05.22.14 - The Final Episode of Jamaica Rock

LISTEN TO THE ARCHIVE AT JAMAICAROCK.COM

It has taken me a while to make this post because I have, of course, been saddened by the end of the musical memories on East Village Radio. You can read more about "why" HERE. I ended up having a VERY special guest on this show, one of my favorite artists, the mega-talented Johnny Osbourne! He absolutely made the day so happy for me that I didn't wallow in it being the last show. As an added bonus Jonny Go Figure, Ras Tayo of Twinsound and Devon "Bobo Saw" Clarke also stopped by to show some love. I will be getting my archives soon from East Village Radio so I will let you know when the archives are back up-to-date on JamaicaRock.com. Thanks so much to all who listened in for the support. I has meant a lot to me and hopefully has spread some extra reggae appreciation around the world. Max respect of course out to my Deadly Dragon crew for the content on the Deadly Dragon Sounds Show as well as their continued support. I will be posting new mixes around and also HERE and stay tuned for a possible new radio home. Love!

05.15.14 Cat Coore of Third World LIVE in the studio

LISTEN TO THE ARCHIVE AT JAMAICAROCK.COM

It was an honor and pleasure to have Cat Coore of Third World in the studio with me for my second-to-last-show on East Village Radio. He was in town promoting "Under The Magic Sun", set to be released this June 10th, 2014. It's a beautiful compilation of some favorite cover songs as well as updated versions of a few Third World classics, available online as mp3 and even vinyl! Also, apparently Cat is as crazy about hot sauce as I am so keep an eye out for some culinary hotness coming from him soon. Check the archive for the album preview and interview!

05.08.14 - Sly & Studio One & More

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Sly & Robbie by Beth Lesser

Sir Coxsone by David Corio

In honor of Sly Dunbar's Earthstrong I pulled some favorites for you, as well as some Studio One beauties in honor of the Fourth Annual Studio One Tribute May 9th, 2014 with a special dedication to Jackie Mittoo. Much respect out to K Vibes the Brick Rose and Downbeat The Ruler! Check the archive.

05.01.14 - Techniques Tribute

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Winston Riley

Not my first Techniques tribute and certainly not my last. The Techniques gave me my DJ moniker (via Curtis Mayfield) and Winston Riley's Techniques label have given us all such killer reggae classics that they deserve to be lauded at every opportunity. Rest in power to the great Winston Riley, I had the honor of meeting him at his shop in Jamaica and he was so gentle and gracious. He even let me go through some 45 archives in the back of the store, and I will never forget that.

04.24.14 - Inspiration from The Gaylads

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I am kicking myself for not trying harder to get The Gaylads on the show. I heartfully apologize. The week gets away from me and also I get a little overwhelmed with the idea of meeting and interviewing my music idols but I will tell you that I will not let that stop me in the future! This show is filled with many amazing Gaylads tunes and I hope you enjoy. I also hope that you checked them out in Brooklyn because it was a memorable night. "Saturday night at a party… everyone was feeling good…"

04.17.14 - Cool Collie Edition

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It's that time of year again, to pull together some of my favorite tunes celebrating the herb, the ishen, the collie, the kaya, the sensi, the weed and the rest. There's also a preview of the very first vinyl release between VP Records and Blood & Fire UK out on Record Store Day, April 19th 2014. Happy 420 and check the archive!

04.10.14 - DJ Sober LIVE in the studio

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The show starts out with one of my favorite Shinehead songs, as a birthday shout out to the artist. The first hour contains many more Shinehead tunes as well as Pinchers and some other 80s and 90s dancehall. In the second hour we are joined by my good friend, incredible illustrator and respected DJ, Sober from Dallas, Texas. He is just starting out a Northeast US Tour and came by the show with his first all-reggae set! Check the archive above and also DJSOBER.com

04.03.14 - Marvin Gaye & Garnett Silk Special

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Marvin Gaye

Garnett Silk

Marvin Gaye and Garnett Silk share the same birth date (April 2nd) and sadly passed away ten years apart from each other. Both artists had very powerful songs and voices so this show focuses on some of their songs as well as celebrating other male singers. Check the archive.

03.27.14 - Zahira LIVE in the studio

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Judy Mowatt

Zahira

For this last week of Women's History Month, we had the pleasure of having the young and burgeoning artist Zahira in the studio. We start the show with some beautiful voices on 12" vinyl and then Zahira joins us with her beautiful voice in the second hour. She has recently released her first full-length album "Rise Up" recorded in Brooklyn at the legendary Don One Studios. It features  collaborations with artists such as Yami Bolo and Red Foxx. Grab the CD here and check the archive!

03.20.14 - Grace of Spades LIVE in the Studio

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Althea & Donna

Grace of Spades

Our friend Grace of Spades joined me in the studio this week for our third year in a row of celebrating Women's History (Herstory?) Month together with an all-woman all-vinyl set. As usual, Grace brings the feminine fire in the second hour for this Jamaica Rock show of female power. Check the archive!

03.13.14 - DJ Fyahrama LIVE in the Studio

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DJ Fyahrama

This show starts out with some 60s and 70s songs by female artists and continues with a bunch of Studio One and more. In the second hour we are joined by the one and only DJ Lady Fyahrama who brought the dancehall fyah to the show. You can catch her every 1st and 3rd Friday night at the VIBES party at Madame X brought to you by one of the top reggae women in NYC Bintou aka Conscious NYC. Check the archive above!

03.06.14 - DJ Magrão from São Paolo LIVE in the Studio

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DJ Magrão

I usually save March strictly for the ladies but our friend DJ Magrão was in town and I was so happy to have him on the show. I started out with a set of songs that all had female names and then Magrão took over the second hour with some KILLER 90s tunes and went back in time from that. All vinyl. Check the archive above.

02.27.14 - Philip Smart, Jackie Mittoo and Burning Spear

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Philip Smart

Jackie Mittoo

Burning Spear

Another sad event this week as another reggae great, producer and engineer whose career spanned over five decades, Philip Smart passed away. I'm no writer so please learn about him if you don't already know. I start the show off with one of my favorite songs of his, a Paragons tune off the Eclipse label "A Place Called Zion". I will soon do a show that covers more of his dancehall hits. What I had planned was a show based around the birthdays of two Studio One legends, Jackie Mittoo and Burning Spear. Not only do their musical catalogs play well off of one another, they actually played together many times. Rest in peace to Mr. Smart and Mr. Mittoo and may Spear live another lifetime. Check the archive.

02.20.14 - Wayne Smith Tribute

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We were so saddened by the sudden passing of our friend and reggae legend Wayne Smith this week. He was only 48 years old. A roots and dancehall pioneer and producer, I am honored that I got to meet him and do some Deadly Dragon parties with him. This show is inspired by him and I played almost every Wayne Smith song that I could find in my collection, I wish I had more. May he rest in peace and power.

02.13.14 - Lover's Special

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Another Valentine's Day was upon us and so what is a better excuse to bring out some love tunes and also just some weird relationship odes… check the archive!

02.06.14 - Marley Family Tribute

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This year the show fell directly on Bob Marley's birthday and the show is filled with his music. We also got a chance to talk to his beautiful daughter's Karen and Cedella on the phone. Normally in Los Angeles, Karen was in NYC to celebrate the opening of her sister's musical "Three Little Birds" based on their father's famous song. You can check out Karen's lovely store and support the recycling of vintage clothing at Button and Bows LA. I had talked to Karen earlier that day and made sure I had some of her favorite Bob Marley songs on hand. Nuff respect.

01.30.14 - Dennis Brown Tribute

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photo by David Corio

This show is a celebration of some of my favorite Dennis Brown (February 1st, 1957 - July 1st, 1999) songs in memory of him for his birthday. Please enjoy this live set of the Crown Prince of Reggae, one of the most talented and prolific artists of our time.

01.23.14 - Channel One Sound LIVE in the studio

LISTEN TO THE ARCHIVE HERE
CHECK THE PLAYLIST HERE

Channel One Sound System has spent the past 30 years solidifying their reputation as one of world’s heaviest hitting roots reggae sounds. Selector Mikey Dread grew up in the sound system business and christened the sound as CHANNEL ONE, in homage to the famous Jamaican Label of the same name. Over the past three decades, Channel One has been instrumental in the preservation and development of Sound System culture in the UK, inspiring an entire new generation of sound systems while influencing the evolution of some of its descendants such as dubstep and jungle among others. Their yearly Notting Hill Carnival appearance has become an institution and they have taken the UK Red Bull Culture Clash crown among others. They also have taken their positive message throughout the UK, Europe, and South America and for the first time this January 2014 to the USA.

On the January 23, 2014 edition of Jamaica Rock, Mikey Dread and Ras Kayleb were Queen Majesty's guest selectors ahead of their appearance at the Roots of Sound System event in Brooklyn.

01.16.14 - Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute

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A yearly tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. via songs of liberty, equality, strength, peace and justice...

01.09.14 - For The Love Of Covers 2

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This is the second all-cover songs show that I have done on Jamaica Rock and I tried to pick completely different tunes from the one I did in November of 2012. I love reggae and I love reggae cover songs and I hope you enjoyed the show.

01.02.14 - Sister Nancy, Super Cat & More

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Happy Earthstrong out to Sister Nancy, I start the show out with some classics of hers as well as some from her big brother Briggy. I also pulled a bunch of Super Cat for you since he had just performed in Jamaica for the first time in over 12 years at the 30th Anniversary of Sting International. Check out more on this over at LargeUp. The show is filled with many Super Cat gems as well as Ninja Man, Early B, Charlie Chaplin and more. Check the archive!