Countdown Begins To Reggae Rhythm & Blues Music Festival In NYC Tomorrow

Reggae Rhythm & Blues fever has taken over the tri-state area. The inaugural festival which unfolds at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens, New York tomorrow, Labor Day Sunday, September 4 will feature immortal favorites Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Monica, Movado, soca king Machel Montano HD, and Tarrus Riley who all will perform at the festival. And to drive the festival lineup to insanely hypnotic levels, also add new reggae sensation I-Octane, John Holt and Leroy Sibbles who were added earlier this week.

“Reggae Rhythm & Blues represents the best of all genres. We have Mavado representing the best of dancehall, we have Babyface and Monica representing the best of R&B, Tarrus Riley representing the best of reggae and Machel Mantano representing the best of soca. With I-Ocane, Leroy Sibbles and John Holt just added to the already powerful bill, we have the best from all genres. Tomorrow is D day and we are ready to deliver an exciting and well oiled production for our music fans” said Clarke of Irie Jam Media.

The Doctor Beenieman, the musical genius behind such classics as “Matie,” “Slam,” “Romie,” “Old Dog,” “Dancehall Queen,” “Who Am I,” “Girls Dem Sugar” (featuring Mýa), “Dude,” “King of the Dancehall” and “Back It Up” will be honored by festival organisers for over three decades of outstanding contribution to the reggae/dancehall industry. The official presentation will take place on stage at the event.

“Beenieman is a musical genius who has represented our music and culture with distinction and pride over the years. We are proud of his accomplishments and wish him many, many more years of quality contribution to the genre” VP of Irie Jam Louie Grant said.

Joining the Doctor Beenieman on stage at Reggae Rhythm & Blues will be Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, the successful R&B, pop singer, songwriter, keyboardist, record producer, film producer and entrepreneur who has written and produced songs for some of the biggest names in contemporary music, including Toni Braxton, Boyz II Men, Whitney Houston and TLC. As a solo artiste, Babyface has recorded some of the genre’s biggest tracks, including “Tender Love,” “Whip Appeal,” “Give U My Heart,” “For the Cool I You,” “When Can I See You,” “Rock Bottom,” “This Is For The Lover In You,” “Every time I Close My Eye,” “Reason For Breathing,” “Grown & Sexy” and many others.

Dancehall DJ Mavado, fresh from inking a new recording contract with Hip Hop Moguel DJ Khaled a few days ago is ready to deliver a special performance for fans in NY. With hits like “Fathers Prayer”, “Cassava Piece Radio”, “Sadness”, “Gully Side”, and “On The Go (Faster Than Bullet),” “Star Boy,” “Stulla,” “Mad Over” and “Delilah” in his arsenal, the Gully Gaad is primed and ready to explode on stage. Laza Morgan, who is currently in NY is expected to join him on stage for their summer 2011 hit song, “One By One” which is currently blazing up radio and clubs in Jamaica.