Tag Archives: reggae

Island Head’s Mikey ‘Mao’ Chung Honored

The Jamaica Music Museum presented its 9th annual Grounation series themed “Blackhead Chineyman: The Chinese Jamaicans’ Contribution to Jamaican Popular Music”.  (according to the Jamaica Observer news)  Legendary Jamaican reggae musicians were honored including Island Head guitarist Mikey ‘Mao’ Chung.

Mikey has worked locally with artists like Dennis Brown, Marcia Griffiths, Bob Marley, John Holt, The Inner Circle, Alton Ellis, Ernie Smith, Ken Lazarus, Pluto, Delroy Wilson, Gregory Issacs, Home T, Pablo Moses, The Wailing Souls, The Abbyssinians, Lorna Bennet, Bunny Wailer, The Heptones, Black Uhuru, Ken Booth, Peter Tosh, I Jahman Levi, Boris Gardiner, Israel Vibration, The Gaylads, Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Ken Parker, Jacob Miller, Garnet Silk, Shaggy, Romain Virgo, Alaine, Morgan Heritage, Tessanne Chin (to name a few).

Mikey was a member of Word, Sound and Power recording and touring with the late Peter Tosh. He was also a member of Island Record’s Compass Point All Stars with Sly & Robbie and The Inner Circle.

Internationally, Mikey has worked with artists as diverse as Bette Midler, Mick Jagger, Manu Dibango, Marianne Faithful, James Brown, Joe Cocker, The Art Ensemble of Chicago, Big Mountain, Grace Jones, Maxi Priest, Michael Urbaniak, Bernard Lavillier, Bob Sinclair, Khaled, Chris Hinze, Valrie LaGrange, Tiken Jah Fakoly and Serge Gainsbourg among others.

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Andy Bassford on Sting & Shaggy 44/876

Sting & Andy Bassford from Island Head reggae musicians
Andy Bassford (from Island Head), Sting & Joshua Thomas (the other bass player Haha!)

Congratulations to Island Head’s guitarist Andy Bassford for his contributions to the album, Sting & Shaggy “44/876”. The album won the Grammy for “Reggae Album of the Year” in 2019. Andy not only played guitar on 4 songs, he also co-wrote the songs he played on.

For years Andy has worked on almost every Shaggy recording project. Shaggy’s producer, who goes by the moniker Sting International, was brought on to produce the album. He brought in his regular rhythm section players that he uses on his reggae sessions, including Andy. Sting was excited to work with authentic reggae musicians of such high caliber. And, the rest, as they say, is history. History for sure with the winning of the Grammy.

P.S. 44/876 refers to the country codes to phone the countries of Jamaica and England.

Andy Bassford from Island Head reggae musicians holding the grammy for the recording of the reggae album of the year Sting & Shaggy 44/876

Andy Bassford holding the grammy

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#sting #stinginternational #reggae #reggaemusic #islandhead #grammy #reggaegrammy #recordoftheyear #shaggy #44/876

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

Reggae Island in the UK

It seems our song, Reggae Island is getting lots of attention in the UK on reggae radio. Spotify and Amazon Music are seeing lots of requests for streaming the song. This instrumental reggae jam, written by Island Head’s drummer Billy Messinetti and trumpet player Don Harris. The song was intended to be heard while enjoying a backyard BBQ with some friends or sitting on a beach with a cocktail. You might enjoy it with your morning coffee. Whatever gets you going. If you are a fan of reggae music, it is a fun song. Enjoy!  Peace & Love!!!

#islandhead #islandheadreggae #bobmarley #thejoint #siriusXM #reggaeradio

#reggae #reggaemusic #spotify #jamaica #caribbeanmusic #caliroots #reggaeartist #reggaeband #radio #reggaeartist

I Shot The Sheriff video (The Making of)

Here is the link to the  video of Island Head’s version of the Bob Marley classic “I Shot The Sheriff”. This reggae classic was originally recorded by Bob Marley and The Wailers. Island Head recorded an instrumental version of the song with a unique arrangement including a guitar solo by Andy Bassford and sax solo by Tim Cappello. Other band members include drummer Billy Messinetti, trumpet player Don Harris, keyboard player David Frank, guitarist Mikey ‘Mao’ Chung and bass player Neil Jason.

The video is basically a photo montage of the recording sessions and the making of the album.

I Shot The Sheriff video

#islandhead #islandheadreggae #bobmarley #thejoint #siriusXM #reggaeradio

#reggae #reggaemusic #spotify #jamaica #caribbeanmusic #caliroots #reggaeartist #reggaeband #radio #reggaeartist

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

Reggae Radio Stations/Reggae DJs

Support for the reggae community, reggae artists and reggae music

Island Head is a reggae band. We have been lucky enough to have many radio stations who support reggae music, play our songs. We have been played on SiriusXM, college radio and streaming radio. As a result, many reggae artists and fans have contacted us to find out about radio stations that play reggae music. Our results are posted below.

PLEASE, if you know any radio stations that support the reggae community, let us know and we will blog about it. If you are a DJ and would like us to help promote your show, let us know about that as well.  info @ islandhead.com

Here is the information we have gathered:

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

Solar FM Reggae Portugal –  DJ Paulo Matos

Aalborg Student Radio in Northern Denmark 92.2 FM DJ Manuca Selectah every Monday from 22.30 to 00.00 GMT

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

#islandhead #islandheadreggae #bobmarley #thejoint #siriusXM #reggaeradio

#reggae #reggaemusic #spotify #jamaica #caribbeanmusic #caliroots #reggaeartist #reggaeband #radio #reggaeartist

Coming To The Falcon St. Patrick’s Day Friday March 17

You can go out and hear some Irish music on St. Patrick’s Day or you can do what they do in the Caribbean, jam with a reggae band!

Island Head will be performing at The Falcon in Marlboro, NY. Make your reservations early for Friday March 17, 2017. The band always packs this fantastic club. But, because it is St. Patrick’s Day we are expecting a sell-out performance. You will want to get there before the 8:00pm downbeat for dinner. The food is quite good!

The Falcon is in Upstate Ulster County. Here is the link to The Falcon website

Come out and see live musicians jamming to classic reggae from Bob Marley, Studio One jams and Island Head’s own original songs. There will be some musical surprises!!

 

Island Head on World Music Chart

Island Head are in great company on the CMJ Top 10 World Music Chart at WVKR 91.3 FM. Last week Island Head’s “Punky Reggae Party” album was at #5 with other well-known reggae artists Beres Hammond at #6 and Toots & The Maytals at #7.  This week Island Head dropped to #8 while Mr. Hammond dropped to #9.  Toots Hibberts is not on the chart this week.  Number 1 this week is “JAMA KO~OUT HERE” by BASSÉKOU KOUYATÉ.  Beres’ album is entitled “One Life, One Love” on VP Records.

Island Head are also known as Island Head Musicians and Islandhead.