Reggae Rhythm and Blues Annual Concert, Groovin In The Park

 

Hey Music Lovers, it’s here, “It’s here”, back by popular demand and thirty thousand people strong. The premier Reggae Festival Concert, Groovin in the Park is here in Queens NYC. Over the past nine years, this Reggae Festival has been the talk of the town. People across these United States and around the World; make their plans around Groovin, leading Reggae Concert in North America.  This year’s concert will be held on June 30, 2019. Groovin in the Park will present its ninth annual presentation of its Reggae Rhythm and Blues Concert.

Featuring performance from Reggae Icon and crowd pleaser with his lover’s rock, Mr. Hugh Beresford Hammond is known to the Reggae Fraternity World as Beres Hammond OJ. When it comes to Beres, he’s back at Groovin by popular demand. This makes his third appearance. The Boss, as he’s often called is always in heavy demand because of his huge catalog of hit songs. Beres sings for the ladies and the ladies come to represent Beres at his concerts by showing up in large numbers.

 

Coming to Groovin in the Park for the very first time is Miguel Orlando Collins, known to the world as Sizzla Kalonji. His name says it all, “Sizzla”, one of the most commercially versatile Reggae Artist out of Jamaica. Kalonji has been blessing up the creative music chart with over 56 solo albums of which 21 albums have made it onto Billboard’s Top Reggae albums. To date, “Word of Truth” Album has soared the highest on the Billboard Chart when it reached the 5^th spot.

Since 1995 Mr. Collins has released over 45 solo albums. As one of the more successful and versatile Reggae Artist, Sizzla has crossed over into various genres of music. In doing so, Kalonji has released over 15 combination style albums. Over the years, Sizzla has worked with some of Jamaica’s greatest & most talented music minds. In surrounding himself with some great minds, Sizzla was able to gain a reasonable amount of success early in his career.

Sizzla Kalonji whose religion is of the Bobo Ashanti Rastafari Movement, in many ways is reflected in his music. Singjay and Djay in his music, Sizzla talks about social and economic consciousness. Whether it’s about the “Black Woman and Child” a title of one of his songs, Ghetto Youth disenfranchise or the bigger topic with Black Nations Oppression, Mr. Sizzla Kalonji has not shied away from the tough topics.

Over his career, Sizzla continues to take on the challenges of life and have achieved some out-of-the-park knockouts. Groovin in the Park loyalist, fans and lovers of Reggae Music will be lining up for the June 30, 2019 show.  There is no question that Miguel Orlando Collins, AKA Sizzla Kalonji is ready to give his all musically. Groovin fans get ready to be captivated by the one and only Sizzla.

Did someone say, “Third World” are they talking about the Multi-Grammy Nominee Reggae group out of Jamaica? Well, the name of the Reggae group is “Third World”; no denying that but the hits after hits after hit songs is anything other than First World. Two of the original members Stephen “Cat” Coore and Richard Daily have managed to guide the path of the group yet not forgetting their impressive pass.

Bringing their extraordinary career and talented musician to Groovin in the Park, the fans will be in for a real extravagance and upbeat performance. Amongst their many hits, two of their title tracks will tell you to “Try Jah Love” and become a “Mr. Reggae Ambassador”. Third World has managed to pick up a few “Lifetime Achievement Award” for longevity and sustainability.

In the lineup for his second appearance at Groovin in the Park are R&B Multi-Grammy Winner Michael Bolton. Bolton returns to Groovin with his super high profile successful music career. Over that span, he has managed to sell over 75 million records and two number one singles on the Billboard charts. This includes eight top ten albums. Michael Bolton has a cover version of some great hits such as Otis Redding, “Sitting On” the Dock of the Bay, Ray Charles “Georgia on my Mind” and a song recorded by Percy Sledge “When a Man Loves a Woman”. These already household hit songs once again became mega hits for Bolton and further propelled his career. His stellar career and melodic rustic voice will once again come to life at Groovin 2019.

Guess who’s coming to Groovin, none other than BBC Bad Boy DJ David Rodigan. Rodigan was introduced to Reggae Music at an early age. Throughout his school days, Rodigan was DJing locally. He was willing to play music for anyone that would listen, any chance he gets.  Over the years, Rodigan was getting recognition as a Reggae music Historian and Ambassador.

With his popularity as a sound system selector growing, Rodigan was entering soundclashes against other establish sounds out of Jamaica. Some of the sound system he clashed against including established sound-system like Stone Love, Killamanjaro, Bass Odyssey and Downbeat the Ruler, with selector and Reggae Historian Tony Scrooge.

However, David Rodigan most memorable moments as a Reggae Music selector where he can say he left his mark in Jamaica was his soundclashes against Jamaican Radio Personality Barry G. Over the years, people have often wondered out loud about back in the day sound clashes with David Rodigan and Barry G.

Meanwhile, as the Reggae Festival takes shape coming together, the Groovin Executive Team is hard. They are dotting their I’s and crossing their T’s. They have created and documented a system over the past 9 years. Following the architectural framework has enabled the team to successfully executing the biggest and most successful Reggae Festival in North America.

In speaking with one of the Promoters, Clement “Ras Clem” Hume of Groovin Radio, he said, “Framework is fine and you need one, but the cornerstone to our success is the people. Each year we ask the people who they would like to see and we listen to their request.” However, Mr. Hume was quick to point out that “its base on the artist availability. Then he points to one of Reggae biggest Superstar Beres Hammond. He mentions that the last year 2018, “We had an overwhelming demand for the Boss but he was not available.”

Well, people near and far, get ready, Reggae Rhythm and Blues biggest festival in North America is here. Groovin in the Park is set for June 30, 2019. The concert will be held at its central location at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens New York.