Reggae's Gone Country- new CD (various artistes)

New album was released in Jamaica and in foreign about 10 days ago featuring reggae artistes doing covers of some well loved/old time country music. One of the best tracks is a duet between Romain Virgo and Larry Gatlin of "California". Romain Virgo is of the best upcoming young JA artistes - he won Digital's Rising Stars in 2007 at age 17 (Rising Stars is JA's equivalent to American Idol). Here are a few tracks if you want to have a listen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1IoIcAId78
Romain Virgo & Larry Gatlin - California

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys0GHAW9g2Y
Beres Hammond – He Stopped Loving Her Today

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROHarlDHNYY
Luciano – He’ll Have to Go
Ritchie Stephens – Wolverton Mountain
Tarrus Riley – The Chair

Other tracks include: Etana (Crazy), Freddy McGregor (King of the Road), Gramps Morgan (Feels So Right), Duane Stephenson (Suspicions), Sanchez (El Paso), Tessanne Chin (Don’t it make My Brown Eyes Blue).

Hopefully most of these artistes will be performing in Negril this winter.

One awesome cd, would love to get that one. :)

They have it on Amazon.com Being from West Virginia, one would think I am a major country fan....however, I'm not. With that said, I do like the reggae versions. Really well done..especially like Luciano's and Etana's songs. I was amazed many years ago..how much Jamaican's love country music. My favorites are the old school country, like Patsy Cline. I recall bringing down several copies of Patsy Cline...one of our JA friends was thrilled and wanted more. He was so upset when I told him that there were no latest releases due to her early death. I have no doubt that this will catch on quick pon da rock.

How many places play this kind of music and is there country dancing as well at these places?

Again....It would be soo cool to have some good country bands play Negril. A lot of Jamaican people LOVE country music, and a lot of country people love Jamaica. Roots reggae is, if you think about it, country music from another country. A Kenny Rogers concert in Jamaica used to play on Air Jamaica, and many country stars, Willy Nelson included, are now including reggae into their sound. Toots and the Maytalls' cover of John Denver's "Country Roads" is a well known example of a fusion of reggae and country going back to the seventies. Johnny Cash Retired to Jamaica and made several references to it in his music.
So Negril Escape, and Alfreds, and anywhere else...This could be a winner for you.

Thank you so much for posting this. I'm not a fan of country music either but love the music set to a Reggae beat. I will definitely order it!

dem have always loved Country in Jamaica because they consider it "Roots" American music.........
the place beside Jenny's played a ton of Country and Peaches and Cliffs also played alot of Country and Blues..........
all near Blue Cave Castle and Home Sweet Home.........

in undergrad school I had to learn how to appreciate Blue Grass Music as that was all that was played by the Bands.........so mi have always kind of liked anything Blues..........and especially anything country with a reggae twist.....

Cool Runnings, Marko

BCBud, WOW! I love country and I love reggae and I didn't know that this existed either. I will definitely order it too!

Thanks!

Check out an old album by the Bellamy Brothers called Reggae Cowboys, very cool summer vibes.

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Originally Posted by Nick

A lot of Jamaican people LOVE country music, and a lot of country people love Jamaica. Roots reggae is, if you think about it, country music from another country.

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This is so true, Nick.

Although I don't consider myself country by any means, the pedal steel guitar was the first stringed instrument I learned to play back in the early/mid seventies. I had the Wailers "Burnin" album and listened to Reggae but was mostly into bands like Pure Prairie League, Flying Burrito Brothers, Poco, New Riders of the Purple Sage, etc....They called it country rock back then, but back then, the only way to learn the pedal steel guitar was to listen to country music, so, I studied in Nashville under the late Jeff Newman (probably the greatest steel guitar teacher).

Now, I know I'm generalizing and surely alot has changed in 35 years, however, I came back to Ohio thinking that [collectively] those were the most racist people I had ever met. Eventually, I ended up trading my steel guitar for a "72 Strat and learned to play guitar and Reggae music.

And, through various Reggae bands, led me to becoming one of the founding members of the Ark Band (which, although I live in Florida now, I think is still around and alot of people on this forum are familiar with).

Back then, I used to joke to myself, "Man, if these (Jamaicans) knew how much these (rednecks) hated them, would they still listen to their music?"

But, if it wasn't for the negative experience I had (whether real or perceived), I probably wouldn't be married to a Jamaican, own land in Negril, 70 plus trips to Jamaica, and have virtually every Jamaican fruit tree growing in my yard (in other words, my entire life centered around Jamaica). Hell, maybe I'd be playing at the Grand Ole Opry or something.

So, I guess the only thing I can say is, YEE HAW!!!!!

We just got back from a vacation in Colorado and found the CD in the pile of mail. We've been listening to it over and over again and absolutely LOVE it!!! Those oldies sound fantastic! I'm glad I ordered it.

OMG - That Beres cover of Jones's classic is AWESOME!
That steel guitar crying over the vocals - wow.
I love all kinds of music (except standard jazz) and this fusion of country and reggae just feels so natural to me.
(I went thru a LONG phase of country music.)
Patsy and George would be happy to hear these versions.
Thanks for the tip, Mon - I'm gonna get this for a big road trip that I have coming up.

K3

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Originally Posted by scottie

I had the Wailers "Burnin" album and listened to Reggae but was mostly into bands like Pure Prairie League, Flying Burrito Brothers, Poco, New Riders of the Purple Sage, etc....They called it country rock back then, but back then, the only way to learn the pedal steel guitar was to listen to country music,

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Scottie - those are some of the vinyl albums from my collection back in the day. Love 'Christine' from the Burrito Bros. Saw a tribute to Gram, featuring Chris Hillman a few years back. THAT was a treat. Sweet mandolin player.

Saw the Ark Band play at The Yacht Club in '98 (I think?) Maybe you were there? Nice tight band. Big Up!

Thanks for the music . . .
K3

Kahuna,

I helped to book the Ark Band back in Columbus Ohio (our mutual hometown back then) and assisted in their coming to play in Negril at the Negril Yacht Club in 2000 for what was the second annual Boardie Bash called the "Meeting of the Board" back then... here are some blasts from the past posted just as they were back then on the Negril.com Negril Today page including their gig at Roots Bamboo that same year!

http://www.realnegril.com/beingees/nn040200.htm

http://www.realnegril.com/beingees/nn050200.htm

http://www.realnegril.com/beingees/nn240100.htm

http://www.realnegril.com/beingees/nn070200.htm

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kahuna3

Saw the Ark Band play at The Yacht Club in '98 (I think?) Maybe you were there? K3

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We formed that band somewhere around '87, I think. I left the band very early because I was wanting to move to Miami. In fact, I think the last time I saw Terry and Eustace was a few years later when I was the house DJ at the Reggae Directory Club on South Beach. They were playing at a club across the street and by chance, happened to come into the club.

I have tremendous respect for those guys...if anyone happens to see them, please bless them up for me...