Reggae By Nature
Enriching The Mind: March 25
Mar 25th
Queen Ifrica
Today’s Birthdays
- 1975 – Queen Ifrica aka Fyah Mumma (Ventrice Morgan) is born in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
- 1920 – Jamaican runner Arthur Stanley Wint is born in Plowden, Manchester, Jamaica. Wint was the first Jamaican Olympic gold medalist. [d. Oct. 19 1992].
- 1942 – Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin is born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
Flashback
- 2010 – Somali troops demolish 500 homes near the airport in Mogdishu.
- 1995 – Boxer Mike Tyson released from jail after serving 3 years.
- 1990 – The “Happy Land” fire in an illegal Bronx, New York social club kills 87.
- 1987 – U.S. Supreme Court rules women/minorities may get jobs if More >
Enriching The Mind: March 23
Mar 23rd
Jacob "Killer" Miller
Today’s Birthdays
- —-: Reggae singer Lloyd Brown is born in London, England to Jamaican parents.
- 1942 – Political activist Walter Rodney is born. He was a prominent Guyanese historian, who was assassinated in Guyana. [d. June 13, 1980].
- 1953 – Queen of Funk Chaka Khan (Yvette Marie Stevens) is born in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Flashback
- 1980 – Reggae icon Jacob “Killer” Miller passes away (dies in a car crash along Hope Road) in Kingston, Jamaica. (b. May 4, 1952 in Mandeville, Jamaica). While pursuing a prolific solo career, he became the lead singer for reggae group Inner Circle with whom he recorded until More >
Enriching The Mind: March 22
Mar 22nd
Marcus Garvey
Today’s Birthday
- —-: Watanabe Kohji [Ska Flames; trombone] is born.
Flashback
- 1996 – Bob Marley & The Wailers’ compilation album “Legend” [Island] is certified Multi (8.0) Platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America).
- 1994 – South African Government/ANC take power in Ciskei homeland.
- 1986 – Trevor Berbick beats Pinklon Thomas in 15 for heavyweight boxing title.
- 1972 – U.S. National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse urges an end to criminal penalties for private possession and use of marijuana.
- 1967 – Muhammad Ali KOs Zora Folley in 7 for heavyweight boxing title.
- 1963 – Beatles release 1st album, “Please Please Me”
- 1956 – Musical “Mr Wonderful” More >
Enriching The Mind: March 20
Mar 20th
Lee "Scratch" Perry © iARD
Today’s Birthday
- 1936 – Reggae/Dub icon Lee “Scratch” Perry aka “Upsetter” (Rainford Hugh Perry) is born in Kendal, a small town in the rural parish of Hanover, Jamaica.
- 1956 – Fonso Martin [Steel Pulse; vocals/percussions] is born.
- 1957 – Film-maker Spike Lee (Shelton Jackson Lee) is born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Flashback
- 1996 – Bob Marley & The Wailers’ compilation album “Legend” [Island] is certified Multi (7.0) Platinum, and video “Legend” [Island Video] is certified Gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America).
- 1996 – U.K. admits humans can catch CJD (Mad Cow Disease).
- 1995 – Beatles song, “Baby It’s You,” with More >
Enriching The Mind: March 19
Mar 19th
The Skatalites
Today’s Birthday
- —-: Winston ‘Pipe’ Matthews [Wailing Souls; lead vocal] is born.
- 1959 – Terry Hall [Specials/Fun Boy Three; guitars, vocals] is born in Coventry, West Midlands, England.
- 1961 – Snagga Puss (Norman Suppria) is born in Arnett Gardens, Kingston, Jamaica.
Flashback
- 2001 – Island Records founder Chris Blackwell is inducted in the “nonperformers” category of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- 1997 – The Skatalites sign with Island Records Jazz Jamaica imprint.
- 1997 – Supreme Court hears Internet indecency arguments.
- 1996 – Winnie Mandela divorces Nelson after 38 years of marriage.
- 1995 – Michael Jordan rejoins Chicago Bulls after 17 months, beats Pacers.
- 1991 – Kansas City More >
Enriching The Mind: March 18
Mar 18th
Red Dragon
Today’s Birthday
- 1975 – 1966 – Veteran deejay Red Dragon (Leroy May) is born in Kingston, Jamaica.
- —-: Musician Tony Greene is born.
- 1970 – Rapper/actress Queen Latifah (Dana Elaine Owens) is born in Newark, New Jersey.
- 1922 – Civil rights activist Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth (Freddie Lee Robinson) is born. [d. Oct. 5, 2011].
Flashback
- 2012 – Radio personality Delroy ‘Speedy’ Sterling passes away. [b. Aug. 8, 1957].
- 1995 – Michael Jordan announces he is ending his 17 month NBA retirement.
- 1994 – South Africa Goldstone committee reveals existence of secret police.
- 1992 – Donna Summer gets a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.
- 1991 – Mike Tyson beats More >
Dancehall’s Godfather, Timeline
Mar 17th
Sugar Minott
To many, especially the younger generation, dancehall music is perhaps the most popular Jamaican music genre, and certainly the longest living one, having its birth in 1983 and surviving to the present day. By comparison, the others were relatively short – ska for five years, from late 1961 to late 1966; rocksteady for two years, 1966-1968; and reggae for 14 years, 1969-1983.
In our deliberations, one has to be careful not to confuse the current dancehall music with Jamaican music of the late 1950s and 1960s, that sometimes go by that same name and used to be played in enclosed More >
Chuck Fenda For The Poor
Mar 17th
Reggae artiste Chuck Fenda is all set to start his non-profit charity organisation called The Poor People Defender Foundation.
The reggae artiste says he has long spoken on behalf of people living below the poverty line through his music. However, in 2013 he wants to put action behind his lyrics.
Chuck Fenda was exposed to the music industry from the early ’90s as a dancehall artiste. However, like Buju Banton, the artiste later turned to reggae and now focuses on conscious messages, releasing songs like Gwaan Plant, Gash Dem, Real Man and I Swear, among others.
“I am somebody who has endured harsh More >
Enriching The Mind: March 16
Mar 16th
Justin Hinds
Today’s Birthday
- 1975 – Natural Black (Mortimer Softley) is born in Georgetown, Guyana.
Flashback
- 2005 – Singer Justin Hinds passes away (dies of lung cancer) at 62. [b. May 7, 1942].
- 1995 – Mississippi House of Representatives formally abolishes slavery and ratifies 13th Amendment.
- 1993 – Snow’s single “Informer” [East West] is certified Gold and Platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America.
- 1991 – 7 of Reba McEntire band members are killed in a plane crash.
- 1984 – South Africa and Mozambique sign non attack treaty.
- 1978 – U.S. Senate accepts Panama Canal treaty.
- 1972 – John and Yoko are served with deportation papers.
- 1970 – Dennis More >
Enriching The Mind: March 15
Mar 15th
Smiley Culture
Today’s Birthday
- 1968 - Nadine Sutherland is born in Kingston.
Flashback
- 2011 – Smiley Culture (David Victor Emmanuel) passes away, age 48, during a police raid on his home. Warlingham, Surrey, England. [b. Feb. 10, 1963 in South London, England].
- 2008 – Reggae singer, producer and broadcaster Mikey Dread (Michael George Campbell) passes away. [b. June 4, 1954 in Port Antonio, Jamaica].
- 1994 – 8th Soul Train Music Awards: Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston win.
- 1991 – 4 LA police are charged with beating Rodney King.
- 1988 – Eugene Marino of Atlanta, appointed 1st African American archbishop.
- 1984 – Tanzania adopts constitution.
- 1982 – Nicaragua suspends their citizens More >