Entertainment Crosses Borders

Education minister, late politician, Tessanne Chin, Snoop feature prominently in October

The month of October provided many examples of the way the Jamaican entertainment scene impacts other areas of endeavour and the way the music, in particular, influences other forms of expression.

Tessanne Chin explains her reason for entering United States 'The Voice', pointing out that it serves to expands her opportunities.

Performing-arts practitioners launch The Theatre Arts Company of Hanover to boost the genre's representation in the parish.

Christopher 'Johnny' Daley, using himself as an example, points out the importance of relationships between corporate Jamaica and the creative industries.

'Jonkanoo Jamboree', a production put on by the University Singers, enjoys huge support at the Philip Sherlock Centre For The Creative Arts.

Yasus Afari launches Public Secret but the event held at Red-Bones Blues Café, suffers from poor turnout.

Social Network users bash Television Jamaica for airing 'The Voice' delayed. The station subsequently airs the show live on RETV.

Local video director Karl Durrant lashes out at Jamaica's music-video industry, calling it a "cheap hustle".

Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts hosts its second Rex Nettleford International Arts Conference in 2013. The conference was held over three days.

LIME brings R&B singer Brian McKnight to Jamaica for All Access. The event, held at the National Indoor Sports Centre, features performances from No-Maddz and Romain Virgo. It is a resounding success.

Sting promoters announce that the 30-year-old show will be aired on pay-per-view for the first time. The pay-per-view element is expected to expand Sting's reach exponentially.

A new Gregory Isaacs song was released three years after his death. The song, The Next 45 Minutes, was produced by Ronald Charlie Abrahams.

Penthouse Records celebrates 25 years of success in the music industry. The label was the stable of artistes like Nigga Mikey, Wayne Wonder, Terry Ganzie, Tony Rebel, Garnet Silk, Cutty Ranks, Buju Banton, Beres Hammond and Marcia Griffiths.

Burchell Whiteman described the late Seymour 'Foggy' Mullings, who died on August 8, as a classical musician with a large measure of versatility. Mullings was one of Jamaica's premier politicians, having never recorded music, but his ability as a jazz pianist was something his contemporaries marvelled at.

Guinness, after hosting a successful Sir Arthur Guinness Concert at the National Indoor Sports Centre, hints that it may need to search for a bigger venue.

Rapper-turned-reggae artiste Snoop Lion, changes his name to Snoopzilla. The name change, the second after he stopped using the moniker Snoop Dog, is believed to be in tribute to funk bassist Bootsy 'Bootzilla' Collins. The name change also coincides with the release of Snoop's funk album, 7 Days of Funk.

All museums in Jamaica are open free to the public on Heroes' weekend.

Ghett'A Life, a movie directed by Chris Browne, is named CNN's must-see African films.

Saudi comedian remakes Bob Marley's No, Woman Nuh Cry. The spoof of the classic Marley track is called No, Woman Nuh Drive, and is done in support of protests to allow women from the middle eastern country the right to become motorists.

United States law-enforcement authorities charge entertainer Flippa Moggla for drug trafficking.

Education Minister Ronald Thwaites asks that buses be banned from playing lewd music. Entertainers, many of whom have music played on these buses, come out in support of Thwaites.

Legendary reggae musician Earl 'Chinna' Smith works on the creation of a new genre, Binghistra, a fusion of Nyabingi and music featuring orchestras.

Record producer Lee 'Scratch' Perry receives a Gold Musgrave Medal from the Institute of Jamaica's Musgrave awards. Perry received the award for his contribution to the development of the music industry

curtis.campbell@gleanerjm.com

Contributed

Christopher Martin, 'Sean', and Karian Sang, 'Lisa', in a scene from the recently completed film, 'Destiny'. 

Christopher Martin, Tifa, Spice and Kerrian Sang make their acting debut in a new Jamaican film, Destiny.