Monthly Archives: June 2013

Reggae Radio Stations

(another blog post by Island Head musician Billy Messinetti)

If you are trying to find your favorite reggae music on the radio it is sometimes hard to find.  There are not a lot a stations these days playing roots reggae, dub or ska.  So, we decided to list some stations for you to check out.

Please let us know about your favorite reggae radio station if it is not listed here.

If you want to hear various discussions about reggae listen to some of these terrestrial radio stations (they also are found online).  Cableman Dan has a great show on Centenary College Radio WNTI.org called “Reggae & World Rhythms”.  His show will broaden your horizons into some world music.  Calvin Balfour is a fun DJ on Vassar College Radio WVKR.org with a show called “Uplifting Vibes”.  Listening to his show will give you an uplifting vibe!  Chuck Foster has a fantastic show called “Reggae Central” on Pacifica Radio KPFK.org.  Chuck will take you through the history of reggae and ska and dedicate shows specifically to certain artists or styles.  I’ve heard him do a show just on “Dub”  and tell you about King Tubby and the creation of the “Dub” style of reggae.  Besides his gig at SiriusXM, Dermot Hussey does great work on his show “Riffin” which is heard on terrestrial radio in Jamaica only but can be heard streaming online, as well.  Each show is dedicated to a short list of reggae artists.  Mr. Hussey has one of those “golden radio voices”.  If you want a fusion of reggae with jamming tune into “Endless Boundaries” with “Jaybird” Varga on Z889.org.

The most popular station that plays reggae 24/7/365 is SiriusXM “The Joint” channel 42.  But, you have to have a subscription.  The cool thing is that you can get a very inexpensive internet only subscription for only a few bucks.  Program Director Pat McKay along with DJs Dermot Hussey and Jabba play Bob Marley & the Wailers, Toots & The Maytals, Gregory Isaacs, Jimmy Cliff, Burning Spear, Vybz Kartel, Capleton, Dennis Brown, Sizzla, Beres Hammond, Jah Cure as well as newer reggae artists Etana, Gentleman, Koshens and Romain Virgo.

Some of the internet only radio stations give independent artists a “spin” such as Lonely Oak, Ram Jam and Sound Fusion Radio.

If you know of any reggae radio stations that are not listed here please fill out the contact form and we will update the list.

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Reggae Radio Links:

SiriusXM The Joint – DJs Pat McKay, Jabba, Dermot Hussey

Newstalk 93 FM in Jamaica – “Riffin” with Dermot Hussey

Radio Z889 Burlington County College – Request Line: 609-894-8900

Endless Boundaries Jam Radio with “Jaybird” Varga (88.9 FM in S. Jersey & Philadelphia)  Request Line: 609-894-8900

Sounds of the Caribbean with Keith Rowe & Selecta Jerry (88.9 FM in S. Jersey & Philadelphia) Request Line: 609-894-8900

Reggae & World Rhythms  with Cableman Dan – Centenary College (stream on www.wnti.org – 91.9 FM in Central New Jersey) Request Line: 908-852-4545

In Southern California on Pacifica Radio – KPFK heard on 90.7 FM in LA, 98.7 FM Santa Barbara, 93.7 FM N. San Diego, 99.5 FM Ridgecrest –  Reggae Central with Chuck Foster – Request Line: (818) 985-5735

WMNF 88.5 FM Community Radio Tampa, FL (stream at www.wmnf.org) Air Studio: (813) 239-9663 or dj@wmnf.org

Radio CUH Chaminade University – Honolulu. HI   http://radiocuh.org – Request Line: (808) 440-4218

WVKR 91.3 FM  Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY – Requests: 845.437.7178

Mana’o Radio 91.5FM, Maui Hawaii   Requests: 808-244-2032

Ramjam Radio in London, England

Sound Fusion Radio in London, England

Lonely Oak Radio – internet radio

iHeart Radio – create your own radio station like a “Bob Marley” station or island or reggae type station and Discovery will bring you Island Head.

If you are a radio DJ/personality and would like to obtain a copy of the “Punky Reggae Party” album, please send us an email.

info(@)islandhead.com

See Island Head’s EPK (electronic press kit) here: http://artistecard.com/islandhead

#iheartradio #manaradio #reggae #reggaeradio #reggaemusic #siriusxm #thejoint #thejointradio #dermothussey #patmckay #islandhead #islandheadreggae #timcappello #istillbelieve

 

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“So Much Trouble In The World” by Island Head (musicians)

If you have been hearing the instrumental version of “So Much Trouble In The World” on SiriusXM channel 42 “The Joint” (reggae channel) then, you have found the right place.

Thanks to Program Director Pat McKay, “So Much Trouble In The World”, written by the legend Bob Marley, has been airing in regular rotation.  Be sure to come to the live Island Head show at New York City’s The Cutting Room.  The musicians will be coming into town on July 24, 2013.  Summer’s here and the time is right to reggae!!

Stay tuned for more exciting news coming that day – to be announced!

Click here for tickets to The Cutting Room show.  Get your tickets early because it will SELL OUT!

 

Tags: reggae music, Island Head musicians, Island Head reggae, Bob Marley songs music

Bob Marley “Reggae King of the World” – “Exodus” Revisited

(BLOG by Island Head’s Billy Messinetti)

I am in the middle of reading a book by Malika Lee Whitney and Dermot Hussey called “Bob Marley – Reggae King of the World”.  In reading about certain periods of time in the history of Bob’s recording career the book touches on the album “Exodus” released in June of 1977.  The album is his ninth album release in his career.  Bob left Jamaica after the attempt on his life and went into self-exile in London where the album was recorded.

When you look at the list of songs on this album it is amazing to see so many huge reggae classics on one album.  Most songwriters dream of writing ONE song of the magnitude of any of these songs.  Only a brilliant songwriter could have written a collection of music like “Exodus”.

Look at this list of songs in the collection – “Exodus”, “Jamming”, “One Love/People Get Ready”, “Waiting In Vain”, and “Three Little Birds”.  These are songs not only reggae fans know.  Everybody on the planet (okay I’m exaggerating a little – LOL!) knows the words to “One Love” and “Three Little Birds”.

I recommend real reggae/Marley fans go back and listen the music from this period in his life.  If you listen to the whole album from top to bottom you will get the full spectrum of the record and Bob’s view.  Even though the first half speaks of Marley’s outlook of “Babylon”, he then goes on to speak of love, happiness and fun.

I hope you go back and enjoy “Exodus”.

One love.

Click here to listen to the album “Punky Reggae Party” by Island Head (a.k.a. Island Head Musicians – Islandhead Musicians

Click here to view and ‘Like” the Island Head Facebook page

#iheartradio #manaradio #reggae #reggaeradio #reggaemusic #siriusxm #thejoint #thejointradio #dermothussey #patmckay #islandhead #islandheadreggae #timcappello #istillbelieve

Famous Musicians Come Together For Live Reggae Show

The members of the band Island Head will come together for a rare live performance later on this summer.  This is no small task since the members are all active musicians and will be flying in from all around the world.

Currently, trumpet player/arranger Don Harris is on tour with Nile Rodgers and Chic in Europe.  Chic is famous for hits such as “Good Times”, “Le Freak” and “I Want Your Love”.   The band has been getting back in the public eye due to Nile’s latest endeavor with the group Daft Punk.  Nile plays guitar on their new album “Random Access Memories” and produced the hit single “Get Lucky”.

Don said; “We finished a set in Ireland and as we walked off the stage you could hear the audience singing the chorus from “Get Lucky”.  Even though the single is by Daft Punk the fans know it is Nile’s signature sound added to the song that makes it appealing to them.”

Don will be flying in from Europe to do the Island Head show.

Keyboard player David Frank has been busy promoting his new album by his own group The System entitled “System Overload”.  Together with singer Mic Murphy, The System have had hits such as “You Are In My System” and “Don’t Disturb This Groove”.  David will be flying in from his home in Los Angeles, Ca.

Mikey ‘Mao’ Chung is a legendary reggae guitarist who has played with many of reggae’s superstars including Peter Tosh of Bob Marley and The Wailers.  Mikey was mentioned more than once in the auto-biography “Life” by Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards.  It seems Keith has a home in Jamaica and according to Keith, playing with Mikey was one of the highlights during the time he lived in Jamaica.

Mikey Chung will be flying in from Jamaica for the Island Head show.

Bassist Neil Jason is one of the busiest bass players in New York City.  He toured recently with the reunion of The Brecker Brothers Band featuring music from the album “Heavy Metal BeBop”.  You will also see Neil on The David Letterman Show in the CBS Orchestra featuring Paul Shaffer subbing for bassist Will Lee.  Neil has also been in Europe recently recording and promoting the new album by jazz singer Brigitte Zarie.

Neil will be taking a break from his touring and playing schedule to do the Island Head show.

The rest of the band includes Tim Cappello on sax, Andy Bassford on guitar and Billy Messinetti on drums.  The three of them live in and around New York City.  Although they won’t be flying in from anywhere, they also have extremely busy schedules recording, writing, producing and playing live gigs.

All of the members of Island Head are coming together because this is a project they all love and want to be a part of.  The band plays a very unique and interesting approach to classic songs from Bob Marley and The Wailers.  Mikey Chung said; “I know when we all get together to play live it will be magical!”

This is a show you will not want to miss.  The details of the show are below.

Date: Wednesday July 24, 2013

Where: The Cutting Room NYC

Location: 44 East 32nd Street – New York, NY (between Park & Madison)

Time: 10:00 PM

Tickets: click the link below

Link To Show at The Cutting Room