The Board of Directors of the Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music., (CPR) is pleased to announce that the milestone 10th Annual Reggae Culture Salute will be a true reflection of the organization’s motto “working together to make things work” with fraternal organizations joining with CPR in co-presenting the event. Union of Jamaica Alumni Association (UJAA), under the stewardship of Karlene Largie, Jamaicans Abroad Helping Jamaicans At home (JAHJAH Foundation), under the guidance of founder, Dr. Trevor Dixon as well as Diaspora African Rastafari Congress (DARC Foundation) chaired by Ras Jah B will endorse CPR by co-presenting the event on Saturday, November 1st, 2014 at Nazareth Regional High School Performance Center in a show of solidarity.
Reggae Culture Salute marks the anniversary of the coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie I and Empress Mennen of Ethiopia. The 10th annual staging features the queen of reggae, Marcia Griffiths who will receive CPR’s Pinnacle Award for Excellence as she celebrates five decades of performing. The family friendly evening of roots reggae, honoring the unique relationship between reggae, Rasta, Emperor Selassie and Jamaica, will also feature a performance by Everton Blender, a Roots Reggae Showcase performed by members of CPR, nyabinghi drumming, dancing, tributes and the award presentation.
The annual benefit for the Brooklyn based 501 (C) (3) organization, co-founded by Sharon Gordon and Carlyle McKetty is the longest running event of its kind in New York. “The CPR motto, ‘working together to make things work’ aptly describes what the Union has been doing through their members for some time now,” says UJAA’s president. “Our family of educational associations continues by extension to set a standard to educate our community and to do so with the collaboration of those organizations like Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music (CPR) who seek also to educate.” In recognizing the collaboration imperative, Karlene Largie says, “We join them, not only because of the collective resources, but because it is the right thing to do. We are excited about co-presenting the 10th Annual Reggae Culture Salute.”
For Dr. Trevor Dixon, founder of JAH JAH Foundation, Reggae Culture Salute “is a campaign to increase the understanding and development of reggae music.” He points out that, “Since the JAHJAH Foundation mission is to provide upliftment for Jamaica, and since reggae is a part of Jamaica’s culture, the JAHJAH Foundation supports this unique initiative.” He is especially mindful that “Proceeds from the event will benefit CPR’s workshops and online activities and overall, assist them with their undertakings and bringing the message of reggae to the world.”
The 10th Annual Reggae Culture Salute is sponsored by Dennis Shipping, VP Records and Transcontinental Express Shippers. Proceeds from the event will benefit programs conducted by CPR as well as co-presenters, UJAA, JAHJAH Foundation and DARC Foundation.