After a roaring encore, Sounds of Reggae returns for Part 2 “Shaggy & Friends” on Sunday, Dec. 13. Live in concert at Kings Theatre, Brooklyn, N.Y. will be Grammy Award Winner Shaggy aka Mr. Bombastic, legendary reggae ambassadors Third World, Ky-Mani Marley and special guest Amber Lee.
Produced by Jammins Events, Sounds of Reggae was the first reggae concert to take place in Brooklyn’s own multi-purpose Barclays Center on Dec. 12, 2012. With a sold out show, live performances included Ali Campbell’s UB40, Maxi Priest, Shaggy and Beres Hammond.
Part proceeds from the event will be donated to the American Foundation for The University of the West Indies (AFUWI) Scholarship Fund.
Emerging in the early ‘90s, Shaggy was the biggest crossover success in dancehall reggae. Not only did he become the genre’s most commercially potent artist in the international market, he was also more than just a typical flash in the pan, managing to sustain a career over the course of several highly popular albums. Pure Please his debut album was a worldwide hit and was especially popular in England. Then in 1995, “Boombastic” was released and Shaggy’s meteoric rise continued. ‘Boombastic’ went certified Platinum and in 1996 he won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.
In 2000 ‘Hotshot’ was released and like its name suggests ‘Hotshot’ went Diamond worldwide and 6X Platinum in the U.S. Feeling lucky in 2002, Shaggy released ‘Lucky Day’ which went Certified Gold in the U.S. with the single “Strength of a Woman” making the Top 40 mainstream chart. Not one to rest on his laurels in 2005, Shaggy dropped ‘Clothes Drop’ another Certified Gold in the U.S. and yet another Grammy Nomination for Best Reggae Album.
Shaggy has sold over 10 million records. His latest single “I Need Your Love’ has topped international charts and Billboard charts. Shaggy’s catalog of hits includes “Intoxication,” “Summer in Kingston,” “It Wasn’t Me,” “Out of Many, One Music,” “Hey Sexy Lady,” “Angel,” “Midnite Lover,” “Rise,” “Oh Carolina,” among many others.
Third World is one of the longest-lived Reggae bands of all time, and one of Jamaica’s most consistently popular crossover acts among international audiences. Mixing in elements of R&B, funk, pop, and rock and, later on, dancehall and rap, Third World’s style has been described as “reggae-fusion. Third World has 10 Grammy nominations and catalog of charted smash hits (including “Now That We Found Love,” ”96 Degrees in the Shade” and “Try Jah Love” ) spanning more than four decades, sold-out tours, and a vibrant and loyal fan base. Third World’s hit songs have reached top 40 on the Billboard charts in the U.S., UK, Europe and Japan and received a platinum award in Japan.
Ky-Mani Marley is the second youngest of Bob Marley’s eleven children. While bearing the Marley name, Ky-Mani’s childhood told a different story. Born in Falmouth, Trelawny, settling in Miami at the age of seven, Marley was raised in the inner-city in a two-bedroom home along with eight family members. Being exposed to an urban lifestyle, Ky-mani adopted the attitude that all people are equal — no one is above or beneath him.
The Ky-Mani Marley sound is one that transcends cultural lines and prohibits him from being categorized as only a reggae artist. His raw, unadulterated, gruff sound captures the listener and reverberates the essence of Marley’s life story. Songs such as “Dear Dad,” “I Pray,” and “Ghetto Soldier” display the versatility and fiery-passion Marley exudes when sharing his voyage through song. Peace. One Love. Unity. Street Life. These are the makings of Kymani Marley’s music. In 2002, Marley starred as the character Kassa in “One Love.”
Amongst film festivals and critics this film is another masterpiece in the Ky-Mani Marley collection, it was released in theaters throughout the Caribbean and Europe. In addition, Marley is set to reprise his lead role in “Shottas II.”
