Five-time Grammy Award winner, female rap icon and international superstar, Missy ‘Misdemeanour’ Elliott, whose recent album, ‘The Cookbook,’ went gold and won several top awards, is set to join a top notch cast of artists for Jamaica’s hottest reggae festival this summer – the 2006 Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest.

Producers of the 2006 Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest, billed to be the best event to date, today announced the latest addition to a line-up that already has fans buzzing. According to executive producer of Summerfest Productions, Johnny Gourzong, Elliott will perform at ‘The Summit,’ the final night of the show on July 22 and will be part of the all star-cast that brings the curtains down on what is slated to be another spectacular year.

“We are continuing what has become a trademark of this great event, that is, to present international stars along with their Jamaican counter parts,” commented Gourzong. “Missy is a great artist, a positive role model for young women, and we know she will help to bring out the crowds. It’s going to be a great night.”

Jomo Cato, Summerfest’s marketing director, is also ecstatic about the latest addition to Sumfest, adding, “Miss Elliot is an international superstar. This woman has dominated the Hip Hop game for the better part of a decade. The last time she appeared in Jamaica she brought the house down with her energy and ability to connect with the audience. Missy is a huge boost to our Saturday night event, The Summit, and fits the theme perfectly, ‘Jamaica’s Greatest, The World’s Best.”

Elliott is known for hits like ‘Get Ur Freak On,’ ‘Work It,’ ‘One Minute Man,’ ‘Make It Hot,’ ‘Trippin,’ ‘Hot Boyz,’ ‘The Rain,’ Sock It To Me,’ ‘Em Wit Da Hee,’ and recently, ‘Lose Control.’ Her musical career goes back to 1971, when she and her group ‘Sista,’ were signed by Jodeci member and producer, Devante Swing. But she soon branched off as a solo songwriter and vocalist and by 1996 had gotten her self a deal with Elecktra Records. The Virginia-born singer’s debut album, ‘Supa Fly,’ hit the street soon after and helped by ‘The Rain’ as one of the singles and collaborations with Busta Rhymes, Aaliyah and Da Brat, the album went platinum and made Missy a household name. And she’s never looked back since, following by with ‘DaRealWorld,’ in 1999 and in 2001 with ‘Miss E.’ Missy’s super stardom continued in 2002 with ‘Under Construction,’ and ‘This Is Not A Test,’ in 2003.
Her 2005 album, ‘The Cookbook,’ has been called a work of art by several critics and features collaborations with a top notch list of artists including Grand Puba and Mary J. Blige, Pharell of the Neptunes, Ciara, Fat Man Scoop, Slick Rick and American Idol starlet Fantasia.

Elliott’s also won several honors, apart from the Grammy’s, including just last month, the Best Female Hip Hop Artist title at the 2006 BET Awards and is set to soon star in a movie about her life.

She joins a cast that already includes several multiple Grammy winners, including rapper 50-Cent, Damian ‘Jr. Gong’ Marley and dancehall’s Beenie Man and is sure to thrill fans attending ‘The Summit’ on July 22 with old and new hits.

Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest gets officially underway in exactly nine days from today – on Sunday, July 16th – with the all new free Vibe Island Beach Party, featuring Jamaica’s hottest selectors and the “Reggae on the Runway’ fashion segment.

‘Mad Monday’s Mobay’ follows on Monday July 17th. Staged in partnership with the Hip Strip community, this event will feature an arts and craft street fair, cuisine sampling from hip strip restaurants and music from Jamaica’s biggest sound systems.

Sumfest continues on Wednesday, July 19, with the staging of the “Top Ranking” show that will highlight some of the best years of dancehall music, with dancehall’s Yellow Man set to receive a lifetime achievement awards along with and reggae’s John Holt. Holt will perform at Ignition on July 21. ‘Stormfront – the explosive dancehall night,’ featuring the likes of Beenie Man and Bounti Killa, follows on Thursday night, July 20 while the ‘Ignition’ concert with 50 Cent among others, is set for Friday July 21.

Sumfest 2006 will climax with ‘The Summit’ on July 22, with Missy, Jr. Gong and Rihanna among those helping to bring the curtains down on what is destined to be another incredible show.

Key sponsors this year include Red Stripe, the Jamaica Tourist Board, Air Jamaica, Digicel and Ocean Spray as well as media partners, the Jamaica Observer, CVM TV and Fame FM. For travel packages and more information, log on to www.reggaesumfest.com. Fans are now able to get tickets across the island and at the airport.

The 2006 line-up is follows:
Sunday July 16th – Vibes Island – Tropical Beach – featuring Kurt Riley, Coppershot, DJ Liquid, Pure Playazz and Pieces. Admission is US$9 (J$600).

Monday July 17th – Mad Monday Mobay – Old Hospital Ground – featuring Firelinks of Hot Monday, Swatch from Passa Passa, Pieces and Pure Playazz.

Wednesday July 19th – Top Ranking – Pier 1 – with John Holt, Gregory Isaacs, Yellowman, Admiral Bailey, General Trees, Pinchers, Frankie Paul, Charlie Chaplin, Josey Wales, Peter Metro, Courtney Melody, Flourgon and Pam Hall with Lloyd Parkes & The We The People Band. – – US$16-19 (J$1,000 Presold / $1,200 at Gate)

Thursday July 20th – Stormfront – The Explosive Dancehall Night – Main Venue – featuring: Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Capleton, Elephant Man, Cham, Chuck Fenda, Macka Diamond, Wayne Marshall, Busy Signal, Leftside & Esco, Voice Mail, Spice, Gyptian, Fantan Mojah, Natural Black, Little Hero, Black-er, Conrad, Crystal & Suga Roy, Danielle, Aidonia, Hit List, X Factor, Merrtial Family and Fire Lion with Backing Band: Hard Drive – US$27 – 30 (J$1,800 Presold / $2,000 at Gate)

Friday July 21st – Ignition – Main Venue – With 50 Cent & G-Unit, featuring Lloyd Banks & Tony A-yo, Sizzla, Lady SawMase, Mr. Vegas, Richie Spice, Noddy Virtue, Andy Vernon, Aisha and Jovi Rockwell – US$43- 45 (J$2,800Presold / $3,000 at Gate)

Saturday July 22nd – The Summit – Main Venue – featuring Missy Elliott, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Beres Hammond, Rihanna, Buju Banton, Gentleman, Tarrus Riley, Alaine and Cherine Anderson – US$43- 45 (J$2,800/presold/J$3,000 at Gate)

ABOUT SUMMERFEST PRODUCTIONS
Summerfest Productions Limited is a privately held company owned by a group of shareholders including Johnny Gourzong, its executive director; Geoffrey Dwyer, immediate past chairman and Robert Russell, current chair. The group has been staging Jamaica’s biggest music event Reggae Sumfest for the past 14 years.

Through its events, Summerfest productions provide a significant contribution to Jamaica’s music industry, the tourism business in western Jamaica and by extension, the economy of Jamaica.