Caribbean Entertainment News Roundup

By NAN ET Editor

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Friday, Sept. 27, 2019: Here are the top headlines making news on the Caribbean entertainment scene for this week:

Country Music Community Steps Up To Help the Bahamas

The country music community has surprisingly stepped in to help the Bahamas, thanks to Hope 4 Hope Town – the Abaco Islands Relief Fund started by singer/ songwriter Patrick Davis, the creator of “Songwriters in Paradise.”

Davis and his group have already raised over USD 448,000, thanks in large part to the outpouring of support from country music singers and fans in Nashville.

The Grand Ole Opry even helped put together a benefit on Sept. 16th featuring some of top Country Music Stars including Darius Rucker, Florida Georgia Line, Kristian Bush of Sugarland, Dierks Bentley and Jamey Johnson. Those who couldn’t make the show were happy to donate items for an online auction. Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Edwin McCain, Lee Brice, Chase Rice, and Tyler Farr all donated autographed acoustic or electric guitars.

For now, Hope4HopeTown will focus on helping those in one specific area. “It’s really the northern Bahama islands because the major ports, Marsh Harbour, Freeport, and Grand Bahama, those places are going to get a lot of help from the Bahamians. The smaller islands are the ones that are really going to have to be helped by private groups,” Davis told  Forbes.

Caribbean Star Mourns The Loss Of Her Uncle

Caribbean born superstar, Rihanna, took to Instagram on Tuesday evening to share her condolences over the death of her Uncle Rudy Fenty. The singer, actress and entrepreneur didn’t share details regarding the nature of her uncle’s passing but captioned the tribute snapshot, “RIP uncle Rudy!” and received an outpouring of support from her fans and followers.

This Jamaican American Singer Releases New Single With An Indian Singer

Jamaican American singer Sean Kingston has a new single, this time with Indian singer Ananya Birla. “Day Goes By” was recorded in LA. The single has had over 3 million views already.

It has been a big year for both artists. Kingston just finished a sell-out 17 show world tour and released his latest track “Peace of Mind” in April. Ananya, who has racked up nearly 200 million streams since signing with Universal in 2016 and was recently named as one of GQ’s most influential Young Indians.

Catch it here.

40 Years of VP Records

Reggae label, VP Record is set to release, ‘Down In Jamaica: 40 Years of VP Records,’ on October 25, 2019. The 94-track, multi-format limited edition box set includes a 24-page booklet and art cards detailing the hits, the rarities, and the history of the world’s largest reggae label.

It also features 101 different artists and tells the story in detail through a chronological survey of the key records that helped define the company, from early singles on obscure sublabels like Roots From The Yard, Jah Guidance, and Love to the well-known VP Records brand that brought Beenie Man, Sean Paul, Wayne Wonder, and others into the international mainstream.

Curated by DJ, writer, and VP Records Director of Catalog Development Carter Van Pelt, the set contains four 7-inch singles, four 12-inch singles, and four CDs, the first configuration of its kind for a box set package. The CDs include the chronology of hit songs, and the vinyl pieces bring back rare titles long out of print. The initial release is in the physical format only, with a digital release of the CD portion of the set on all streaming platforms in late November.

Highlights from the set include Sean Paul & Sasha’s “I’m Still In Love With You,” Wayne Wonder’s “No Letting Go,” Beenie Man’s “Who Am I” and classics from Yellowman, Barrington Levy, Gregory Isaacs, and Dennis Brown and dozens of others. The vinyl selections include rare sides by Echo Minott, Freddie McKay, Junior Reid, Tenor Saw, and others, most available for the first time since their original pressings.

Award-Winning, Trinidadian, Calypso-Inspired Band For Flushing Town Hall

Award-winning, Trinidadian, calypso-inspired band, Kobo Town, is set to perform at the Flushing Town Hall, in Queens, NY this Oct. 11th.

The Toronto-based band was founded and is fronted by Trinidadian émigré and songwriter Drew Gonsalves. The event will be preceded by an interactive Calypso workshop at 7 P.M. followed by a performance at 8 P.M. Tickets are $16, $10 for members and students, and free for teens, and can be purchased at flushingtownhall.org or by calling (718) 463-7700 x222.

Billboard Reggae Charts

For the third consecutive week, Stick Figure, an American reggae and dub band founded in 2006 and based in Northern California, maintained its number one spot on the Billboard Reggae Charts with ‘World On Fire.’ World On Fire was written, produced and recorded by Scott Woodruff, a self-taught musician.