NEW YORK, N.Y – Singer Richie Stephens, dubbed Jamaica’s ‘Golden Voice’ of reggae, can’t wait for January 27, 2006. That’s the night Stephens says he intends to serenade fans for an entire hour and then some, to top tunes from his musical repertoire.
However, you have got to be at the 2006 Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival in order to enjoy Stephen’s treat live and in person. Songs like ‘Trying To Get To You,’ ‘Fight Back,’ the chart-topping ‘Joy,’ ‘Maniac,’ and ‘Weakness For Sweetness,’ are just some of the old time favorites the Savannah-La-Mar-born singer intends to perform. But he won’t stop there as he plans to add some of the recent releases like “Take Me Away,’ the new single that’s part of an album set to be released almost a month after the festival.
“I have been in the business for a couple of years now and that allows me to have a wide repertoire of songs. So I’ll be doing songs from the early, the middle and the present,” says Stephens, adding, “We’re coming with a full show so it’s a night for you to come and discover what I have to offer.”
And the head of the company, Pot Of Gold Productions, says he does not just intend to sing his heart out but to put on a ‘real’ performance, backed by his Masterpiece band, that’s sure to leave fans begging for more. As he jokingly revealed, “I’m even doing Tae-Bo for this performance.”
Stephens is the top Jamaican and Caribbean act set to perform alongside at international high-powered lineup on Friday, January 27, that includes multiple Grammy winner and gospel great, Rev. Al Green; legendary musical duo Air Supply; Rock n’ Roll Hall of Famer Bo Diddley and newcomer Nicole Henry.
They will follow an opening line-up on Thursday, January 26, that includes 2005 eight time Grammy nominee, John Legend; reggae’s Shaggy, who picked up a Grammy for the first time in 1996 and has been nominated for another this year; master flutist, Nestor Torres, also a Grammy winner; reggae’s highly hailed family, Morgan Heritage and the celebrated singer/songwriter/producer, Chester “Lyfe” Jennings.
On the final night of the festival, Sat. Jan. 28, Grammy Award winners Patti LaBelle and James Ingram are slated to perform, as are Maxi Priest, newcomer KEM, and the Reunion Jazz Quartet. While Calypso King of the World, the Mighty Sparrow; Arrow of ‘Hot, Hot, Hot,’ fame, the Merry Men, Marcia Griffiths and Ken Lazarus will pay tribute music legend, Byron Lee, for his musical career that spans a half-century.
An event pass for the three-day festival costs US$160 while individual ticket prices range from US$50 for the Thursday night performance, $55 for Friday night and $60 for the final tribute night, Sat. Jan. 28.
Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival is a Turn Key Productions event and has been running continuously for the past ten years. Sponsors include Air Jamaica, The Jamaica Tourist Board, American Express, Digicel, NCB Bank of Jamaica, Half-Moon Resort, Coral Cliff hotel, Holiday Inn, Jampro, BET Jazz, Ocean Spray, Heineken beer, Wata, Supreme Ventures, AnBell and PanCaribbean. (CaribPRWire)
