"STAGES" NOW AVAILABLE ON ITUNES AIM, GOAL, PLAN NOW ON CDBABY
Reggae Veterans Join Love Hope Strength Foundation in Global Fight against Cancer
Denver, CO 3/24/2009 10:05 PM GMT (TransWorldNews)
The Love Hope Strength Foundation (LHS), an international cancer-fighting charity that provides support to cancer centers around the world and inspiration to those affected, recently joined forces with Mossberg Music to unleash “Love I Can Feel: A Groove For The Cure”. “Love I Can Feel-A Groove For The Cure” is a one riddim reggae compilation spearheaded by Contra Coup that is set to drop today, March 24th via iTunes and other digital music retailers, including Mossberg Music’s own online store. A percentage of the profits will directly benefit LHS.
“Love I Can Feel-A Groove for The Cure” is the brainchild of 8-piece roots-based collective Contra Coup, who not only conceived and produced the entire project but also contributed the kickoff cut, their spin on the Lovers Rock classic by Jamaican legend John Holt. Other artists who were moved to rally behind the cause include cancer survivor Clint Fearon, The Chris Murray Combo (Canada), Zema (CA), McPullish (TX), Mr. T-Bone (Italy),original Skatalites member Doreen Shaffer, dancehall don General Smiley, Kimaany (Cameroon) and Dub Fanatic, helmed by the multi-talented Johnny Horn.
The Love Hope Strength Foundation’s global fight against cancer could not have been represented by a more international cast.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to be working with such an inspirational mix of Reggae talent who are as dedicated to fighting cancer as we are”, said Shannon Foley, Executvie Director of LHS. “Love I Can Feel- A Groove for the Cure”, showcases what music means to the movement, and how it can be used as a universal weapon to fight cancer globally.”
RuffCompany Records was started by Mr Errol ( General Smiley ) Bennett and his brotherMr Herman ( Ranking Bird ) Bennett in 1996 with the aim to give the youth in and around the Kingston thirteen community who are intrested in the art of music paticularly DJs and singers a chance to break into the industry.
We innitially acruired rythm tracks from some of the best like Sly and Robbie, we had some nice projects going on but then we had a fire and lost most of the original tapes.
In two thousand we moved back to California with the intention to continue working towards rebuilding what we had lost, so we registered the company in California and decided to put together a digital recording studio.
Now that we've accomplished that dream and been recording for some indi label out of England and the U.S we are now laying tracks and recording General Smiley, The Kingston 13 Band,Boom Tony , Mello Banton and many more Artist in southern California.
Since 2005 General Smiley has been touring northern California, north east U.S, north west U.S and the south east U.S with some young artists such as Part One Tribe Band from Cocoa Beach Florida, Soul Medic from Navada City California along with Jah Works of Big Island Hawaii,Sgt Remo and Mr Kali from New Mexico along side Ken Serious from Clarendon JA touring with many top DJs.
Presently General Smiley is touring the United States with the Kingston 13 Band as "The Original General Smiley and The Kingston 13 Band", so far they have done most of southern and northern California, and a few major Festivals some of witch they did with Papa Michigan.
The Kingston 13 Band is the new force to be reckoned with in southern California, this unit of veteran Artist/Musicians who have seen the world from the highest stages first came together in February of 2008 to play at General Smiley's Birthday Bash in Los Angeles and has since gelled into an outstanding dynamic aggregate.
The Band is comprised of lead Guitarist
"Lester Fari"
who has being touring with Boom Shaka, Don Carlos and many more top artists all over the globe formed his own band ( Lester Fari and Kings Music ) and is now performing his own material from his newly released CD.
On Drums is the man many people know from bands like ( Soul and Culture band ) and ( Indugo band ) called him the dance hall Dada,
"Jah Circle"
a versatile musician and studio engineer has been touring with and making tracks for most of the top dancehall artists out of Jamaica including Sugar Minott and Rita Marley to name a couple, he has recently migrated to California and is busy in the studios making tracks and recording his new CD entitled ( BABYLON COLLECT )
On keys is the newest and youngest member of the Band Matt ( Matlock )a young musician with a lot of experience with Part One Tribe Band and learning very fast.
On Bass is another young musician making his debut on the big stage Tefar.
" I've always wanted to be a part of a foundation
so when I was approached by miss Roseanne Ware about
Sol Adventurers Foundation I thought mmmmmm this is me
I'm all about empowering the youth, so I told her this is what
I will do, I will build a track and voice it and then we can try to get other Artists on the track.
So we did just that, we made the track and recorded a song call " Do It For The Youth " so now we are trying to find artist to donate a song to my adopted foundation
Influences
PLEASE LET US STAND WITH MISS ROSEANNE WARE IN THIS DIVINE VENTURE PLEASE CLICK ON THE LOGO BELOW HERE YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE MP3 OF THE SONG " DO IT FOR THE YOUTH "
FOR MORE INFO ON BOOKING O.G.S and THE KINGSTON 13 BAND PLEASE GET OUR PRESS KIT HERE
WE HAVE DOCUMENTED A LOT OF OUR ACTIVITIES BOTH ON THE ROAD AND IN THE STUDIO AND POST THEM ON OUR CHANEL ON YOUTUBE PLEASE CLICK ON THE LOGO
General Smiley began his career in the late 70s at Studio One under the direction of the late Sir Coxsone Dodd. The Duo Papa Michigan and General Smiley recorded their first number 1 hit Rub A Dub Style , followed by the equally popular Nice Up The Dance.
The duo then recorded at Tuff Gong Studio the classic One Love Jamdown, produced by Jahmet Enwright, which was released as a double a-side with Freddie McGregors Jogging. Michigan And Smiley gave a dynamic performance at the annual Reggae Sunsplash Festival in 1981, which led to a debut appearance in the UK where they topped the bill at the Black Echoes Reggae Awards Show.
In 1982 Henry Junjo Lawes productions dominated the dancehall introducing current DJs to a wider audience without attenuating the sound. Michigan And Smiley recorded a grim warning to prospective philanderers, Diseases, and the song inspired Yellowman to record an identical version alongside his sparring partner, Fathead.
Throughout the 80s Michigan And Smiley sustained attention in the album charts with the releases Step By Step, Sugar Daddy, Back In The Biz and Reality Must Rule Again. The duo enjoyed a revival in the 90s when some of their earlier hits resurfaced through VP in the USA. Presently Michigan and Smiley still get Together for performances though they both are involve in their respective Projects within the realms of the art.
General Smiley has since completed his first solo CD entitled "Aim Goal Plan" recorded at the Kingston Studio, produced by Jillian Wess for upful One Records outside of New Jersey .
contact
Jillian Wess
upfulproductions@gmail.com
www.myspace.com/upfulproductions
..
"Stages" Is the General's second CD but the first produced inside the RuffCompany Studio is now avaible for download on Itunes
Give thanks to all the people featured on this CD
especially my son Brandon.
give thanks to 613 Photography
RuffCompany Records
ruffcompany@yahoo.com
myspace.com/ruffcompanyrecords
