分类： entertainment

The music industry mourns the loss of Wayne Perkins, the acclaimed American session guitarist whose iconic rock solo propelled The Wailers’ ‘Concrete Jungle’ into legendary status. Perkins passed away peacefully on March 16 at the age of 74, following complications from a recent stroke. His brother, Dale Perkins, confirmed the news via a heartfelt Facebook post, expressing the family’s profound grief and gratitude for the outpouring of support, noting that Wayne was surrounded by loved ones at the time of his passing.

A native of Alabama, Perkins carved a remarkable career as a versatile session musician. His pivotal contribution to reggae history occurred during the early 1970s when he was a member of the rock band Smith Perkins Smith, signed to Island Records. It was here that he crossed paths with The Wailers—Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Livingston—who were also on the label’s roster.

Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, aiming to broaden The Wailers’ appeal beyond traditional reggae audiences, strategically enlisted Perkins to overdub a fiery rock guitar solo onto ‘Concrete Jungle.’ This masterstroke, now celebrated as one of the finest guitar solos in reggae history, became the centerpiece of the band’s groundbreaking 1973 album ‘Catch A Fire,’ their major label debut.

Beyond his work with The Wailers, Perkins’ exceptional talent graced recordings by other music titans. He contributed significantly to The Rolling Stones’ 1981 album ‘Tattoo You,’ laying down guitar tracks for several songs on the multi-platinum record. His death marks the departure of a uniquely gifted musician who played an indispensable role in bridging musical genres and shaping the sound of an era.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Grammy-winning dancehall artist Shaggy has revealed how his collaboration with music legend Sting in the theatrical production ‘The Last Ship’ fundamentally transformed his artistic perspective. In a recent appearance on Sherri Shepherd’s daytime talk show, the Jamaican star articulated how embracing discomfort became his catalyst for creative evolution.

“True artistic growth emerges from stepping beyond familiar territories,” Shaggy explained. “A hamster remains comfortable running in its wheel, but ultimately goes nowhere. Sting consistently pushed me into these uncomfortable spaces that ultimately became my most rewarding creative experiences.”

The It Wasn’t Me hitmaker described his relationship with Sting as unexpectedly fraternal, noting: “He’s become the brother I never realized I needed. His belief in my capabilities often exceeded my own confidence. He deliberately positioned me in challenging scenarios while championing my talents to production teams. When we began delivering exceptional performances, his validation felt particularly meaningful.”

The production has achieved remarkable commercial success across Europe, with Shaggy reporting over 60,000 tickets sold during their Paris run and completely sold-out engagements in Amsterdam.

This philosophy of artistic risk-taking extends to Shaggy’s upcoming album ‘Lottery,’ which he describes as another manifestation of betting on himself. Despite criticism from reggae purists for creating hybrid musical forms, Shaggy maintains that innovation drives genre evolution. “Historically, session musicians blended rock instrumentation with Bob Marley’s foundational work, and those very recordings eventually defined modern reggae. Today’s dancehall itself represents a hybrid form, validating the experimental approach I’ve always embraced.”

Jamaican reggae artist Jah Rain has unveiled his latest musical project, ‘Rivers of Freedom,’ marking his third EP release since embarking on his musical journey. The five-track collection, produced through a collaborative effort between Iyah Vybz Muzik and Kutral Dub, debuted on March 11th with ambitious aspirations for global impact.

The creative impetus behind the project emerged from the artist’s critical observation of contemporary societal challenges. Born Umar Plummer, Jah Rain articulated to Observer Online that his work seeks to resurrect the foundational principles of roots reggae—music that simultaneously elevates, educates, and awakens collective consciousness. The EP’s thematic core examines pressing issues including social injustice, systemic inequality, and humanity’s perpetual quest for spiritual emancipation, metaphorically represented as a journey toward comprehensive liberation.

Despite confronting challenging subject matter, the musical composition maintains an ultimately hopeful perspective. Jah Rain envisions his artistry serving as both catalyst and comfort for listeners engaged in combating social ailments. The artist expressed particular ambition for the project’s transnational reach, hoping to reactivate global appreciation for reggae’s transformative potential while fostering elevated emotional and vibrational states among audiences.

This release continues the conceptual trajectory established in Jah Rain’s previous works, ‘Guidance & Protection’ and ‘Rise Again,’ which similarly prioritized messages of empowerment and moral fortification. Looking forward, the artist anticipates strategic collaborations with like-minded musicians who demonstrate reverence for reggae’s cultural foundations, specifically mentioning interest in partnerships with African artists and diaspora communities to strengthen music’s unifying capabilities across cultures.

Jah Rain’s future objectives include expanding his international presence through targeted touring across African nations and diaspora populations, developing additional conscious music projects, and establishing mentorship initiatives for emerging artists dedicated to positive cultural expression through reggae music.

The Bob Marley Museum transformed into a sanctuary of musical healing on Saturday evening as the Marley dynasty gathered with reggae luminaries to commemorate what would have been Jo Mersa Marley’s birthday. Led by patriarch Stephen Marley, the emotional tribute concert blended memorial with medicinal vibrations, creating a powerful exploration of grief, legacy, and familial bonds through music.

Stephen Marley established the evening’s contemplative atmosphere with soul-stirring performances of classics including ‘Put It On,’ ‘Hit Me With Music,’ and ‘Trench Town Rock.’ His performance, anchored by traditional keteh drum rhythms, featured poignant lyrical adaptations incorporating his late son’s name. During several moments, Stephen paused in silent meditation, allowing the weight of collective memory to permeate the capacity crowd.

The event highlighted both the Marley musical lineage and reggae’s continuing evolution. Emerging talents Ras-I and Jemere Morgan delivered heartfelt performances of ‘Somewhere Wonderful’ and ‘Try Jah Love’ respectively, receiving Stephen’s acknowledgment of the younger generation’s solidarity. The familial dimension deepened as Mersa’s siblings Hymn and Mystic Marley took the stage with emotionally charged renditions of ‘Since You’ve Been Gone’ and ‘Harambe.’

The evening gained kinetic energy when Yohan Marley performed Mersa’s own ‘Burn It Down,’ followed by a collaborative performance of ‘Blessing’ with Jesse Royal. International reggae influences manifested through appearances by Puerto Rican star Farruko and singer Imeru Tafari, demonstrating the genre’s global reach.

Stephen Marley articulated the evening’s philosophy stating: ‘Music heals. The vibration of music heals, sometimes we haffi pick it up or tone it down, but it heals.’ This healing principle manifested through Queen Ifrica’s powerful ‘Lioness’ performance and continued with Stephen joining brothers Julian and Damian Marley for collaborative renditions including ‘Three Little Birds’ and ‘Cast the First Stone.’

The multi-generational legacy became unmistakable when Damian’s son Elijah delivered a spirited performance of ‘Heathen,’ eliciting enthusiastic responses from the packed venue. Additional performances by reggae stalwarts Richie Spice, Romain Virgo, and Warrior King further enriched the musical tapestry.

The concert culminated with Damian Marley performing ‘The Mission’ alongside Stephen, followed by abbreviated versions of his hits ‘Blessed’ and ‘Here Comes Jr Gong.’ The Marley brothers united for a final performance of their father’s timeless anthem ‘Could You Be Loved,’ before Stephen closed the tribute with a stirring rendition of ‘Lion of Judah.’

Throughout the evening, the audience remained captivated—some climbing barriers for better views, others swaying rhythmically as melodies transformed into shared spiritual communion. The event transcended conventional memorials, becoming a testament to music’s enduring power to heal grief and celebrate legacy across generations.