| Sunsplash signs Alpha Blondy |
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Ivory Coast reggae star is among the top acts for this year's Reggae Sunsplash. |
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Ivory Coast reggae star Alpha Blondy is among the top acts booked for this year's renewal of Reggae Sunsplash, the Observer has learnt.
Blondy will appear on the second night of the four-night festival along with Luciano Morgan Heritage Machel Montano, Junior Kelly and Chaka Demus and Pliers, to name a few.
Yesterday, Charles Campbell, one of the principals of the company staging the festival, declined to comment on the line-up, saying only that the full slate of performers will be revealed this evening at the official launch at The Guardsman Group headquarters on Old Hope Road in Kingston.
The August 3-6 festival is being held on the 100-acre Richmond Estate at Priory in St Ann. The first night will feature dancehall acts. World Beat Night is second, followed by International Night and Singers' Night.
Blondy is regarded as one of the world's most popular reggae artistes. His songs promote love, peace, social consciousness and morality and are generally sensitive to the needs of the poor and marginalised.
His biography describes him as "a staunch supporter of African unity" who sings to Muslim audiences in Hebrew and in Arabic to Israelis.
Among his best known songs are Cocody Rock, Jerusalem and Apartheid Is Nazism.
"He was born a member of the Jula tribe in Dimbokoro and named Seydou Kone after his grandfather," said the biographical note on the singer. "His grandmother Cherie Coco raised him. He was always a rebellious child and for this, Coco named him 'Blondy', her unique pronunciation of the word 'bandit'. When he started performing professionally, he took on the name Alpha (the first letter in the Greek alphabet) so his name literally translates to 'first bandit'."
Blondy, the notes said, grew up listening to African folkloric music such as yagba and gumbe. However, his primary musical influences were Western acts Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Hendrix, the Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Otis Redding. He was also "tremendously affected" by Bob Marley's music.
Blondy studied English at Hunter College in New York, and in the Columbia University American Language Programme, according to the biography.
"Outside of class, he would play music in Central Park and in Harlem clubs where occasionally house bands would let him sing his Bob Marley covers in French, English, and various West African languages," the bio stated.
He got his big break from a friend, Fulgence Kass, an employee of Ivory Coast Television who helped him land a spot on the Premiere Chance talent show where Blondy became a hit with the audience.
"Blondy then hooked up with producer G Benson who recorded his eight-song debut album, Jah Love in a single day. His popularity has continued to grow and he is a well-respected artiste both in Africa and in the West," the biography said. Blondy performs over 200 dates annually, taking him literally to every continent. |
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Posted by: Hacki
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| LINK:
www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/html/20060426... |
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