The Messenjah” Luciano returns to Reggae Culture Salute 2006 for an overdue New York appearance on Saturday, November 4th.

Luciano, reggae’s conscious voice, will perform at Hammerstein Ballroom 311 West 34th Street at 8th Avenue starting at 8 pm. as he kicks off his ‘Child of a King’ U.S. tour, named after his upcoming VP Records release.

Reggae Culture Salute celebrates the unique relationship between reggae, rasta, Selassie and Jamaica. The Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music, organizers of the now annual event, say, Luciano will once again pay homage to the “King” on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of his coronation as His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia, one of the great kings Africa and the 20th century.

Additionally, a highlight of the evening will be a special tribute to fallen reggae icon, Joseph Hill, founder and former lead singer of the seminal seventies group, Culture, who died suddenly on August 19th 2006 in Germany while on a European tour.

British reggae luminaries, Steel Pulse, Hill’s son, Kenyatta, saxophonist extraordinaire Dean Fraser, Jah Messenjah Band and others under the musical direction of Fraser, will pay tribute to Hill. Kenyatta will make his New York debut, as lead singer for Culture, replacing his father. The senior Hill was scheduled to perform at Reggae Culture Salute 2006.
Last year’s inaugural staging of Reggae Culture Salute 2006 received rave reviews and New York’s stamp of approval when thousands packed the world famous Roxy to celebrate the regal remembrance. Carlyle McKetty, co-founder of the Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music, hosts of this positive affair points out that, “This year’s event is made even more special with the return of Luciano juxtaposed against the debut of Joseph Hill’s son Kenyatta, who took up his father’s mike upon his passing and completed dates in Europe and Brazil to lauding media and great acclaim.”

In keeping with its mandate to raise the bar in the production, marketing and promotion of reggae, the Coalition will establish an education fund to support studies by a deserving student at the Jamaica School of Music or the reggae studies program at the University of the West Indies. Further details of the education fund will be announced at Reggae Culture Salute 2006. A portion of the proceeds from the event will support the education fund.

Tickets are on sale at www.ticketmaster.com and local outlets throughout New York City. For further information call 718-421-6927 or email [email protected]