A slew of Dancehall artists, producers, and sound systems who ruled the 1990s, are being celebrated on International Reggae Day, which is commemorated July 1 each year.

According to founder of the event, Andrea Davis, the theme “From Brukins to Bogle” and accompanying compilation of the 80s-90s Dancehall Honourees Lists this year, is in accordance with IRD’s thrust to place the spotlight on an influential era of Jamaica’s rich musical history each year.  The list itself, is aimed at recognizing these stakeholders for their invaluable contribution to the growth and export of 80s – 90s Dancehall music culture.

“This year, given the two decades that we are focusing on a list of icons, which are artists whose catalogues span the decades that are pivotal to the whole thing,” she told DancehallMag.

“The creativity, acumen and influence of these persons and entities in various categories, were instrumental in Dancehall music culture’s ascension to become the global cultural phenomenon and genre influencer it became,” she noted.

Today, supporters of Dancehall are being encouraged to represent with pride, whether by dress, dancing, or playing music.

There are also two IRD events, including a panel discussion with Sly Dunbar, Clevie Browne, Beenie Man, Jeremy Harding, Noel Davey, Pat Meschino themed ‘Saluting the Global Influence of ’80s-’90s Dancehall and its influence on Hip Hop, Reggaeton, EDM and Afrobeats’, as well as another titled ‘From Brukins to Bogle: The Evolution of Dance in Dancehall Culture’.

The latter will feature Dr L’Antoinette Stines with presenters Maria Hitchins and Patrick Earle, as well as Dancehall dancers, Carlene the Dancehall Queen and John Hype.

The IRD’s 30 Dancehall icons include singers as well as deejays.  Leading the list of singers are the late Sugar Minott, who is regarded as a pioneer of the genre, Sizzla, Wayne Wonder, Pliers, Garnet Silk, Sanchez, Frankie Paul, Ini Kamoze, Shinehead, Barrington Levy and Tanya Stephens.

On the extensive deejay list are Supercat, The Don Gorgon, Ninjaman Shabba Ranks, Patra, Chaka Demus, Papa San, Lt. Stitchie Tiger & and Yellowman, as well as Lady Saw, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Buju Banton, Shaggy, Sean Paul, Cham, Cobra, Capleton, , Cutty Ranks and Spragga Benz.

The top 80s to 90s producers who are being celebrated include Steely & Clevie, King Jammy, Donovan Germaine, Henry ‘Junjo’ Lawes, Winston Riley, Bobby Digital, brothers Dave and Tony Kelly; Sting International, Robert Livingston, Playground producer Jeremy Harding and Clifton ‘Specialist’ Dillon.

Completing the list are Handel Tucker, Fattis Burrell of Xterminator Records, George Phang, Patrick Roberts, Black Scorpio and Main Street’s Danny Brownie.

The Dancehall selectors and their sound systems being honoured are Wee Pow and Rory of Stone Love; King Jammy and Shemmo of King Jammy’s Hometown Hi Fi; Courtney Singh, Johnny Guard,  Junior Vibes and Big Mack of Bodyguard; Noel ‘Papa Jaro’ Harper and Ricky Trooper of Kilimanjaro, as well as Peter Metro, Dalton “Sky Juice” Bogle and DJ Oliver of Metro Media.

Completing the sound system list are Bass Odyssey with selectors Keith Walford and Kevin “Squingy” Bennett; Black Scorpio with Jack Scorpio and Papa Screw; Renaissance with DJ Delano and Jazzy T;  Silver Hawk with the quintet of Steely, Ballsy, Jerry, Fatta and Richie Poo; Jah Love with Ilawi and Gary I; the UK-based Saxon Sound with Muscle Head, Papa Levi and Tippa Irie and New York’s King Addies with Danny Dread, Babyface and Tony Matterhorn.

IRD has also curated a list of the Top 10 Dancehall Anthems led by Sister Nancy’s 1982 hit, Bam Bam. 

There are five songs making the list from 1985, namely Ring the Alarm by Tenor Saw, Under Mi Sleng Teng by Wayne Smith, Greetings by Half Pint and Buddy Bye by Johnny Osbourne.

The list is completed by Dawn Penn’s 1994 hit You Don’t Love Me (No No No), Action by Nadine Sutherland and Terror Fabulous, One Blood by Junior Reid, Who Am I by Beenie Man and If Jah Is By My Side by Tony Rebel.

A list of what the IRD describes as “25 outstanding recordings highlighted for their invaluable contribution to the growth and export of 80s – 90s Dancehall music, has also been curated for the Dancehall Citations list.

They include Wa Do Dem by Eek A Mouse;  Diseases by Michigan & Smiley; Pass the Dutchie by Musical Youth; Electric Boogie, which is Marcia Griffiths’s biggest hit; Jamaica Jamaica by Brigadier Jerry; Josey Wales’ Undercover Lover, Wild Thing by Sister Carol and Admiral Bailey’s Punaany. .

Serious Times by Admiral Tibet, Gregory Isaacs’ Rumours Lady G’s Nuff Respect; Kuff by Shelly Thunder, Lloyd Lovingdeer’s Wild Gilbert; DJ Roll Call by Charlie Chaplin; Rikers Island by Coco Tea; One Draw by Rita Marley: Pinchers’ Bandelero; Housecall featuring  Shabba Ranks and Maxi Priest; Son Bow by El General; Informer by Snow; Louie Culture’s Gangalee  and Diana King’s Shy Guy are also featured.

Anthony B’s radio-banned Fire Pon Rome; Everyone Falls in Love by Tanto Metro & Devante and Mr Vegas’ Heads High, complete the list.

Women in Dancehall are also celebrated this year and are described by IRD organisers as fierce and talented Jamaican women with songs that captured the essence of the 80s-90s Dancehall era, who via their powerful voices, infectious melodies, and bold lyrics, “made a significant impact on the Dancehall scene and helped pave the way for future generations” of women.

Tanya Stephens, Lady Saw and Patra all have two songs on this list. 

Stephens’ is highlighted for Big Tings A Gwaan and her mega hit Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet which was featured on Dave Kelly’s Joyride riddim, while Patra is hailed for Romantic Call from her Queen of the Pack album, which featured rapper  Yo Yo, and Pull Up to My Bumper from her Scent of Attraction Album.

Former Queen of the Dancehall Lady Saw’s Sycamore Tree, and  Smile, with Vitamin C make up part of the 25, which is completed by Bam Bam by Sister Nancy: Informer by Lady Ann; One Draw by Rita Marley: Kuff by Shelly Thunder: Lady G’s Nuff Respect: Electric Boogie by Marcia Griffiths Dawn Penn’s You Don’t Love Me (No No No, Shy Guy by Diana King and Nadine Sutherland’s Action.

The IRD has also curated a list of Dancehall gamechangers, described as live events, personalities, labels and a film company, who are being recognized for their invaluable contribution to the growth and export of 80s – 90s Dancehall music culture.

The list is headed by Sting, the Greatest One Night Show on Earth;  Bogle the Dancehall Master; Carlene the Dancehall Queen; Irish & Chin World Clash; fashion designer Earl ‘Biggie’ Turner; US-based VP Records; HC&F Recording Studio and Ras Records; Greensleeves UK and Palm Pictures *Studio One Catalogue.

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Reggae and Dancehall music producers Mikey Bennett and Kirk “Koolface” Ford were featured in the Positive Vibrations: Country Goes Reggae (Mini Documentary), which is aimed at showcasing how “Reggae music and Country music are both rooted in culture and storytelling”.

The two Jamaicans were featured alongside country singer Ricky Valido and line dancer Allan Silverman to share stories of how country and reggae culture influence one another. 

Directed by Jay Will, the 10-minute doc was filmed at various rural locations in Jamaica and South Florida.

Offering his thoughts on the project, Will said: “growing up in Jamaica and listening to Country music, and being a huge fan of the genre, made me absolutely honored to get the opportunity to create visuals for the Country Goes Reggae album.”

IMAGE FROM “SMILE (FEAT. UNCLE KRACKER)” MUSIC VIDEO VIGNETTE

He continued, “Reggae music and Country music go hand in hand with the types of stories they tell and the feeling it gives to people when they listen. Positive Vibrations transformed these hit Country songs into what will now definitely become island classics.”

The 11-track Positive Vibrations: Country Goes Reggae album, which put a Reggae twist on well-loved Country songs and which was produced by Christian and Frank Berman (The Berman Brothers) and partner Ron Oehl, was released in July 2022.

It had re-imagined several Country classics, among them Alabama’s Pass It On Down, Rascal Flatts’ I Like The Sound of That, Toby Keith’s Red Solo Cup, Uncle Kracker’s Smile, Randy Houser’s Boots On and Jimmie Allen’s Make Me Want To and Dolly Parton’s Two Doors Down.

“Country Goes Reggae was a very brilliant idea because producers sat down and figure out which songs were good to do a cover in a reggae version,” Koolface said of the production, which drew on the musical talents of Positive Vibrations, an ensemble of Jamaican musicians and sound engineers which includes Ian “Beezy” Coleman, Devon Bradshaw, Guillaume “Stepper Sax” Briard, and Henry “Matic” Tenyue.

For his part, Koolface pointed out that while growing up in Jamaica, Country artists “were on the radio a lot” particularly on Sundays, and that “a Kenny Rogers song like I’m the Gambler song was a famous song”.

IMAGE FROM “RED SOLO CUP (FEAT. TOBY KEITH)” MUSIC VIDEO VIGNETTE

“Country music is brilliant with storytelling and that’s why I think that we are pulled towards country music so much,” Ford said.

“And one of the biggest songs that I discovered over a period of time that I didn’t realize at the time was a song called if I were A Carpenter.  So all these songs I realized that were country, but then they got covered or a rendition was done by reggae artistes,” he added.  

During the documentary, Bennett pointed out that “almost every house in Jamaica that had a record player had albums by Country singers Marty Robinson album, Patty Paige, Skeeter Davis and Jim Reeves.

“Country songs give a lot of details that you can actually script.   A lot of the lyrics in early Rock Steady we’re from country and western songs because these songs were about life,” he said in explaining why Jamaicans gravitated to that music genre.  

According to the Berman Brothers, the idea for Country Goes Reggae was conceptualised during a trip to Negril, in Western Jamaica, back in 2019.

According to them, they were “sitting at a sunset, beach bar listening to reggae classics as a car passed by blasting US country songs” and upon hearing the blend of different styles and cultures, they knew a merger of the two genres would be nothing short of perfection.   

The album was subsequently recorded at Axx Studio and the Sound of Silence in Kingston, Jamaica and at Livingston Studio in London. It was mixed by GRAMMY-winning mixing engineer Chuck Ainlay and mastered by 12-time GRAMMY winner Bob Ludwig.

The Berman Brothers are described as award-winning record producers and songwriters, whose work has been awarded with more than 90 Gold and Platinum Awards, two BMI awards, a Golden Globe nomination and a Grammy Award.

“As producers, writers and publishers they have worked with international superstars including: Coldplay, Sting, Maroon 5, Cher, Baha Men, Jason Derulo, Major Lazer (Diplo) and the legendary Buena Vista Social Club,” their website notes.

The duo was also Grammy-certified for their production and remix of the Baha Men’s Who Let The Dogs Out, a million-selling song that topped numerous music charts globally worldwide and was used as synchronization music in numerous movies and commercials.

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