PARAMARIBO, Suriname -- A documentary depicting Suriname's role in WWII, premiered here during the time the annual "The Back Lot International Film Festival", came in for high praise from the movie go-ers and critics. Film maker Dave Edhard succeeded in crafting a historical picture with the crashes of two US aircraft. read more...

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BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM) -- Patrons, local and visiting artistes and workers are being praised for the success of the 13th Annual St Kitts Music Festival. Minister of State for Tourism, Senator Richard “Ricky” Skerritt said Sunday that international artistes were in high praise of the progress and achievements. read more...

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HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters) -- To record his next hit El Micha, one of the rising stars of Cuba's reggaeton music blending reggae, Latin and electronic rhythms, just has to knock on his neighbor's door. A microphone plugged into an old computer in an apartment in Reparto Electrico serves as the studio. read more...

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In a musical quilt laced with the textures of creative dance, funk, R & B, and pop, Michael Jackson, dead at 50, is enshrined as the world’s greatest superstar, by many, many miles. His musical legacy of 13 number one hits will continue to be marked by gratitude for decades to come. His songs are engraved in tributes of thankfulness. read more...

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CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) -- Many of the finest performers in the classical music world are flocking to Venezuela to get a taste of the country's lauded youth music education system that teaches kids from gritty streets to play in orchestras. Over the next few weeks, a string of musicians will visit Caracas. read more...

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CASTRIES, St Lucia -- On May 31, 3009, the Iyanola Council for the Advancement of Rastafari Inc. (ICAR Inc.) organized St Lucia's First Conscious Reggae Fun Festival. The event was hosted at the Vigie Multi-Purpose Sports Complex under the theme "Come Live the Experience, You got to be there." read more...

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BRADES, Montserrat (OCM) -- Montserrat is partnering with the Export Development Unit (EDU) of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) secretariat to design and develop a comprehensive action plan for audio-visual industries in the OECS member states. A team of two consultants... read more...

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BASSETERRE, St Kitts -- Popular entertainer and multiple Emmy Award winning actor Keith David will be serving as special guest host for the 13th Annual St Kitts Music Festival, which will take place on the island from June 25-27, 2009. Keith David's career spans three decades and more than 75 films. read more...

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DIEGO MARTIN, Trinidad: Eddy Grant, Guyanese superstar and music legend is set to thrill cricket fans in South Africa and around the globe later this month when he headlines entertainment for the two semi-final and final matches of the Indian Premier League (DFL IPL) Cricket Tournament.
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BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM) -- Popular and much loved musical group, KC and the Sunshine Band, together with singer songwriter, Stephen Marley and Jamaican Legend, Mavado join a fantastic line up of popular Grammy Award winning artists including Regina Belle and T-Pain for the 13th annual music festival. read more...

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CASTRIES, St Lucia -- At the recently held Jazz in the South hosted by Labowi Promotions in St Lucia, the Rhea Drakes Trio had the crowd singing and dancing along to their jazzy rhythms. The trio is lead by classical and jazz pianist, Rhea Drakes who is born of St Lucian and Barbadian parentage. read more...

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CASTRIES, St Lucia -- Mervyn Francois was regarded as one of the Caribbean’s best on the electric bass and the more difficult double bass guitar. The tall, slim extraordinary musician, who earned the sobriquet ‘Cisco’ during his years performing in Miami would have been celebrating his 53rd birthday on May 6. read more...

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CHARLESTOWN, Nevis -- Premier of Nevis Joseph Parry informed a packed audience that, Nevis had celebrated many firsts in the Caribbean. He made the statement at the Nevis International Feature Film Festival (NIF3) which was launched at Coconut Grove Restaurant on Sunday, May 3, 2009. read more...

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CASTRIES, St Lucia -- Red Unlimited was started as Red International Carnival Band in 2005 by a group of young energetic musicians who are driven to provide carnival enthusiasts with the ultimate carnival experience. The band promises to continue to offer an unparalleled revelers’ experience. read more...

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LONDON, England (AFP) -- Grammy-winning British singer Amy Winehouse was taken to hospital during her prolonged holiday in St Lucia after fainting, her spokesman said. The 25-year-old "Back to Black" songstress was kept in for a night for observation after tests showed she was dehydrated. read more...

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NEW YORK, USA (Reuters) -- One of baseball's greatest showmen returns to the spotlight in a documentary film "The Lost Son of Havana" that infuses the drama of sport with the emotions surrounding Cuba's revolution, isolation and gradual re-opening to the United States. read more...

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KINGSTON, Jamaica (Reuters) -- Reggae legend Bob Marley's "One Love" topped a list of Jamaica's 100 best songs over 50 years that was unveiled on Tuesday by a panel of musicians and cultural officials associated with the University of the West Indies. Marley had nine selections in the top 100. read more...

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BASSETERRE, St Kitts -- If you are looking for a uniquely Caribbean experience, the annual St Kitts Music Festival is a one-of-a-kind event that has grown naturally out of the island’s deep-rooted musical heritage, and genuine hospitality traditions. This year the festival is taking place from June 25-27. read more...

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PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Trinidadians, as well as other Caribbean nationals, were disappointed that Dr Slinger Francisco – the Mighty Sparrow -- was not invited to participate in the cultural presentation on Friday evening at the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad. read more...

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LONDON, England (AFP) -- A Venezuelan orchestra founded to help youngsters escape poverty won rave reviews in Britain on Wednesday after arriving in London. The Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra wowed audiences and critics with its first shows at London's Festival Hall on Tuesday. read more...

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CHARLESTOWN, Nevis -- The Community Cohesion Foundation in partnership with The Nevis Cultural Development Foundation and Community Development (Nevis) will host the Nevis International First Feature Film Festival (NIF3). The festival will take place May 3-8, 2009 at various locations around Nevis. read more...

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RODNEY BAY VILLAGE, St Lucia -- St Lucian hotelier Feolla Chastanet is hopeful the 2009 Jazz festival, slated from May 2 to 10, will be a big draw for the traveling public with British Grammy-winning stars Amy Winehouse and Estelle recently added to a stellar line-up of musical greats, including Patti LaBelle. read more...

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DETROIT, USA (Reuters) -- Children's music is dominating Ziggy Marley's melody making these days -- both for himself and on behalf of his father, Bob Marley. He'll follow "Family Time" with the June release of a set of Bob Marley song's, revised and remastered with a children's audience in mind. read more...

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BASSETERRE, St Kitts: Top entertainer and dancehall music rising star Mavado will be among the premier acts at the 13th Annual St Kitts Music Festival, which will take place on the island from June 25-27, 2009. Born David Brooks in Kingston, Jamaica, he was inspired to sing in church by his grandmother. read more...

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CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: The leading summer festival in Nevis, Culturama, will feel the effects of the global recession and organisers disclosed, ahead of the 35th anniversary event, that patrons could expect a shortened version due to a likely reduction in monetary sponsorship, according to the committee chairman. read more...

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GEORGETOWN, Guyana: International hip-hop star Faheem Najm, called t-Pain, was slapped with a lawsuit on Monday in Broward Circuit Court, Florida, for cancelling a major concert in Guyana last month because of alleged kidnap and death threats. T-Pain failed to appear after being paid $75,000 in advance. read more...

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BASSETERRE, St Kitts: Popular entertainer and multiple Emmy Award winning actor Keith David will be serving as special guest host for the 13th Annual St Kitts Music Festival, which will take place on the island from June 25-27, 2009. David is a distinguished film, television and voice-over actor. read more...

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SCARBOROUGH, Tobago: Travelers in search of a unique fusion of music and culture and one of the best beach scenes in the world are invited to attend Tobago Jazz Experience 2009. The four-day music festival will run from Wednesday, April 22 through Sunday, April 26, 2009. read more...

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BASSETERRE, St Kitts: Popular entertainer and Grammy Award Winning artist Regina Belle will be among the premier acts at the 13th Annual St Kitts Music Festival, which will take place on the island from June 25-27, 2009. She is best known for "A Whole New World" from Disney's movie Aladdin. read more...

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MIAMI, USA: South Florida’s premier public media outlet, WPBT2, in an effort to engage all communities with an emphasis on the Haitian and larger Caribbean community, is launching Connections, an original public affairs program aimed at uniting the different perspectives present in the South Florida community. read more...

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KRALENDIJK, Bonaire: This year, a very popular Bonaire tradition will return to the island, when the Fifth Annual Bonaire Heineken Jazz Festival takes place on June 4 through 7, 2009. A variety of music styles will be heard around the island when internationally famous musicians mingle with the island’s local bands. read more...

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MIAMI, USA (JIS): The 16th annual Caribbean Music Festival honouring the life and philosophy of the late legendary reggae star, Robert Nesta Marley, will be held on February 28, in downtown Miami, Florida, in the United States. This year's event will also feature a tribute to the late Cedella Marley Booker. read more...

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GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The Copyright Advocacy Group for Music and Arts (CAGMA) has launched a project aimed at edifying Caribbean recording artistes, publishers, writers, performers and music industry stake holders about the administrative aspects of copyright, its advancement and challenges. read more...

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BRADES, Montserrat: On January 23, 2009, the Montserrat Cultural Centre unveiled a “Wall of Fame” with bronze hand casts of Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John and Mark Knopfler. The casts signify the ‘helping hand’ they provided by performing in the Music for Montserrat concert at the Royal Albert Hall. read more...

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WASHINGTON, USA (JIS): Rare photographs providing a unique glimpse into the life of the late reggae king, Bob Marley, are now on display at the Govinda Gallery, in Washington, DC. The exhibition is entitled, Soul Rebel: An Intimate Portrait of Bob Marley. It comprises some 40 never-before-seen photos. read more...

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KINGSTON, Jamaica (OPM): Prime Minister Bruce Golding has called for a set of recommendations on the action and the direction to be taken to clean up the music that is broadcast or projected in public spaces. Education Minister Andrew Holness said that for too long we have allowed our culture to just evolve. read more...

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) announced on Monday that Mega TV Puerto Rico, its Network and affiliates will be the official medium to broadcast the "Miss Mundo Puerto Rico 2009" beauty pageant and all related programming of the event. read more...

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NEW YORK, USA (Reuters): Bob Marley's family has teamed up with a private equity group to handle licensing of the late Jamaican reggae legend's likeness, trademarks and themes on retail products ranging from apparel to video games. Hilco Consumer Capital will license products with the Bob Marley family of brands. read more...

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NEW YORK, USA (Reuters): More than 55 years after she began performing in the calypso tents of Trinidad, pioneering singer Calypso Rose has released a new album aimed at taking her music to a more diversified international audience. "Calypso Rose" revamps several traditional calypso. read more...

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KINGSTON, Jamaica: Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival is estimated to have stimulated economic activity within the tourism capital to the tune of J$1 billion (US $10.2 million), Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett announced. The Sunday Gleaner reported that the figure was in line with the estimate made last year. read more...

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