Leading Reggae Music Publisher Signs Exclusive Agreements With Leading Singer/Songwriters
NEW YORK – Greensleeves Publishing, the world’s leading reggae music publisher, signed exclusive agreements with leading singer/songwriters Gappy Ranks, Chino, Laden, Chukki Starr, Goofy, and Keith Hudson. Those deals will see Greensleeves Publishing represent and market the songs of these six in-demand reggae singers and songwriters worldwide.
Rising British Reggae star, Gappy Ranks, signed an exclusive publishing agreement with Greensleeves Publishing, quickly followed by a record deal with Greensleeves Records. Gappy‘s most recent hit “Heaven In Her Eyes” is included on VP Records’ Strictly The Best Vol. 40 and on Greensleeves Records’ The Biggest Reggae One-Drop Anthems 2009. He received the 2009 Crystal Blue Best Artist of the Year Award along with the Best Recording of the Year Award for “Heaven In Her Eyes.” His first album, “Breakfast in Jamaica” will be released on Greensleeves Records in early 2010. The album will include “Stinkin Rich” (currently topping the UK Reggae charts), “Heaven In Her Eyes” (which has been number one for an amazing 22 weeks on the UK reggae charts), “Thanks & Praises”, “Butterflies”, “So god bless”, “Rise out of the ghetto” and features tracks with Spice, Million Stylez among others. This is what Gappy had to say about his new deal with Greensleeves Records, “I grew up listening to albums from Greensleeves when I was a kid because my father used to collect all the Greensleeves titles and play them in the house. I always dreamed of one day having my own album being released by Greensleeves and be a part of the legends like Yellowman and other big names on their roster. It has been a hard journey and I feel proud to represent the UK in the reggae world and would like to thank Greensleeves, my management team and all the fans for supporting me in my career.”
The son of Reggae royalty Freddie McGregor and member of the Big Ship family, Chino has signed a co-publishing deal with STB Music, Greensleeves’ US affiliate, and Tinkintoe Music. Chino’s track “Protected” was included on Reggae Gold 2009 and his lastest single “Never Change (From Mawning)” has hit music charts in the UK and US. Being a part of the Big Ship family and his interactions with such Reggae legends as the late Dennis Brown, Marcia Griffith and Bounty Killer to name a few, has resulted in Chino gaining an in-depth knowledge of recording and production techniques.
Another star coming out of the Big Ship family is dancehall singjay Laden who has also signed a co-publishing deal with STB Music and Tinkintoe Music. Ladens track “Money Over War” appeared on Reggae Gold 2009 and his big hit “Time To Shine” was featured on Ragga Ragga Ragga 2009. Freddie McGregor says that he is confident with the new partnership his son Chino and Laden have made with Greensleeves/VP Records and is looking forward to making great music in the years to come.
Neil “Diamond” Edwards, Director of A&R, says “Big Ship is more than just a label that we are partnering with, I consider them family. We’ve had many successes in the past. I look forward to working with the Chino and Laden projects and continuing our long standing relationship with the Big Ship Family.”
The veteran British Reggae artist Chukki Starr has signed a co-publishing agreement with Greensleeves Publishing. The conscious singjay attracted notable attention when he delivered his highly acclaimed debut album Ghetto Youth’s Livity, which was produced by Ariwa Sounds’ Mad Professor. Considered one of the UK’s top Reggae artists, Greensleeves Records will release “Chukki Starr: Most Wanted” on March 23, 2010.
The veteran Dancehall artist Goofy aka MR. G has signed to Greensleeves Publishing. Mr. G released his debut album Issues in 2004 on S Curve Records. Along with working on releases for his Young Blood label, MR. G’s new album Wine Pon It is due out in 2010. He has numerous singles that have been buzzing in the US, UK and Jamaica. Currently his single “Before The Year Done” has been climbing the music charts.
Greensleeves has acquired the catalog of the great singer/songwriter/producer Keith Hudson aka the “Dark Prince of Reggae.” An accomplished songwriter who wrote for artists as varied as Alton Ellis, Delroy Wilson, John Holt, his biggest contribution as a songwriter came when Big Youth recorded “S-90 Skank” in 1972. The song which incorporates motorcycle noises recorded in the studio become the DJ’s biggest hit and a reggae classic. As an artist, Ketih Hudson contributed many classic albums including Flesh of My Skin, Blood of My Blood released in 1975, which is considered a masterpiece among the Reggae community. In 2010, Greensleeves will reissue an expanded edition of Rasta Communications as part of its Greensleeves Reggae Classics series adding “Brand”, the dub version of the album.
Olivier Chastan, President of Greensleeves Publishing, says “all these signings bring a thrilling conclusion to a very active year for Greensleeves Publishing which included placements in multiple films, computer games and TV shows along with songs on albums by Wycleff Jean, Matisyahu, Major Lazer and DJ Khaled. It once again shows our dedication to invest in new talents such as Gappy Ranks, Chino and Laden while consolidating our catalog with established songwriters and catalogs such as Goofy, Chukki Starr and Keith Hudson”.
