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Reggae
Sumfest Kicks Off In New York
Date Posted: June 06, 2008.
CaribPR Newswire: Dozens packed in to a New York City
restaurant Wednesday night as the sixteenth annual Reggae
Sumfest festival kicked-off officially in the Big Apple.
Among those welcoming the Summerfest Production team to New
York was new Jamaican Counsel General to New York, Genieve
Brown Metzer; and New York Commissioner of Immigrant
Affairs, Guillermo Linares, who presented a message from New
York City Mayor, Mike Bloomberg.
NYC Immigrant Affairs
Commissioner, Guillermo Linares, c., presenting a citation
from the Mayor of New York City to Summerfest Productions'
Johnny Gourzong, second from l. Also in photo are Summerfest
Chair, Robert Russell, l. and Counsel General Genieve Brown
Metzer and Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett, 2nd and first from
right. (Mike Hadaway Image)
Emcee Irwine Clare then introduced Summer Fest Productions
Executive Director Johnny Gourzong to the throng of media
practitioners, sponsors, Caribbean community leaders and
supporters. Gourzong for his part revealed the 2008 line-up,
which will include reggae`s John Holt, Beres Hammond, roots`
singer Anthony B, Richie Spice, Queen Ifrica, Jah Cure,
Tarus Riley and Etana and dancehall`s Beenie Man, Bounty
Killer, Voice Mail, Macka Diamond, Vybz Kartel, Harry
Toddler, Busy Signal, Wayne Marshall and Mavado.
Additionally, Gourzong revealed that negotiations are
underway for Keisha Cole, Akon or Chris Brown to perform at
the event, set for July 13-19 in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Jamaica's Tourism Minister, Ed Bartlett, dubbed the festival
the `premier reggae festival` of Jamaica and lauded the
Summerfest team and the many sponsors who continue to
promote the event.
"Reggae Sumfest is not just an event, its an experience.
This event has brought more than 5,000 visitors to Jamaica
and we found that there are people there who end up staying
a litle longer .. and they end up making the community a
little richer," said Minister Bartlett.
Ms. Joan Flowers, state Democratic committeewoman, and a
representative from Senator Malcom Smith's Office, joined
former Deputy Brooklyn Borough President, Yvonne Graham, in
presenting an official proclamation to Chair of Summerfest
Productions, Robert Russell and Johnny Gourzong while Austin
McBean of the International Reggae And World Music Awards,
offically presented two awards to the Summerfest executives.
The awards were won at this year`s event, which was held at
the Appolo Theater in Harlem, in May.
Also bringing greetings to the boisterous New York crowd
were Campbell Rudder of Air Jamaica, the airline sponsor of
this year`s event; VP Records' Rich Lamont and Tiffany Mea
who sponsored the New York party; as well as media sponsors,
Jamrock Magazine, David `Squeeze` Annakie and Sasha Lawrence
of Karib Links, which will be streaming the event live for
the first time this year online at
http://www.reggaesumfest.com .
Meanwhile, among top guests at the event were other
officials of Summfest Productions, Geodfrey Dwyer and Howard
Thompson, the Jamaica Tourist Board's Deputy Jamaica
Directors of Tourism, Donald Dawon and David Shields;
Jamaica Tourism Director, Basil Smith; Carole Guntley, Chris
Dawson of the Jamaica Tourist Board; director general,
Ministry of Industry & Tourism; St. Kitts Tourism Director
to NY, Robert Kelly; Ruder Finn`s Gale Moaney, Helen Ames
and Lyndon Taylor; JIS NY, Aubrey Campbell; BET's Ray
Goulbourne; VP Records, Randy and Chris Chin as well as
Christy Barber; Lance Ogiste of the Brooklyn DA's office;
Western Union's Garfield Comrie; Borokeete's Anthony
Pollydore; Cbean Media's Sherra Pierre Marche; and
Trinidad-born socialite, Hazra Ali.
Reggae Sumfest has been presented consecutively since its
launch in 1993 by Summer Fest Productions. It is now known
across the globe as the reggae event of the summer and
attracts thousands annually from the U.S., UK, Canada,
Europe, South and Central America, Australia, New Zealand,
South Africa, and neighbouring Caribbean islands.
Reggae Sumfest is by far the most successful event on the
entertainment calendar in Jamaica and recently earned
'Promoter of the Year' and 'Concert of the Year' at the 27th
Annual International Reggae and World Music Awards on May 4.
The festival has been able to attract top sponsors because
of its high quality entertainment product that showcases
Jamaica's abundant reggae talents while leveraging the
Jamaica brand and affirming its role as a truly Jamaican
product; contributing to the economy of Jamaica by
attracting as many as 5,000 visitors to the event and some
US$5 million in revenue to the island`s tourism economy.
The event has over the years featured the best talent in
reggae music such as Shaggy, Sean Paul, Damian "Junior Gong"
Marley, Inner Circle, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Elephant
Man, Sizzla, Steel Pulse, Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers,
Beres Hammond, Burning Spear, Bunny Wailer, Third World,
Morgan Heritage, Maxi Priest, Gregory Isaacs, Buju Banton,
Mavado, Lady Saw, Macka Diamond, Gentleman, and Shabba Ranks
as well as late greats Dennis Brown, Garnett Silk and Joseph
Hill (Culture).
Since its inception the company's motto has been "Promoting
Music, the Universal Force." International acts have been
successfully incorporated into the line up, namely Mary J.
Blige, Destiny's Child, Alicia Keys, Kanye West, Ludacris,
Lionel Richie, Missy Elliott, 50 Cent & G-Unit, Jay-Z, Akon,
Ja Rule, Fantasia Barino, Rihanna, Ashanti, Snoop Dogg, Boyz
II Men, K-Ci & JoJo, Dru Hill, Wyclef Jean, Joe, Blu
Cantrell, the Temptations, and LL Cool J. The event has over
the last eleven years developed a reputation of being the
first to bring a number of hot current artistes to Jamaica,
having brought Alicia Keys, Kanye West, Akon and Rihanna
prior to their meteoric success in snatching several awards.
For travel packages and more information, log on to
www.reggaesumfest.com
. This year's sponsors include Air Jamaica, the Jamaica
Tourist Board, Digicel, Ocean Spray and Jamrock Magazine.
