Four decades after a life-changing first trip to Jamaica as a 15-year-old teen, Ann Marie Keene has turned her decades-long love for the island, its people, and its iconic reggae and dancehall culture into a grassroots movement that blends artist development and community uplift. Rooted in a lifelong upbringing steeped in music and service, Keene left her longtime home in Minnesota, United States, to permanently resettle in the tight-knit Sherlock neighborhood of Kingston 20’s Duhaney Park, where she has quickly become a beloved fixture for local residents and emerging creators alike.
Keene’s connection to music was forged long before she made Jamaica her home. Growing up, the sounds of soulful, purpose-driven music filled her household; her mother was a working musician, with an extended family of traveling performers who counted legends like Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, Harry Belafonte, and Tina Turner among their favorite acts. “My love for reggae and dancehall comes from deep roots through my family and life experiences. Music was always in my blood. I grew up listening to music with soul and a message,” Keene shared in an interview with Jamaica Observer Online on Friday.
Service was also woven into her life from early childhood. By age nine, Keene was already working alongside her family in prison ministry, where the group did not only minister to incarcerated people but also extended support to their families, providing critical resources including housing, educational access, and emotional care. That early exposure to working alongside marginalized communities shaped her lifelong approach to giving back.
It was during a difficult personal period at age 15 that Keene first stepped onto Jamaican soil, and she felt an immediate spiritual connection to the island that never faded. Four decades later, that pull became too strong to ignore, and she packed up her life in Minnesota to put down permanent roots in Sherlock. It did not take long for her to fall for the community, and she immediately jumped into supporting local residents, with a special focus on the neighborhood’s emerging musical talent.
To formalize her work with artists, Keene launched Castle of the Valley Productions, an independent music label that prioritizes relationship-building and community impact over quick commercial gains. Currently, the label works with a roster of Sherlock-based acts including TuffHeart, Krvcial Ggod, Leanny Frass, Tenbrainz, and Thugras, among others. Unlike traditional labels that focus on building a large roster of talent for profit, Castle of the Valley centers on long-term, authentic connection and ethical opportunity creation.
Keene shared that the label was inspired by a personal turning point: her nephew Beckham Hardina’s life-threatening battle with illness, which taught her just how fragile and precious life is, and how families need far more than medical care to heal. “Families need space to breathe, to heal, and to feel loved without judgment. We’re building that through safe places, music, play, food, and water, lots of fresh water. Everyone has a seat at my table. We uplift the needy,” she explained.
After connecting with local recording artist TuffHeart, Keene made the decision to commit fully to advancing his career and the careers of other emerging local acts that aligned with her mission. “I left my home in Minnesota and came to Jamaica with boots on the ground for the music and for the mission with TuffHeart. What started as a moment turned into a movement,” she said.
When asked what draws her to the artists she supports, Keene explained that talent is only a secondary consideration. What matters most to her is that the artists are already invested in lifting their own community. “It wasn’t just about the music. The talent is there of course, but what really stands out is how they show up for the people and the community – humans-to-humans. These artistes engage with their communities, the children, the elders, they are present, they give back, and they carry a certain spirit. That matters to me,” she said. “At Castle of the Valley, we’re building more than music. We’re building character, responsibility, and connection. So, I look for artistes who don’t just want to be heard, but who understand the impact they have and use it to uplift others.”
Currently, the label is working on its upcoming collaborative project, the Castle of the Valley Nyabinghi Riddim titled 8 Ball, which features eight local artists and maintains an open platform for additional creators to join and grow alongside the movement. Keene even wrote one of the riddims for the project herself, emphasizing that the work is deeply personal and rooted in genuine passion. “For me, reggae and dancehall is more than sound; it’s people, it’s pain, it’s faith it’s joy,” she added.
Beyond her work with musicians, Keene is a constant, visible presence in the Sherlock community, building trust through consistent, hands-on philanthropy. “Sherlock is close to my heart. It’s about showing up and building real connections. We spend time with the kids and the elders, making sure people feel seen, supported and loved,” she shared. Every week, the community hosts popular events that bring neighbors together: weekly Wednesday movie nights in the community yard for local children, complete with a free meal prepared by the community chef, and “Sherlock Saturdays” that feature open live music performances for all residents.
Reflecting on her work, Keene noted that her current community service in Sherlock grows directly out of the service work she began as a child in prison ministry, where she learned the power of consistent, loving presence. “In Sherlock it’s about showing up consistently. The impact is real: the kids have a safe place, the community comes together, and people feel seen and valued,” she said.