According to this new site set up by Buju Banton's camp : www.thisisbujubanton.wordpress.com fans can write to Buju Banton and make donations to help pay his lawyers.

Fans can write letters of support to the General at Pinellas County Jail:

Mark Anthony Myrie - Docket # 1387202

CEN-4C3-UN03-12-002

Pinellas County Jail

14400 49th Street North

Clearwater, Florida 33762-2877

there is also a defense fund set up for receipt of contributions at :

Bank Name: CitiBank, NA – Branch 43

Bank Address: 1600 Coral Way, Miami, FL 33145

Account Name: David Oscar Markus, PLLC (Defense Fund For Buju Banton)

Account Number: 9117138666

Routing Number: 266086554

Swift Code: CITIUS33

If you want to get updates from Gargamel Camp you can log on to the site by clicking HERE

One million dollars cash and a quantity of VVIP tickets for the Beyonce ‘I Am’ concert were stolen during a heist at the home of West Indies batting legend Brian Lara, on Tuesday.

But police sources said Lara was distraught over the loss of several pieces of jewelry which he received during his record-breaking cricketing career.

Among the items stolen, was the honorary Order of Australia which was bestowed on Lara by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd


That is messed up but from all accounts it looks like an inside job. Lara left his home for about three hours the day it happened (Tuesday) and locked up the place. According to police there was no sign of forced entry. I think what is stinging for him is the memories attached to the awards he lost. I mean Brian Lara can get into any concert in Trinidad he wants to so I'm sure he is not crying over them Beyonce tickets, but to loose an honor that you hold dear, is another story. Hope the police recovers it-- meantime he has pics, and his memory.




Lara's Mansion on Chancellor Hill, St Clair
Photo source





Source

Well the big day is almost here and those who can afford are flocking to Miami for Super Bowl XLiV( 44) to see if Cincinnatti Colts of New Orleans saints will be champion. Lots of events, and parties are planned. Rihanna will be performing at Pepsi Fan Jam. Here's a shot of her at rehearsal. What she trying with that thing nuh??? I have no words.





Click HERE to see which Caribbean stars are in the MIA.....

India Arie was rocking it out with Gramps Morgan at a party in downtown Kingston for his album Two Sides of My Heart. Vol. 1" He and India Arie will be performing the song "Therapy" tonight at the Excellence in Music and Entertainment (EME) Awards. Arie will be receiving a Friend of Reggae award at the event.


Photo by Michael Williams
Photo source

Dominican opera singer marie-claire caps a week of appearances and performances in Jamaica at the EME (Excellence in Music and Entertainment) Awards on Thursday February 4th where she will sing the Jamaican national anthem.


She arrived in Jamaica in mid-January to record three singles for her album the evolution continues. When not recording with producer Garsha Blacks at Cell Block studios, marie-claire made several appearances at Mustard Seed- a home for pre-teen and teenage girls who she gave vocal coaching as well as words of encouragement and a listening ear. She appeared on TVJ’s Smile Jamaica, as a model for friend Mamayashi who’s designs she wears in many of her performances. The recording sessions ended just in time for marie-claire to perform at the 2010 Jazz and Blues Festival in Trelawny, where she was courted by local and international media. The following day she attended the Dennis Brown tribute concert in Kingston and hung out backstage with the likes of Beres Hammond and John Holt. marie-claire even stopped at Edna Manley College of Performing arts to absorb the wealth of musical knowledge from Mr. Ibo Cooper who is not only one of the leading professors at that institution, but a former member of Third World. marie-claire was accompanied to all these events by fellow Dominican, now Jamaican implant Nelly Stharre, who hosted the artist and contributed her songwriting skills to marie-claire’s upcoming album.

Thursday’s EME awards performance at the Jamaica Pegasus will be her last performance before jetting off to Antigua where she will shoot the video for her single “Care For You.” The video will be directed by Lawson Lewis.


ABOUT MARIE-CLAIRE
marie-claire is an Italian-trained opera singer who has performed at Carnegie Hall and who’s songs have been featured in feature films such as Lovin Jezebel and The Roommate. She spent time in front of the camera as a cast member on the second season of Chapelle’s Show on Comedy Central. Since marie-claire’s return to her homeland Dominica, she has through her girlfullofgold productions ltd, produced and hosted local music programmes, while still making time to perform at events such as LIME Creole in the Park and various private functions. marie-claire has performed at several regional events including Love Fest in St. Lucia, at Russell’s in Antigua and Jamaican venues such as Weekenz, Christopher’s Jazz Café and Red Bones Blues Café, which are like second homes.

marie-claire’s passion is to seamlessly blend opera and hip-hop, as she finds the two genres covering the same themes with their highly dramatic lyrics, just listen to her amazing voice on DJ Logic’s The Anomaly, or her songs “Red” and “Desperation.”
Now it is time to condense this blend of Opera, Hip-Hop and Reggae into a mature, sexy, and delightful album- a fitting description of marie-claire herself. The first single from the evolution continues is “Care For You” a sweet and timeless lover’s rock with and old soul. This girl full of gold is a treasure you don’t want to miss!
.

ABOUT THE EME AWARDS
As its names suggests, the Excellence In Music and Entertainment (EME) Awards has as its primary function the recognition and honoring of excellence in both music and entertainment. The non-profit event, began in 2005 as a small ‘in studio’ production by famed radio personality Richard ‘Richie B’ Burgess, and has grown to be one of the leading award shows in Caribbean entertainment. At the 2008 production over 85% of awardees were in attendance. This year’s event will take place at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel and starts at 8PM.
Official Website: www.emeawards.com

PRESS CONTACT
AGSelectPR
Ayeola L. George
876-845-2936
AGSelectPR@gmail.com

“Dear Dad: Where’s the family in our family, today?”-the story the Marley family apparently doesn't want you to know."is a semi-autobiographical book about Ky-Mani Marley's life released on Amazon.com earlier this week. I say semi as he had help from an outside source, and also because it seems their is bad blood between him and the co-writer Dr. Farrah Gray. I remember when I interviewed Ky-Mani for Caribbean Maco, he spoke of growing up in the ghetto in Florida. Life was not glitz and glamour, he did not even want to sing-at first anyways.

Well like I said the book is out, but he is not happy about what's inside. I think maybe it's a case of Ky-Mani just pouring out his heart (what some people may see as airing out his dirty laundry) and now he doesn't want the rest of the world to see. Maybe some of the information is damaging to his siblings, with whom he has a good relationship now. He issued the following statement about the issue:

I’ve done many things that I am not proud of. I have turned what was largely a destructive lifestyle and turned it into a constructive one. I chose to share my story with the hope that many may be moved to something more positive by the end of the book.

I partnered with a gentleman, Dr Farrah Gray, who I grew to have a great deal of respect for. My journey writing the book was initially very easy and I thought we had built a relationship of respect if nothing else.

During the final edit of the book, I spoke with my sister, Cedella, and I advised Dr Farrah Gray that some changes had to be made and until the changes were made, I was not willing to do any promotion for the book. I could NOT support and promote something that is not 100% mine and that I believe in. Dr Gray apparently thought that by turning something that was written from the heart into something seemingly malicious was going to benefit him in some way.

I did not mean to hurt anyone... The book was only to tell my story, as I know it... What I was led to believe while growing up. The book was not an attack on my family! I love my brothers and sisters more than anyone can know.

I did not expect that Dr Gray would have been unprofessional and malicious in twisting my words or using things that were discussed in confidence to create controversy in an attempt to sell a book.

I did NOT authorize him to make any changes to the cover of my book nor do I condone any of the captions he has written!

At this point I do not know if the content of the book has been altered in any way due to the fact that I have not communicated with Dr Farrah Gray in over a month because he has neither accepted nor returned any of my phone calls.

Damn, son. It's kind of late to unwrite the book. Will let you guys know how this develops.

As a proud "Rexan" and resident of Rex Nettleford Hall at the University of The West Indies Mona Campus, I must issue a sincere message of condolence to the family, friends and colleagues of Ralston Milton "Rex" Nettleford, OM (Jamaica), OCC, (February 3, 1933 - February 2, 2010).

Nettleford, 77, was the vice-chancellor emeritus of the University of the West Indies, having previously served as the vice-chancellor of the institution’s Mona Campus in Jamaica from 1996 to 2004. He died from complications of cardiac arrest after suffering a heart attack on Jan. 27th.




He is widely recognized as one of the Caribbean’s leading intellectuals and was bestowed with the Order of the Caribbean Community in 2008.

He was also the recipient of Jamaica’s third highest honour, the order of Merit and cultural adviser to Prime Minister Bruce Golding.


The founder of the internally acclaimed National Dance Theatre Company, Nettleford is also the author of several publications.

Take a look at one of his productions "Crossings" which was choreographed by him and performed in Barbados.
















Source of Dance pics



Above is one of the clusters of Rex Nettleford Hall which was officially opened by the Rt . Hon. PJ Patterson, P.C, Q.C, M.P on September 4th 2002.

February marks Reggae Month in Jamaica; and several events, conferences, symposiums, galas, concerts, exhibition, trade shows are taking place to mark this special time in the Jamaican cultural calender. Here are some events listed below which may be of interest to you:


The 2010 edition of Reggae Month will seek to highlight and celebrate the roles of key individuals and their contributions to the development of Reggae, with musicians and icons the likes of Bob Marley and Dennis Brown being at the forefront of the celebrations.

Freddie McGregor current head of JARIA

The Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JARIA) has been given the mandate, by the Ministry of Culture, to plan and coordinate the 2010 celebrations.


Monday Feb 1
Birthday Party in Celebration of the 'Prince of Reggae' Dennis Brown, Downtown Kingston.


Tuesday, February 2-Friday February 5
The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) presents a Bob Marley Symposium at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre commencing at 10 am. The theme is "We Don't Need No Trouble-What We Need Is Love." Stops will also be made in Portland, Westmoreland and St. Elizabeth.
The symposium will feature presentations in tribute to Bob Marley by renowned musician Ibo Cooper, musician and producer Grub Cooper, Rev. Dr Basil Chambers and Howard Hendricks. Also included in the symposium are the finals of the inaugural Bob Marley Secondary Schools Debate Competition and the Bob Marley Song Rearrangement Competition. The symposium are open to the public and admission is free.

Wednesday, February 3
Spotlight on Mento and Ska, featuring performances by the Charles Town Maroon Drummers, Kingston Drummers, Gilzene and the Blue Light Mento Band and students from the Music School at Edna Manley. Time – 8 p.m. to 12 midnight

Wednesday February 3
The Berhane Selassie Art Gallery will be launched tomorrow at Tuff Gong International Ltd. on Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston. It is named after Bob Marley, as ‘Berhane Selassie’ is the name (meaning ‘Light of the Trinity’) that was given to him when he was baptised in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in 1979. The gallery will display the works of local and international artists, and will also become a part of Tuff Gong’s Making of Music Tour (which covers various aspects of music production in Jamaica)


Thursday, February 4-Sunday February 7
Africa Unite - Smile Jamaica Youth Symposium - Liberty Hall, Kingston


Thursday, February 4
6th Annual Excellence in Music and Entertainment Awards at Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, 8PM


Friday, February 5
Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes & Affiliates – JAVAA – kicks off what is expected to be another year of sublime entertainment events at The Gardens, Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, w.ith their annual tribute to “Bob Marley & Dennis Brown, the King & Crown Prince of Reggae”

Friday, February 5
Annual Bob Marley Lecture - UWI Mona Campus. Every Friday there will be a Reggae film in N1 Lecture theatre. Don't miss!


Saturday, February 6
Bob Marley Day - Bob Marley Museum Kingston


Monday, February 8
Visit by JARIA to Boys' Town school-music expo.

Saturday, February 13
Sugar Cane Ball - Round Hill Hotel and Villas Resort, Hanover


Sunday February 14
Hanover Charity Polo and High Tea - Chukka Blue Ranch,


Monday February 15
Bob Marley Creative Expressions Day at Bob Marley Museum in Kingston


Monday February 15
JARIA visits Alpha Boys School for music expo

Wednesday February 17- Saturday February 20
International Reggae Conference is for artistes, industry practitioners, researchers, academics, fans and other interested parties who can bring significant insight into the international reggae music industry. The conference aims to expand the reach of persons committed to the international development of Jamaica’s music and open the door to a pool of talent, skills and expertise which will be reflected in the conference proceedings and range of participants.
Official Site
Of interest to me is the meeting with August Town community and UWI principal and other representatives on the topic "Music in The Community." That takes place on Friday the 18th from 6:30-8 PM followed by a concert.


Sunday February 21
A special edition of Jazz in the Gardens at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel


Monday, February 22
Reggae Gospel concert


Wednesday February 24
Reggae Academy Awards national Indoor Sports Centre


Thursday, February 25
The Reggae Film Festival 2010 at the Hilton Kingston, produced by film-maker and film festival organiser Barbara Blake Hannah, will open February 25 with a Red Carpet Gala Reception and screening of the documentary Made in Jamaica. This features a galaxy of reggae stars including Capleton, Bunny Wailers, Third World, Beenie Man and Lady Saw, all of whom are among the VIP reggae celebrities invited as special guests.


Saturday, February 27
Knutsford Live-a free concert in the heart of New Kingston featuring top Jamaican artists.

Sunday, February 28
JARIA honour awards, a glamorous gala event where special recognition will be given to industry pioneers who have figured prominently in the outstanding penetration of Jamaican music culture across the world.

MONTHLONG

This entire month The Lime will feature a special edition of 20 Questions focusing on trends in Reggae which is the theme for the International Reggae Conference. In addition to the 20 questions we will as new, upand coming, old-school reggae artists of their opinion on Reggae and Reggae month. In addition we will feature non-Jamaican Reggae artists and find out how they were introduced to Reggae and how it has impacted their lives!

Reggae Month, which was first staged in 2008 by the Ministry of Culture, is a celebration of Reggae music geared at heightening the impact of the musical genre on the country's social, cultural and economical development.

Dominican artists marie-claire and Nelly Stharre were well-received at 2010 Jamaica Jazz and Blues by patrons and media houses alike, who were curious to see the performances of these two ladies from the ‘Nature Isle.’

Nelly Stharre feelin' de vibes

Nelly Stharre teaching de crowd

Nelly, the first to perform on the talent stage at Greenfield Stadium in Trelawny, kicked off her set with her original song “Peace and Love.” She also sang “Moon Men and “Life Goes On”- both original songs which were brought to life by the power of the lyrics, her effortless rendition and stirring live instrumentals that had the crowd in a constant frenzy. Patrons who took in the interactive performance shared in call and answer session with Nelly, and reassured her that they enjoyed her performance with resounding shouts and clapping. Nelly’s performance of Peter Tosh’s “Old Vampire” was creatively interpreted, even earning a mention in local paper The Jamaica Star.

marie-claire giving it her all

marie-claire, not one to stray from her Operatic roots, started with her version of the Negro spiritual “Motherless Child.” Chrisette’s Michelle’s “Love is You” was especially well received by the crowd. The classic song “Summertime” was performed with a heavy rock influence—another display of marie-claire’s musical versatility. She introduced the crowd to two singles from her upcoming album the evolution continues: “care for you” and “jah guide (happy).”

The performances of Nelly Stharre and marie-claire were filmed by several media houses, including Hype TV. marie-claire was interviewed by CNPTV based in Connecticut, Canadian radio host Sandy Daley, Lisa Ellis of MDTV (Jamaica) and Courtney Campbell of Nationwide FM.

marie-claire and fellow performer Mario Evon in the press tent

Lookout for more releases from marie-claire in the near future; including the video for the first single “Care For You,” which is being shot in Antigua this weekend.


ABOUT JAMAICA JAZZ AND BLUES
The festival, which since its introduction in 1996 was known as the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, has attracted thousands of patrons from the USA, Europe, and the Caribbean over the years. International artistes that have performed at Jazz and Blues (as it is popularly known) include Alicia Keys, Kenny Rogers, Norah Jones, Julio Iglesias, Earth Wind and Fire, Roberta Flack and Kenny G.
Artists who performed this year included Machel Montano, Erykah Badu, Billy Ocean, Robin Banks, Queens Project - Tamia, Kelly Price and Deborah Cox, Babyface, The Whispers, Joss Stone, Monty Alexander, Joe Roy Jackson, and Maxi Priest, Gladys Knight, Third World, Hall & Oates, Jon Secada, and Marion Hall (Lady Saw)

PRESS CONTACT
AGSelectPR
Ayeola L. George
876-845-2936
AGSelectPR@gmail.com

Check out this video of Iyaz performing his hit song "Replay" on Lopez Tonight!



Here are some pics from the show!


Find more photos like this on IyazMusic.com

I'm sure you've heard of the news
It's Convent High School's anniversay
One hundred and fifty-two years ago
The first school bell rang in the country

The mother superior was there
and Bishop Vesque I declare
somethiiing, something at the first Convent school
Folks gathered to wonder and cheer
Folks gathered to wonder and cheer

It's CHS anniversry
We're proud of it's mighty history
From six girls to a thousand and over we're sure
It's CHS anniversary!

OMG people believe it or not, I am writing this with tears in my eyes. Happy tears though, as I reminisce on my years at Dominica's leading secondary school (haters back off) Convent High School. I remember anniversary celebrations where we had to go to Cathedral for mass, I felt so proud walking from the school in my uniform. Of course we edited the anniversary song and added ooh-oohs and changed intonations all in good fun! Yesterday was the 152nd anniversary and I just want to congratulate past and current students who are a part of this long and prestigious history.


These pics are from the 150th anniversary parade in 2008. I was at the 2nd one held during Reunion/Independence (there was a much bigger one during Carnival). It was soo much fun. Past students including then Minister of Community Development Lorren Bannis was marching. My mom made my uniform and I even put ribbons in my hair, though funny enough I don't ever think I wore ribbons at school.

Here'a a part of the school song. A song for strong leaders who continue to represent for CHS and Dominica. Scientists, lawyers, teachers, business women, Bloggers (wink, wink), DJs, mothers, even the Caribbeans first female Prime Minister, and Dominica's current speaker of the house passed through the halls of CHS.

Lamp of Knowledge, Wisdom, Virtue
Light of hope and faith and love
We will follow your wise guidings
Sure that effort conquers all

Convent High School youth
We our islands pride
We the leaders of tommorow
One in mind, and heart, and hand
One in mind, and heart and land
True to church, to home and land
True to church to home and land

Big up Sir Peters! Hottest male teahcer at Convent EVER!!!!!!

oh and past students who want to join CHS mailing list click HERE

Michael Jackson's Trin-born lawyer Conrad Murray may face criminal charges for the singer's death.


According to Yahoo! News:
Prosecutors investigating Michael Jackson's death plan to file a criminal complaint charging the singer's doctor with involuntary manslaughter rather than seek a grand jury indictment, The Associated Press learned Tuesday, a strategy shift that will give an eager public an earlier look at evidence.


Photo source

While there is no public timetable for charges to be filed against Dr. Conrad Murray, there are strong indications the move is imminent. Murray and lawyer Edward Chernoff have traveled to Los Angeles from Houston, where Murray practices, and the attorney said his client is prepared to turn himself in.

"If they tell him to surrender in 10 minutes, he'll go surrender," said Chernoff, who spent several hours meeting with other members of Murray's defense team Tuesday. "He's never hidden, he's always been available."

David Walgren, the deputy Los Angeles County district attorney handling the case, declined to comment.

Jackson, 50, hired Murray to be his personal physician as he prepared for a strenuous series of comeback performances in London. His stunning death on June 25 in Los Angeles came after Murray, tending to Jackson in the star's rented mansion, administered the powerful anesthetic propofol and two other sedatives to get the chronic insomniac to sleep, according to the Los Angeles County coroner's office, which ruled the death a homicide.

Read more HERE.

Source

Tune in to Lopez tonight on TBS at 'leven o'clock to watch Virgin Islander Iyaz perform his hit song "Replay." He is repping for all the VI as he was born in USVI and raised in BVI.

Kingston, Jamaica: It's not what you do, but it's HOW you do it that makes the difference. This is exactly what the Youth View Awards nominated Favourite / Best New Artiste of 2009, rising superstar DENYQUE is proving every time she steps on stage. After tearing up STING 2009 to "PIECES" with her debut performance, 2010 has gone off to a great start for the "Can't Breathe" singer.


On Saturday January 30, 2010, Red Bull invited DENYQUE to be a celebrity guest and performer at their Football Street Style competition hosted at the Emancipation Park in Kingston, Jamaica. She started her performance with the Don Corleon produced "Pieces" on the Feminine Riddim where she began strutting across the stage with powerful and controlled vocals.

She continued with a debut performance of her new single "Oh So Good" which is produced by Equiknox Music on their Kamera Trick riddim released on January 10, 2010. She closed her performance with her first single "Can't Breathe" which is still breaking new ground since March 2009. On exiting the stage, the MC, Otis Hamilton stated "From last year, DENYQUE has come a long way and I didn't know she would be so successful in such a short space of time".

On Friday January 29, 2010, DENYQUE was HU$TLIN' for HAITI at Chilitos with her first ever live performance of her latest single "That Place" by Don Corleon, which was done acapella to an astounding applause from her audience. Her performance was all in aid of Earthquake Relief efforts for Haiti by the Jamaica Red Cross, and the show was produced by CHR Productions.

But it won't stop here, look for DENYQUE to perform as well as present an award at the Youth View Awards on Saturday February 6 where she also hopes to collect the award for Favourite / Best New Artiste in 2009.

Also, in March, DENYQUE will travel to the United States on a month long tour where she is expected to represent, cross over and do extremely well

Congrats to the artists of Caribbean heritage who won big at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards on sunday Jan. 31st 2010.

Rihanna's collaboration with Jay-Z and Kanye West-"Run This Town- won her two Grammys: Best Rap/Sung Collaboration & Best Rap Song.

Here she is heading onstage accompanied by Jules son of Solange Knowles and nephew of Beyonce Knowles.


Maxwell won the Grammy for Best Male R&B Album for BLACKsummersnight and Best Male R&B Song for "Pretty Wings." Take a look at him accepting his award for "Pretty Wings."




Ziggy Marley's Grammy win for his Family Time album, which features noteworthy stars such as Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, and Toots Hibbert, marks his fifth such award.




Ziggy's younger brother Stephen Marley, won his seventh Grammy with his Mind Control-Acoustic. This album is a follow up to this 2007 album Mind Control.





Trinidadian Heather Headley won for Contemporary R&B gospel Album with Audience of One.