promote peace, and send a message of hope to our youth here and throughout the world,†said Francis, wife of V.I. Lt. Governor Gregory R. Francis. She founded Stop the Bleeding, Inc. in 2007 to actively involve parents and their children in reducing violence in their communities.
This project was especially heartfelt by the six popular V.I. musicians who made the recording because they were either born or raised in the territory. As a result, they generously gave their time and talents to collaborate on this masterful message, Francis said. Five of the musicians wrote and contributed their own lyrics to the project. “It was amazing how the verses from each artist complemented the other,†she commented. “The project’s collaborators understood the work of Stop the Bleeding and what we want to tell the people of our communities. If each one stands firm and believes, we can change tomorrow for the better.â€
Contributing artists Pressure Busspipe (“Love and Affectionâ€), Verse Simmonds (“Dat Girlâ€), Elijah Vegas (“They Don’t Understand Meâ€), Rena Faith (“Without Youâ€), Raynaldo ‘TSR’ Canton (“Make It Homeâ€â€”soon to be released), and Mada Nile (“I Would Like to Seeâ€) voluntarily spent hours in St. Croix’s state-of-the-art Aqua Sounds recording studio to complete the project. The song mix was then mastered by Disc Makers.
All proceeds from the sale of the single will go towards the work of the Stop the Bleeding Foundation. An album set to be released in 2012 will include “Believe†and other songs contributed by Virgin Islands musicians and will further add to proceeds.
STB is a registered member of ASCAP, which will protect the copyright of the tune, monitor the broadcasts and performance of the tune and collect the royalties for STB, which is a non-profit organization.
Nick Ashford, one-half of the legendary Motown songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson that penned elegant, soulful classics for the likes of Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye and funk hits for Chaka Khan and others, died Monday at age 70, his former publicist said.
ASHFORD & SIMPSON
Liz Rosenberg, who also was Ashford’s longtime friend, told The Associated Press that Ashford — who along with wife Valerie Simpson wrote some of Motown’s biggest hits — died in a New York City hospital. He had been suffering from throat cancer and had undergone radiation treatment.
![“In the Air” Buju Banton’s New Album [Before the Dawn] (Track Included)](http://blog.gfbcproductions.biz/wp-content/themes/wp-elegance/scripts/timthumb.php?src=http://blog.gfbcproductions.biz/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/BUJU_BioPic2.jpg&w=150&h=150&zc=1 "“In the Air” Buju Banton’s New Album [Before the Dawn] (Track Included)")
By GFBC Staff:
Lyrics: Mark Anthony Myrie a/k/a Buju Banton
Song: “In the Air”
Album: Before the Dawn
Can you feel it?
(Chorus) Can You feel it?
In the Air
Can you feel it?
(Chorus) Can you feel it?
It is oh so near
Can You see it?
(Chorus) Can you see it?
It is over there
Coming down on every soul, taking complete control
Can you feel it
(Chorus) Can you feel it, it is oh so near………….
For your listening pleasure…………
I must commend anyone who can create such beautiful music in the face of danger and in the belly of the beast. Is Buju Innocent or guilty ? Who knows; however Buju is definitely guilty of making timeless music.
By GFBC Staff
Bounty Killa
Domestic Violence & Abuse: A disturbing trend among the artiste we love Part I
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, child abuse or intimate partner violence (IPV), can be broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, friends or cohabitation. Domestic violence has many forms including physical aggression.
Awareness, perception and documentation of domestic violence differs from country to country, and from era to era. The perception of the domestic violence, in my opinion remains to be more alarming than the actual offensive acts that take place. Especially when such acts are by perpetrated by individuals in the spotlight or public eye. In music for instance especially Dancehall Music there has been a string of artistes tied to domestic violence cases; however it seems as though it is almost condoned. When an artiste is arrested for the act of violence they are almost always granted with bail. However, it seems as though this most current case an exception to the the proverbial rule.
Recently, Dancehall artiste Rodney Pryce a/k/a Bounty Killa a/k/a serial abuser of women has been denied bail from Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey. Rodney Price was arrested following an altercation that involved the abuse of his current girlfriend. According to the complainant a 19 year model and student, she said “the artist used his chain to hit her all over her body. However, she said she managed to escape and ran into the washroom but he followed her and used a mosquito zapper to hit her on her right wrist, causing bruises.” She said the artiste then grabbed her by her neck and said, “Like how u bleeding betta me jus kill u and done cause that is a sign that you should die.”
On April 5, 2010 Bounty Killa was arrested for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend a case where officials refused to release the details because of an ongoing investigation. However, based on that investigation was there sufficient evidence to conclude that he could possibly commit a similar offense? As if the act of battery was not enough, police officials reportedly revealed that Pryce used his one phone call at the station to reach his ex-girlfriend to threaten her life.
Despite, the proliferation of the internet and technology, it seems as though this horrific disease still remains undiagnosed in our community. It is with much joy that we relish the fact that light is being brought to this topic. There is a disturbing correlation of the artiste and domestic violence in the Caribbean. The main problem in domestic violence cases especially in the Caribbean, bail is usually granted after a so-call cooling off period, then set low enough for the repeat offender to commit a similar offense. Hopefully, this time it will set a precedent as set by Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey.
Domestic Violence & Abuse: A distrubing trend among the artiste we love by GFBC Productions, Ltd is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at blog.gfbcproductions.biz.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at www.blog.gfbcproductions.biz.
Source Photo: Guardian
The Caribbean mourns the death of musical veteran, Arrow. Yesterday at the age of 55, the man whose soca anthem, Hot, Hot, Hot rang out across borders and bridged musical gaps, allowing for many Caribbean soca and calypso entertainers to be eventually heard, lost his battle with brain cancer at a hospital in Antigua. A national of Montserrat, Arrow (real name Alphonsus Edmund Cassel), shot to stardom in 1982 with the infectious Hot, Hot, Hot chorus that has become synonymous, to most, if not all tourists with the words sun, sea, sand and the Caribbean islands.
Arrow has been credited with taking soca music to the world, as prior to his hit, the genre had been unknown to people outside the Caribbean territory. In his native Montserrat, he was coined a businessman and international soca star— titles he’ll forever be decorated by among both his musical peers and the people who knew him best.
A shock crazy responds
In T&T, calypso artistes reacted in shock to the news that Arrow had died. “Arrow died?,†uttered Edwin “Crazy†Ayoung. His disbelief was present throughout his five-minute chat with the Guardian. “When Arrow came to Trinidad, he was with me all the time. I was the only man in Trinidad he used to ride with,†he said. In 2009, Crazy performed alongside Arrow in Montserrat and according to him, it was the last time Arrow had performed on stage. “I knew he was sick, but recently I saw him and he was looking well.†Ayoung said he would remember Arrow most for his song Soca Rhumba to which he offered chorus vocals. “This is a shocker to me. I will miss him,†said Crazy.
Tuco head pays respect
Lutalo “Brother Resistance†Masimba, interim president of Tuco said: “Certainly his passing is a great loss for the music industry as a whole. I think that the success he had with Hot, Hot, Hot was a point of reference for calypso music as a whole in these modern times.
“I always admired his work ethic and the way he went about the business of what he was doing and I would have learnt from that in terms of how I conducted my business.†Masimba extended condolences to Arrow’s family, friends and business associates on behalf of the members of the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation.
Winchester analyses
Arrow’s music has even had a positive effect on young Trinbagonian entertainers, among them Shurwayne Winchester. “It’s a great loss,†he said, adding that Arrow’s Hot Hot Hot was one of the biggest soca tracks ever recorded. It’s the song most used in ads that depict Caribbean soca flavour and music—world music.†Shurwayne highlighted that Arrow’s island anthem is also the song recorded in the most languages.
“For tourism, on the cruise ships and at resorts, tourists request that song over any other,†he admitted, further stating that in one song, the veteran artiste had given generations that followed, so much.
Winchester then pondered the state of our local industry, highlighting that while many young artistes were producing hits, the question remained as to whether this era’s music would prove lasting over time.
“On any cruise ship, any fete, any event, if you want to see 100 per cent impact, you must go with the foundation music. “Kitchener, Merchant, Sparrow and Arrow have given us a lot to work with. The icons are passing on and we have to wonder if we are up to their standard. Do we have songs that will be remembered for years to come?â€
HYPE RADIO WEBPAGE
Radio. It’s that magnetic influence that many of us just can’t live without. From the streets of the city, to the homes of even the wealthy businessman and low-income housewife, the radio’s a must. It’s that one device we’re just addicted to. Ever thought we’d reach the age of Internet radio though? The stage where the regular wireless transmission is somewhat archaic? Who’d have ever thought we’d all be bouncing around to music and chit chat emanating from our modern day smartphones? In 2010, the click of a mouse takes us anywhere, even into radio-land, as in the case of Hyperadiott.net
Helping budding artistes
This local brand speaks for itself as an Internet exclusive radio network that answers the call of some 100,000 listeners who log on each month. The site was recently re-launched, and provides the entertainment and information yearned for by the masses, via a group of young, trendy DJs and announcers. From Keon Phillip to Lindsay London, Roxanne, DJ Kurty, DJ Reddo, DJ Nigel, DJ Live, DJ Meng, DJ Kwasi and even presenters, Johann, Akeem, Che Simon, Cashmo and Cody – Hyperadiott.net employs quite a cast and does justice to the Caribbean music that they promote. The site works two fold as an entertainment news portal and a radio station, allowing advertisers to benefit both via audio streaming and visual content that may be posted.
Based in St James, the online frequency is alive 24/7 and maintains its appeal by playing the best in Chutney, Soca, Dancehall, reggae and other Caribbean music genres in both old school and music of the new era. In addition, the site often streams live events into the homes of Internet users, free. With Blackberry and iPhone mobile handsets being the technological tool of the era, Hyperadiott.net has not been left out. By visiting hyperadiott.net/m, users will find they’re connected even while out and about. In the coming months as Carnival gets underway, local artistes will launch music via this music medium and the DJs and presenters at the online media house say they’ve always been happy to assist young, upcoming local artistes, regardless of genre, in launching their careers.
Hyperadio in New Jersey
With Caribbean music lovers constantly searching for the music of their homelands, from their abodes overseas, Hypradiott.net streams live radio to New Jersey at Islandvibes 92.7FM. Users of the free feed will be impressed when they click on the link only to find a spanking new Web site, filled with the Caribbean goodies they often yearn for. The site’s builders assure the new Web site will be more interactive than before. In the meantime though, they urge music lovers to try Internet radio by logging on to HYPERLINK “http://www.hyperadiott.net†www.hyperadiott.net
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