A quartet of internationally acclaimed, male, reggae recording artists will launch a presence of Caribbean music at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Dec. 12 and kick-off the inaugural staging of concerts that represent the region.
British reggae singer Ali Campbell, Beres Hammond, Maxi Priest and Shaggy are slated to debut the “Sounds of Reggae” showcase that will establish the first ever Caribbean concert at the newly-established entertainment landmark. “I’m excited to bring to the diverse neighborhood of Brooklyn, my second home, a piece of Jamaica’s rich heritage and culture,” Shaggy stated.
The event will also mark Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of independence and add to the year-long observance which began last January.
“This truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity to share the stage with such a talented group of reggae artists brought together to celebrate Jamaica’s 50 years of independence,” Shaggy added.
A Grammy winner in 1996, that year Shaggy ruled the charts with his “Bombastic” release.
Grammy- nominated Campbell was the voice of British reggae band UB40 for 30 years.
Along with his brother Robin, the pair enhanced the eclectic union that comprised reggae-focused musicians from Yemen, England, Scotland, Jamaica and Ireland. When Campbell exited the group in 2008 to go solo, his brother Duncan replaced him as front man for the group which has been dubbed the most successful reggae band in the world.
Priest, also a Britain-based, Grammy-nominated reggae talent is slated to add pop renditions from his catalogue of hits.
In 2002, the illustrious Grammy award eluded Hammond. However, the singer is reportedly revered in his homeland and remains a popular talent on the Caribbean circuit. The knights of reggae will introduce the hard-driving beat to patrons of reggae and pop music attending the Brooklyn mecca which opened three months ago and already has hosted music of many genres. Heavily promoted throughout the summer, this concert will aid in providing funds to the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies (AFUWI) with partial proceeds donated to this cause.
On Dec. 17 “Caribbean Fever” will infiltrate the arena with soca and calypso, the dominant sounds from the eastern Caribbean. Slated for the debut feature are: Trinidad & Tobago’s Machel Montano, Barbados’ Allison Hinds, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick and Mr. Vegas. “We are proud to host the Caribbean Fever Music Festival at the Cushman & Wakefield Theater at Barclays Center, as we continue to offer a variety of entertainment that reflects the diverse tastes within Brooklyn,” Sean Saadeh, vice president of programming for Barclays Center said.
