http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUSOZAgl95A

BOYZ II MEN: STILL HAVING FUN GOING SLOW

“I still like to make people dance and party and have a good time, but the people have really responded to the ballads and the soul stuff so we’re gonna continue to do that primarily.”

So said Wanya Morris, of Boyz II Men, speaking by telephone ahead of their scheduled performance at the Shaggy & Friends Dare To Care on the lawns of Jamaica House tonight.

Though the group’s firsat major hit, “MotownPhilly” was an uptempo number (in the now classic New Jack Swing style), and their repertoire includes other notably dancy tunes such as “Can’t Let Her Go” it’s the ballads that have won the group renown and

Particularly it was their cover of G C Cameron’s Motown classic “So Hard to Say Goodbye To Yesterday” (from the 1975 movie Cooley High, a title which in fact inspired the title of their debut album, “Cooley High Harmony”). Three of the group’s number 1 hits, “End of the Road”, “I’ll Make Love To You”, and “One Sweet Day” (with Mariah Carey), all ballads, set and exceeded records for the longest period of time a single remained scored at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Their latest project, entitled simply “Love” is a covers album, but one which Wanya says, has some unexpected directions for the group. Instead of the stock R&B soul classics, the project features pop/rock hits by such artistes as Cyndi Lauper (‘Time After Time”), Chicago (“If You leave Me Now”) Goo Goo Dolls (“Iris”), Journey (‘Open Arms”) and others. Production was handled by Randy Jackson , of American Idol fame, who also worked with the group on previous cover project, “Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA”.

When brought up to speed on what the Shaggy & Friends show is about, Morris was quick to endorse the cause. “We’re definitely in support of anything that’s going to make a positive change in people’s lives, especially for the children.”

The group, now a trio ( a reunion featuring retired member Mike McCrary may be in the works) continues to record and to tour worldwide. Wanya has a special appreciation for Jamaica. “The people here really show us a lot of love, everybody’s warm and the vibe on our last appearances here has been just tremendous.”

Boyz II Men found fame as a quartet, with members Nathan Morris, Michael McCary, Shawn Stockman, and Wanya Morris on Motown Records during the early 1990s. In 2003, Michael McCary left the group due to chronic back problems resulting from scoliosis. As of 2009, Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Nathan Morris continue to tour and record as a trio.

Based on sales, Boyz II Men is the most successful R&B male vocal group of all time. They recorded five number 1 R&B successes between 1992 and 1997 and have sold more than 60 million albums. Although “On Bended Knee” did not exceed any records, it was still a very popular song that reached number 1 and made Boyz II Men only the third act (behind The Beatles and Elvis) to replace themselves at the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Their other hits include “Uuh Ahh”, “Four Seasons of Loneliness” “A Song For Mama” and “I Will Get There” (from the “Prince of Egypt” soundtrack).

DIAGEO & SHAGGY TIE A ‘RED BOW’ FOR CHARITY

He may have had a successful CD titled “Clothes Drop”, but Shaggy and the producers of the Dare to Care 2010 also know the value of keeping a fabulous dress on, hence a scintillating partnership with Diageo/Red Stripe to present the Red Bow Dress as part of the Charity Auction at the Dare to Care concert on January 2

Louise Fletcher creating the model of the now world famous red bow dress designed by “Sex & The City” designer Patricia Field and worn by actress and “Sex & The City” star, Kim Cattrall. The stunning red dress with an oversized bow was made to match the holiday bottle of Bailey’s Irish Cream, part of the Diageo family of drinks, which has its own red bow.

Just as the original was auctioned for a charitable cause (The Clothes off Our Back Foundation, which routinely hosts charity auctions of the latest and hottest celebrity attire to benefit children’s causes) so too, will the Jamaican version of the dress be auctioned – this time to support the work of the Bustamante Hospital for Children, to continue to assist the one-of-a-kind medical facility to care for the nation’s children.

Kim Lee of Diageo Jamaica said that the local project had been officially endorsed by both Bailey’s and by Kim Cattrall herself, albeit by telephone form location filming on the forthcoming “Sex & The City” movie sequel, reportedly due to hit theatres in May 2010 (from IMDB).

“We’re so glad to be given the opportunity to replicate this fantastic venture in Jamaica,” Lee said, “and also to support a truly vital and welcome initiative in the form of the Shaggy & Friends show.”

She added that Jamaica was the only one of Diageo’s Latin American/Caribbean territories doing this particular outreach. “We are supporting Dare to Care both through sponsorship and our own presence, with the full backing of our managing director Alan Barnes and the entire team. We’re looking forward to an awesome evening of entertainment, fellowship and style, with Bailey’s Smirnoff, Red Stripe and our range of premium drinks.”

TANYA STEPHENS – PERFECTLY HUMAN

With a slew of hits including “Yu Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet” “It’s A Pity” What A Day” and These Streets” Tanya Stephens hasn’t done any wrong musically thus far, and her fans worldwide may well be prepared to accord her the “infallible” status implied (even if its tongue-in-cheek) on her upcoming new album.

The singer-songwriter is preparing to release “Infallible”, her seventh album (her previous effort was “Rebelution” in 2006) and in typical style, she spoke to the questions raised by its title. “Well, what I’m actually saying is that I’m not infallible. I know in terms of what I do musically, I look at my work as unbeatable, but in terms of my humanity, I’m very much fallible and that’s keeps me grounded and working harder to put out better and better work.”

Stephens has also recently branched out as an entertainment entrepreneur, opening the H2O restaurant/lounge in Ocho Rios. The spot has been holding its own since opening in January, she says and its weekend live music sessions have witnessed the likes of Marcia Griffiths, Tinga Stewart (“everybody still ask me when him comin’ back”) Kris Kelly, Diana Rutherford and Rising Stars winners Chris Martin and Brown Sugar.

She has not been seen on a Jamaican stage for a while and fans are no doubt as anxious to hear the new material as they are to hear her reprise the staple songs. Stephens did not attend the previous Shaggy & Friends show, nor did she but none of that prevented her from saying yes to appearing on the lineup for the renewal of the show come Janaury 2nd at Jamaica House

Regarding her own performing schedule otherwise, Stephens says she’ll be heading “wherever promotion takes me. The album will be out, so I’ll be doing all I can to keep it out there.” In between, she’ll continue to scale the new business owner learning curve (“there have been some surprises, but if there were none, then I would be surprised”) and perfecting her songcraft.

“At he end of the day, it’s a great cause, its for the kids,” she said in a telephone interview. “So it’s not that I even need to have any great familiarity with the show or the format or anything like that.

Since announcing her presence as part of producer Barry O Hare’s Farther East compilation in 1993, Stephens has steadily traveled her own path amidst a Jamaican music industry that too often relies on lyrical and sonic ‘trend-following’. Exposed early – and often- to a diversity of musical styles at home (where she was the second youngest of seven children), she developed her own kind of eclecticism, one anchored in the pulse of dancehall, but not restricted in its subject matter. “Do You Still Care?” one of the stronger tracks on the Rebelution CD, tackles both racism and homophobia, addressed as it is to a dying man who has to face the fact that his life may be saved by a black person or a homosexual.

Magnum Goes long @ Weddy Weddy

Amid the flowing Magnum, the cannabis-filled air and the pulsating sounds of the "World Immortal" Stone Love, media reps joined artistes and other celebs as well as patrons at Stone Love HQ on Dumbarton Avenue on Wednesday as part of the tonic wine brand's 10th anniversary bashment, under the theme "Ten Long Ten Strong". The nite also served as a warm-up for the champion sound's 37th anniversary celebration set for this Saturday at the Mas Camp. The 'official' part of the proceedings had moved seamlessly into the full juggling by the time E-Square arrived and the place was soon filled to capacity, giving legendary video-man Jack Sowah plenty of opportunities for clips.

DING DONG ‘skips’ onto success

Even though he has one of the most instantly recognized and popiular hits of the year (“Holiday” with Chevaughn Clayton), has performed in many countries (including Japan and Brazil), and is now set to show his stuff on the upcoming Shaggy Dare to Care 2010 edition, come January 2, Ding Dong still insists on billing himself as “a dancer.”

“Is dancin’ bring me to the point where people round the world know me” said the founder of the Ravers Clavers crew, now some 18 members strong. “An’ no matter what else me do, dancin’ nah stop Me dance every night.”

Which must make for a very hectic schedule as that ‘what else’ has grown to embrace not only recording artiste, but also producer (his most recent riddim project is the “Giants”) and entertainment mogul. His Nannyville Enterrprise has been signing and developing new talent at an expansive clip, and Ding Dong now seems to be on the crest of a surge greater than that of the Iraq War.

But the “dancer” is nothing if not focused, and humble. Of his call-up for the upcoming Dare to Care show he says, “it’s a tremendous, big opportunity for me, seeing as many of the people on this bill is people who influence me, so I now have the opportunity to be an influencer.”

Beyond the bright lights – Ding Dong sees his presence on the bill as a contribution to the cause. Specifically, he believes he can attract a younger audience not only to the show, but more importantly to the cause of giving. “Its not a matter of a lot of money, but you give what you have, cause this is something that benefit everybody, so me in my position can get the young people to understand that them can play a part too.”

And his influence grows, what with the success of “Holiday” and the hot dance of the moment, Skip To My Lu, otherwise Summer Swing (“people keep askin’ me if is two different dance, but is really the same thing”). His touring schedule looks even more hectic for the end of this year and into 2010, and he’s already followed up “Holiday” with the new single and video “Responsible Parents”.

“My song, me just take them from life and things that me consider.” he explains. “We keep away from all war and negativity. “My children mus’ able to listen to my tune and my mother mus’ can listen to it too.”

Jamaica Jazz and Blues Band Quest goes online - JamaicaObserver.com

Jamaica Jazz and Blues Band Quest goes online - JamaicaObserver.com

aspiring artists can go to jamaicajazzandblues.com

Coming Soon: Royal Afrikan Soldiers Resurge

Look out for the remegnece of Royal Afrikan Soldiers. The group, which now comprises Neto Meeks and Ginsu (Takura has gone off to pursue solo interests) is coming with a multi-pronged media attack over the comming months. Already out is the single "The Real Jamaica Jamaica" (feat Ginsu) and th duo will also be releasing their video package, "Sharpshootas".