ST. JOHN`S, Antigua – The first international DJ Festival to be held in the Caribbean, DeJam Festival (www.dejamfestival.com) will honour legendary DJ and Music Producer Jazzie B at the DeJam Festival DJ Awards Ceremony on October 1, 2008.
In its fifth year, the DeJam Festival seeks to recognize the contribution of DJs in the music world and provide a forum for leading and aspiring DJs to interact with music lovers at inspiring venues in the beautiful island of Antigua.
The highlight of the seven day event where DJs play at stunning locations including exclusive beaches, catamaran cruises, and sunset parties is the DeJam Festival DJ Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner, a black tie event honoring the best international and Caribbean based DJs which will be hosted by top British female comedian, Gina Yashere. Gina has been recognized as a top entertainer for over a decade and was recently the first British comedian to perform on the renowned Russell Simmon’s Def Comedy Jam in the US, and was the prestigious MoBo music awards co-host in 2006.
The DeJam Festival DJ Awards will present luminary Jazzie B with the Lifetime Achievement Award which will be presented by founder of the DeJam Festival, Anthony Brightly, the first such honour to be handed out in the event’s five-year history.
“It is important that we pay homage to the pioneers of the DJ industry and Jazzie B has certainly made a magnificent contribution to the art and business of DJing and enhanced the recognition of the DJ as a musician and creative contributor,” stated Brightly. “It is poignant that our growing international DJ Festival is based in Jazzie’s family’s home country of Antigua and it is therefore quite fitting that he receives the first DeJam Festival DJ Lifetime Achievement Award”.
Jazzie B is a founding member of the musical group Soul II Soul, which took the world by storm in the 1980s and placed original Black British Music on the international map. Jazzie enjoyed international chart success with ‘Keep On Moving’ and ‘Back To Life’ and he and Soul II Soul quickly became household names, developing the Funky Dred brand with slogan “A happy face, a thumpin’ bass, for a lovin’ race.”
Selling over 6.7 million albums in 35 territories worldwide and performing in over 20 countries as Soul II Soul, Jazzie has also produced and remixed hits for a wide range of artists including The Fine Young Cannibals, Incognito, Maxi Priest, James Brown, Kym Mazelle, Rose Windross, Cheryl Lynn, Family Stand, Public Enemy, Johnny Gill, Caron Wheeler, Isaac Hayes, Sinead O’ Connor, Teena Marie, Ziggy Marley, The Jones Girls, Nas and Destiny’s Child.
Jazzie established a thriving business empire to include three shops in London selling Soul II Soul clothing, records, record mats, jewellery and accessories as well as having resident club nights throughout the UK and abroad, concerts, radio shows, television appearances, the Soul II Soul Recording label and most recently the Back II Life Festival in Antigua. He is recognized as one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs.
Jazzie B and Soul II Soul received 2 Grammys in 1990, and this year Jazzie B was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) presented by Queen Elizabeth II in her 2008 New Years Honors.
Music lovers in the Caribbean can join in the fun through entertainment packages available online which provide entrance to events for an unforgettable week of partying at the DeJam Festival which takes place from September 26 to October 3. Check out dejamfestival.com for details.
