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Home , Beres Hammond, Dean Fraser, Dennis Brown, Israel Vibration, Jacob Miller (musician), Joe Higgs

71 ❤ Festival Guide 2006

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Sugar Minott

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R & & GREEN We We just had our history lesson! Can you imagine My memory of I was 10 or 12 years old. ended We up at a friend’s party in Calexico, a town that bumps the border of Mexico: a piece of him for souvenir! south down way GUTIERREZ, CARLOS from hear next Let’s FLAMES. Mortimer Planno, one of most ’s prominent elders, living just down the street? What about this next memory - another likkle lesson from agent and COPELAND FORBES: manager, is from 1993 when did I a tour, REGGAE SUPERFEST which had ‘93, Minott, Sugar and along DEAN with 809 FRASER-led BAND. We did the six shows Germany in East was the rst which since the fi Berlin Wall time came down, that an authentic concert reggae was in that part of held Germany. Sugar Minott that region was that he such was wanted fans mobbed the by as a reggae life his fans for big when run he to had went hit he – plaza a in in shopping with a local reggae band playing outside. That’s heard reggae. I where rst was eating chips and salsa. I I asked who is that fi singing? Someone said that it was INNER CIRCLE. I loved it and went and purchased the cassette tape right Inner away, Circle’s Reggae Dancer. I felt I had found something I was missing... don’t I know how to say it, but the my lyrics and mind the and beat relaxed gave me inner peace. I knew it was all right ELLIS next AND startedTHE a group together: ALTON FLAMES. The others had their careers too and I later started my own group called AND THE RIGHTEOUS

O I grew up in Kingston, in the government houses The streets numbered there. are Street and so First on, to Thirteenth Street. I lived on ALTON Fourth, ELLIS lived on 5th Street. He was much than older me, 22. maybe We were good all like neighbors, a family so to speak. MORTIMER PLANNO on Fifth lived too all the and Rasta they come from north,

M GOLD

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Alton Ellis Compiled by Wendy Russell Compiled by Wendy

There There are reggae artists I treasure, with songs I RED, M Kaati play play every radio no show, WINSTON matter man, roots that is artist the such One CD current. is longer no JARRETT and the memory: fond own RIGHTEOUS his be might FLAMES, what nd so I fi to out him searched

south, east and west for the nyabinghi there. He would teach the teach would He there. nyabinghi the for west and east south, Amharic in sing would learn.They and listen go I’d too. children and I liked to play the drums there. I remember Mortimer telling me that if I was going to come in as a youth amongst elders, to cover my head. This was in the late on put they in colonial development community For ‘60s. and days in the ‘50s Opportunity Knocks! at the Club Girl’s on Seventh. It was so the youth had an opportunity to get on a stage – one band backed everybody – and put on a good show and maybe get a chance “Girl, sang and 17 was I solo. there up went I day One fame. at I’ve got a date.” I put everything I had into the music – I was not scared, but won instead He second. placed feeling I and rst very happy fi took to BOOTHE KEN but rst get – stage time my on fi books, like presents won we school a at was it since and trophy a pens, ink, rulers, pants, shirts – like that. JOE HIGGS, and Alton Ellis were re! there Me too. and It was on fi MEMORIES Reggae Festival Guide 2006 ❤ 72 Wendy Russell SNOW (Canada), CULTURA PROPHETICA (Puerto Rico), Rico), myself. (Puerto and – reggae PROPHETICA found I (Argentina). RASTA CHALA and CULTURA (Chile) GONDWANA (Canada), course, SNOW of CAMPBELL , VIBRATION, MARTIN ISRAEL KIMOZE, INI are MIDNITE, artists my favorite as it my chose Now and over then. and back AZ Yuma, in reggae buy go over to had I music. it favorite to listened I as me for RED, GOLD Martin Campbell Martin & GREEN MEMORIES time ever – TOOTS first AND the THE original for MAYTALS,– in INNER the CIRCLE, bringing AUDITORIUM, at WINTERLAND historic concert three-day a do to PRODUCTIONS KINGSTON PPAY EOD fudr n SWF promoter, SNWMF pioneer, and WARREN recording SMITH: founder JA early RECORDS from EPIPHANY memory a is Here Circa 1975,Promoter Warren Smith,picturedhere(center)with n uy 17 I a atatd o a Facso o join to Francisco San to attracted was I 1975 July, In Sugar MinottJackieMittoo 73 ❤ Reggae Festival Guide 2006 Greetings in the mighty name of MAJAH JAH! P MISTA here my mom would take the other.. I always chose the bed bywindowcould Ilookso outandseeeveryone. the daddyMywould then take me to the show with mum. There I would get to meet lots of people and sometimes I wouldmake new friends.meet At the kidsshow I get liketo stay up me late and anddance to his music. I would stay backstage until he heAfter, would finishedlike to go straight back playing.to the hotel. At the hotel while I played, he would be busy makinggettingimportant calls takehisphoneforcalls.wouldmelet He his band paid and him sometimes. My daddy always got up in the morning very, very early. He would go to the sauna and then come back formum and I, to go swimming with him. – I haveHe a picture taughtbeside my bed ofme my daddy andto I swimming swim together. We are both laughing and splashing waterOnother. the way back home, atdaddy would always eachstop at the mall and buy me something like new clothes – or like last timehe got me a skateboard and a much andguitar. I miss him very, veryI much. love my daddy very a man with a song... Here is a message from and I want to share an experience I had last year performing in at MONTEREY REGGAE BAY I FESTIVAL. was doing the in standing people of couple a saw I when song “Mama” my crowd, like they were lost in thought. I saw tears were coming out of one of the guys’ eyes. After I finished performing they FAZAL PRENDERGAST, who we in lost a road tragic PRENDERGAST, FAZAL I remember when my daddy Fazal would play at reggae accident last year, was not only a foundational musician musician foundational a only not was year, last accident father. beloved in a reggae also music (look was on he the CDs!), back of and your albums old us: with His shares DEARDHRA MCGEOUGH daughter, and PRENDERGAST, memories her treasures 10, age festivals or shows, he would bring my mom, COLETTE, and me along with him. I loved very this nice hotels part where I could becausego swimming. My wedaddy would got always to let stay me at choose which bed I wanted first, and he and over again! featuring featuring JACOB MILLER with EARL CHINNA SMITH on guitar, along with a young upstart singer Tickets were named $5 advance, $6 DENNIS at the BROWN. door. The show took place and it was great! After the show seen had Mick I JAGGER. MICK for performing was Toots of approached possibility about the that Toots was in the States and wanted Toots for so we did his party, the party for Mick. had birthdayshows in JA so he went home, but Jacob Miller and Inner Circle played too. I remember Jacob Miller was real wooing the extroverted; girls from he’d the start stage and by shows’ end from the he’d stage and disappear jump with one. He’d be gone all night, the next day, miss sound check and then strut in at show time, jump up on stage, then give do a the great same show, thing all Reggae Festival Guide 2006 ❤ 74 21, that I had my first recording. That record now, has one of the JA11,000 dollars. I remember it was March 1969, at the age of DODD that the session would cost 100 pounds, which was about COXSONE by told was I “Jerusalem.” and Gana” Massa “Satta songs, two first my recording to regards in save, to decided had a long absence: afteryearlastclassic therootsharmony thegroup in man, this upmostby Abyssinians,written the from the came – highest to rights and roots heralding – anthem Reggae’sforth. premierput they creations lyrical the glimpseto insidemusic amaker’s visions studyingby and theloveforallmothersworldwide.” songs. It brought a tear to my eye. I felt the love of these brethren my of one with another of life the touched had I because me for special was moment That mothers. all to praise giving was I that and the mother,advice they got their and took. They said with it was good shared to know each they times good the of memory much so back brought it song that did I when and mothers their not know each other. They explained to me that they did both they but had family lost were they maybe thought I me. approached RED, I remember working as a messenger during the late ‘60s. I ‘60s. late the during messenger a as working remember I able are We conduit. powerful a indeed is Music ENR “SATTA” COLLINS BERNARD GOLD & GREEN wo a rejoined has who , MEMORIES most played songs, “Satta Massa Gana” – give thanks – released omril ai! oee, oe f hs ol b possible be would this of on none show However, weekly own radio! my commercial have now I behold, and low – and school broadcasting television and radio at program lengthy a completed and career another pursued I support, steadfast his With riddims. reggae the to beat to continues another one and share my heart and soul. Our passion for the Music, the Message I whom with husband arrows. my became JAHVTZ, her man, a of shot gem This cupid time, quality over Then, once. ballads onto others. I remember dancing to romantic U-ROY;him to on turned me I turned he another; one with music We saw one another at a few reggae shows and exchanged the do. friends as out hung and telephone the on hours for giggled wonderful cameraman became a very a fun friend! had We He laughed man!” and nice striking melodic, a soothing vibe “What that caught were, my attention. thoughts Well, exact that my and words few a said man The BROWN. DENNIS MAXI with and with PRIEST me of pictures few a took who camera a with man a to introduced was and folks greeting and meeting backstage was I CENTER. ARTS PERFORMING SPRINGS SARATOGA the venue, outdoor wonderful a at day,performing glorious that on Cupid dancestoareggaebeatinupstateNewYork: Next, radio producer and DJ, ANA AVITAL tells us that on myownClinchrecordlabel. t a Jl, 91 n RGA SNPAH a i town in was SUNSPLASH REGGAE and 1991 July, was It 75 ❤ Reggae Festival Guide 2006 This is one of my favorite Wendy Russell Wendy It seemsownItlikemyall memoriesreggae happy involve food somehow: memories and food! yes there’s Whole snapper. is in fresh the kitchen saucin’ up some red onions, peppers – and more peppers – in brown SCIENTIST gravy. with was my BERNSTEIN, husband, nearby MARK sports on TV with the sound downand MISTY IN ROOTS watching stereothewiththeplaying on volume up loud. The kitchen door was wide FULLY open FULLWOOD, and TONYCHIN, DALE ZEBBY HAUSKINS, and outside. We I were enjoying the were garden, just of the the blessings daythe night’s and performance come, relishing to all while watching , Reggae Festival Guide ❤ visualizes that “land, far, far away visualizes that “land, far, The Abyssinian’s Bernard “Satta” Collins The Abyssinian’s where there’s no night, there’s only day...” there’s no night, where there’s I remember that day often, probably every time I use a knife, but also in my daily life daily my in also but knife, a use I everytime probably often, day that remember I Wendy Wendy Russell lives in Fresno, CA, with husband,

Mark, three dogs and more than 70 turtles and tortoises, and turtles 70 than more and dogs three Mark, where she loves to spend time in her gardens and with organizer festival and promoter active An grandkids. her for many years, Wendy is also a radio DJ on Satélite along nationwide, stations many its with Bilingue, Radio with a monthly political talk show Stir on It KFCF Up. Along 88.1fm, with being slow Co-Editor down a (she little, asked so she to and Kristine joined writer forces), and photographer for [email protected] 559/226 9280 be ras sharp! without without the steadfast love of my man, our love of reggae music, and our Blessings from we and Way Judaic the follows cycle yearly Our Way. Reggae the is path Our One. the York, New Saratoga, from way our planning are we year 15th our for Way... the on are California. ON THE RIVER in to REGGAE Onward and Forward!” Fully’s words keep coming back to me at Fully’s the strangest times; in a tense situation I might ras sound better “This select, I as show radio my at Or now!“ sharp ras be best ”I think, sharp!” pops in my head. Or deep in conversation, when struggling to I be pray clear, that my words become ras sharp and go right to the heart of the problem. By his few words Rasta of power the conceptualized Fully jest, in fully (ah ha! Is that how he got his name?), so that I eventually realized the fullness thereof. I gotta’ we – easy not is world this that know just Fully Fullwood gut and clean the fish. Fully did notyou“Wendy, needlike a mynew dullknife knife– you needand agrumbled, ras sharp knife!” she has 10s, Top CD reviews and photographs online and in various publications whenever asked, including Wendy’s Perspective columns at www.JahWorks.org. Wendy Russell Wendy