VP RECORDS OPENS IT VAULTS AT 17 NORTH PARADE

For the first time ever VP Records is opening its immense vaults of Reggae, Dancehall and Soca/Calypso to all collectors and music enthusiasts through their new imprint '17 North Parade'.

The history of 17 North Parade begun over 40 years ago, when reggae pioneers Vincent Chin and his wife Patricia moved their record store to 17 North Parade a former ice cream parlour in downtown Kingston. It quickly became the centre of the burgeoning reggae music scene distributing foreign and local music throughout the island.

Above the new store they constructed a recording studio aptly called 'Randy's Studio 17' which became the recording facility of choice for the majority of Reggae's most prominent artists, writers and producers. 'Randy's Studio 17' played host to Bob Marley & The Wailers who recorded parts of Catch A Fire there, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Bunny Lee, Niney The Observer, as well as foreign artists looking for the authentic reggae sound such as Quincy Jones and Joe Cocker.

It is a well-known fact that 'Randy's Studio 17' had one of if not the largest catalogues of Reggae, Dancehall and Soca/Calypso music in the world. These catalogues have been amassed over many decades between the 60s and 90s and are now being made available to the public. Rare tracks, that in the past could only be listened to on vinyl, have now been digitally re-mastered and are available on CD, giving an even better sound than the original releases.

The first set of re-mastered tracks from the VP Records' 17 North Parade vaults were released in early 2007 and include Culture & Don Carlos Roots & Culture (1982), Yellowman & Fathead Just Cool (1982), Toyan Spar With Me (1982) Little John Ghetto Youth (1983) and Zap Pow (1973). These releases are a collectors dream and are a perfect gift for all those who love vintage music.

This is the first time in the history of Reggae and Dancehall that fans can get such a quality supply of local music from 'back in the day' at one place. These tracks are not available anywhere else and boast the quality unsurpassed by today's music.

VP Record's 17 North Parade will release two albums every month in 2008. Collectors can look out for Byron Lee and the Dragonairs and works from great reggae producers such as Augustus 'Gussie' Clarke Donovan Germain, Lloyd 'King Jammys' James, Sly & Robbie and Joe Gibbs who worked with pioneering engineer Errol Thompson.

URL - http://www.17northparade.com/

Source - Alykhat PR
Date - November 1, 2007

Machel Montano set to rock New York

Soca superstar Machel Montano is getting ready to shine in the spotlight once again when he headlines at New York's famed Madison Square Garden (MSG) on Friday, March 28. Montano set industry records by performing two shows on one night at MSG last year May, and both to sold out crowds.

Hailed as the "Prince of Soca," he's back for the highly anticipated encore, promising a show that is "bigger and better," as he returns with a slew of new singles from his upcoming album, due out this summer.Montano maintains his crossover and worldwide appeal by successfully fusing genres, somehow managing to seamlessly blend soca with reggae, dancehall and reggaeton. He recently scored chart-topping hits with the likes of Shaggy, Mr. Vegas, Vybz Kartel and Buju Banton.

A national hero to the people of Trinidad, Montano returned home for Carnival season and is now preparing to spread his new sounds to the rest of the world, New York being one of the first stops.Last year renaming himself Machel Montano HD, he pledges to redefine his identity both as an entertainer and an individual. "Every year I get simpler, and I am getting closer to some complete picture of the sound I've been trying to create," reveals Montano.Fans can hear his redefined sound when he takes center stage at MSG, with his usual fanfare.

The audience can expect more of a Vegas-style show with an abundance of theatrics, masquerade costumes and surprise guests. Last year's performances saw special appearances from Shaggy, Mr. Vegas, and Collie Buddz, just to a name a few. Now Montano promises some major surprises in store for his fans, come Friday, March 28.

Source - Rhona Fox Inc
Date - March 7, 2008

In order to do anything great you have to have a wide base.

Now, that is one truth that cannot be disputed however the real trick it seems is acquiring that base in order build something worthwhile. Pyramid Entertainment Management Inc is one company which has used this method with great success. Started in 2003 by Santia Bradshaw and Jerome Hamilton, Pyramid specializes in artiste management and bookings for artistes from various genres which include soca, reggae and alternative music.

Pyramid is not only concerned with the development of the Bajan culture but the culture of the wider Caribbean, as they were the ones responsible for hosting the Barbados Music seminars in 2006 and 2007, in Barbados, specifically aimed at artiste development, innovations and other issues which affect the regional music industry.

More recently, Pyramid has through several ventures in 2007 made significant moves to promote the many artistes on their roster. Early in the year, the Pyramid company launched the Pyramid Music Group, a music content label which has the added responsibility of producing music videos and entertainment programmes. The group’s first video production was the incredibly successful Woman By My Side by Pyramid artiste Peter Ram. Since then their production credits have included: Beautiful Surprise by Philip 7, From this Day on by Kitorah, Soca Junkie by Mr. Dale, Pumpin by Peter Ram, Nah Going Home by Biggie Irie, Caan Wait and Girls Gone Wild by Lil Rick. The last five soca videos were actually done by Jamaican video director Jay Will who chaired the promotional tools / media workshop at the music seminar in February, 2007.

Pyramid also, with the help of Sesame Flyers International, created the Pyramid music truck specifically for the 2007 New York Labour Day parade. Based on the overwhelming success of that venture for the 2008 edition of the T & T carnival, Pyramid Entertainment with the help of the mas band Tribe unveiled the Pyramid "All Star" music truck. This again proved to be a brilliant move by the group as their truck was one of the stars of the T & T carnival with many observers, regional and international flocking to the "All Star" truck for a chance to be near the truck’s featured artistes: Biggie Irie, Mr. Dale, Peter Ram and Trinidadian guests Bunji Garlin and his wife Faye-Ann Lyons.

The Pyramid group has also erected a 20’ X 8’ double sided billboard on the east/west corridor of the Churchill Roosevelt Highway which reads “From Carnival to Crop Over" and features images of four of the Barbadian superstars on the Pyramid roster, Biggie Irie, Lil Rick, Mr. Dale and Peter Ram. This is a move that could not only help these artistes but the general festival culture of Barbados as even the visitors to the island will be made aware of these artistes and their music.

Overall, Pyramid Entertainment Management Inc has shown itself to be a company which is probably the only one of its kind in Barbados and the Caribbean. Never before has a regional company tried to innovate the concept of artiste promotion and development in this way both within the region and beyond. Pyramid seems to be clearly determined to use the base they have created for their artistes to springboard the culture of the Caribbean to the international success it has been denied for years. I for one hope they succeed.

Source - Headline Entertainment

Date - February 29, 2008