Reggae Ambassador Freddie McGregor’s Big Ship Music makes big splash with historical DVD
On Tuesday, April 19, 2005, Reggae Ambassador, Freddie McGregor and his Big Ship Music label, will release his first DVD effort entitled, Super Stars Extravaganza, highlighting rare concert footage of the historical 1989 Denbigh Show Ground concert in May Pen Clarendon, Jamaica.
Produced by Freddie himself, Super Stars Extravaganza, is a definite collector’s item featuring live performances by the late great Dennis Brown, the smooth as silk Gregory Isaacs, sweet Cocoa Tea, Barrington Levy, Frankie Paul, Carlene Davis, the legendary Tamlins and more.
Internationally acclaimed and Grammy-nominated Freddie McGregor has been moving people with his conscious lyrics for over 40 years. Equally at home in lovers rock or roots & culture, this unstoppable wonder boasts several hit songs like Push Come to Shove, Africa Here I Come, Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely, I Was Born A Winner and his signature tune Big Ship. Initially influenced by the sounds of Stevie Wonder, Eddie Levert, the legendary Bob Marley, Alton Ellis, Ken Boothe and Bob Andy, Freddie finessed his talent with early tracks like Why Did You Do It and Do Good and Good Will Follow You.
In 1975, Freddie’s musical and lyrical content changed with a strong slant towards lyrics of social consciousness with tunes like Mark of the Beast, I Am A Rasta and reggae classic Bobby Babylon. In 1982, Big Ship became one of reggae’s biggest hits and earned him a permanent place in reggae music history.
Over the years, Freddie has always looked to his fans and the communities they come from as a source for keeping him grounded, as a result, he has consistently donated to charities throughout the world whilst setting up his own US and England based children’s organizations, Big Ship Foundation Inc. and the Freddie McGregor Children Fund, both of which provides services and funding to renovate schools.
Freddie has headlined several international concerts and venues including Poland’s Blue Note, Japan’s Jumping Splash, the Reggae Sunsplash (Clapham Common), the Cartegena Festival (Colombia), Midem, the Jamaican Expo (performing for Nelson Mandela and Prince Charles) and the London Hammersmith Apollo performing with John Holt and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. His popular tune, Lovers Rock, was featured in the critically acclaimed HBO exclusive Disappearing Acts and HarlemâEUR(tm)s famous Apollo Theater saluted Freddie with the honor of being an Apollo Living Legend.
On August 8, 2003 Jamaica’s Prime Minister P.J. Patterson honored Freddie with the prestigious Jamaican Order of Distinction in recognition of his contribution to Jamaica’s music and culture and in that same year, his album entitled Anything For You featuring the songs Uncle Sam, I See It In You and Anything for You, was nominated for a Grammy.
Fresh from his four-week European tour, ending in London with a sold-out performance at the Brixton Academy, Freddie’s upcoming album Comin’ in Tough, produced by Freddie’s 14-year-old son Steven and Bobby Digital, features duets with Morgan Heritage, Marcia Griffiths and Anthony B, as well as the hot new singles, Lock Dem’ Down (currently #1 on the music charts in New York and Florida) and the forthcoming new single Bangarang.
