Kings Music International is now booking the Godfather of Dancehall, reggae legendSugar Minott, along with his daughter Fire Pashon and the Reggae Angels. This package will do Music in the Park Thursday June 21st to thousands of fans and The Sierra Nevada World Music Festival Friday June 22nd. Sugar’s most recent release Nov. 2006 was Tribute to Studio One on the Tads Records label. He continues to produce hit records such as his 2002 INDIE winner for Best Reggae Album- Rare Gems. Sugar Minott ruled the dancehall for a decade from the mid 70’s to the mid 80’. Sugar’s crew has offered more lyrical variety and talent than virtually any other sound around. 

In 2005 Sugar did the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in California, and then toured from San Diego through LA, the four major Hawaiian Islands, and up the west coast to Canada and then down through Montana to Colorado. His shows brought out a lot of roots people and music lovers who were awed by Sugar’s talent. Now, two years later, Minott again brings a style he created in the early days of Jamaica’s dancehalls in the 70’s and 80’s, when he defined sound system performance and elevated singing and deejaying to new heights with his Black Roots record label and Youthman Promotion sound crew. On this run, Fire Pashon, Sugar’s daughter, does some songs of her own, and sings harmony for her father. Sugar helped mentor and give experience to many aspiring artists that were later to become trendsetters in their own right, such as Tenor Saw, Nitty Gritty, Junior Reid, Frankie Paul, Michael Palmer, Half Pint and Little John. Sugar is the people’s choice in Jamaica, where they consistently flock his shows. Sugar entertains a solid base of loyal fans, whether it be in the clubs of London, the dancehalls of Kingston or the nightclubs of New York City.

Along with Fire Pashon, opening for Sugar Minott are the messengers – The Reggae Angels. Within the last four years, the Reggae Angels completed a 50-city tour with Andrew Tosh (son of Reggae icon Peter Tosh), five extended tours with Junior Reid, two tours with the Abyssinians, and a 9-week North America and Canada tour co-billing with Everton Blender. On the festival circuit, they recently did Reggae on the River twice, The Victoria Ska fest, The Northwest World Reggaefest, The Slow Music Fest, The Monterey Reggaefest, Dreadstock, and the Rocktober Festivals. After working the festival circuit, they did their fourth trip to Hawaii within a year, where they co-billed with and backed Frankie Paul. It’s been a hard, busy schedule. They have toured consistently since the mid-90’s, bringing their spiritually uplifting message to the people. They are well loved and appreciated. Lyrically their music guides toward good character, affirming qualities such as generosity, balance and gratitude. The Reggae Angels have one of the most extensive discographies of any American Reggae band. Their 10th release – Make Blessings – on the Explorer Recordings Label- is available worldwide. Their new 11th release Prophetic Missionis available on this tour  BIOGRAPHY: LINCOLN“SUGAR” MINOTT

Sugar Minott is one of the best-loved performers from Jamaica.  He has helped many young artists come up in the music business and produced numerous memorable recordings.  Sugar Minott is one of reggae dancehall’s foundation artists.

 From the onset of his career in 1969 in the African Brothers (with Tony Tuff and Derrick Howard), Sugar Minott has released hit tunes like “No Cup No Broke” in 1974 and his first major hit, “Vanity” in ‘78.  Sugar’s 1979 debut album – Live Loving, has often been called the first Dancehall album.

Hit after hit followed with songs like “Run Come”, “Not For Sale”, “African Girl”, “Lover’s Rock”, “Africa”, “In A Dis Ya Time”, and “Make It With You”.  A cover of Michael Jackson’s “Good Thing Going” was his first number one hit in England.  He returned to Dancehall and Roots Reggae with the album Herbsman Hustling.  Sugar’s Rub A Dub Sound Style album is considered by many to be the first Ragga recording.

Sugar Minott is without peer in the Reggae music industry.  He was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica.  After finishing school he began selling records and formed his own sound system, Black Roots, from which the internationally acclaimed Youth Promotion evolved.

Among the artists Sugar is known for producing and mentoring are Yami Bolo, Tristan Palmer, Little John, Captain Sinbad, Tenor Saw, Nitty Gritty, Junior Reid, Colourman, Daddy Freddy and Garnett Silk – who recorded his first song for the Black Roots label.

With over sixty albums and hundreds of singles to his credit, Sugar has over thirty years of hit-making experience and has performed all over the world.  He has worked for all of Jamaica’s top producers such as George Phang, Sly & Robbie, Philip “Fatis” Burrell, Channel One, Prince Jammy and Donovan Germain, to name a few.  His biggest tunes include “Herbsman Hustling”, “No Vacancy”, “Jamming In The Street”, “Rub A Dub Sound”, “Buy Off The Bar”, “Rydim”, “Devil’s Pickney” and “Hard Time Pressure”.  Sugar Minott is the truly original Reggae Dancehall superstar who continues to shine and inspire the people of the world.. 

BIOGRAPHY: FIRE PASHON

Jamaica’s rich musical history has often been characterized by large musically oriented families. There is now a female progeny of a prominent performer making her mark on the scene as an artist – Fire Pashon, the daughter of Reggae music legend Lincoln “Sugar” Minott. Fire Pashon has a new CD out on The Black Roots label called Flames that is currently getting a lot of play..

Born Tamar Minott in Kingston, Pashon’s exposure to the music world began at a tender age in the stimulating atmosphere of her father’s fame and profile in their community.  Her dad operated a small studio from their home and also owned a sound system called Youthman Promotion, which would play in their yard every Thursday night.  Growing up in this environment gave Pashon the opportunity to witness artists like Junior Reid, Yami Bolo, Tenor Saw, Tony Rebel and Garnett Silk in performance firsthand on and off the stage.  Early exposure to the music business and the entertainment world helped to nurture her talent. At age eight, she recorded her first single, “Reggae the Beat” with her brothers and younger sister.  She has continued to record and   recently voiced a song on the ‘Chrome’ riddim entitled “Real Fire Woman”.  The video release for this song is getting rave reviews and is doing well.

No stranger to the stage, Pashon has performed on major shows in Jamaica including Sting, Reggae Sumfest, Sashi, CME, Reloaded, East Fest and Spectrum.  This high-spirited Aries attributes her success to the influence of her father, as well as Bob Marley, Michael Jackson, Wayne Wonder, Sister Carol and Lauren Hill. Pashon is blazing the path for a new generation of loyal fans by expressing uplifting themes of heartfelt unity in her music. Pashon is coming on strong as a female artist in this time.

BIOGRAPHY: REGGAE ANGELS

  Currently based in the San Francisco, Calif. East Bay, the Reggae Angels have been touring the last decade in the U.S., Hawaii, Canada and South America. They are well loved and respected. They’ve taken the message to many different places. Top international artists have had the Reggae Angels back them, including Don Carlos, Horace Andy, Michael Rose, Big Youth, The Abyssinians, Edi Fitzroy, Bernard Collins, Carlton & The Shoes, Junior Murvin, Clinton Fearon, Everton Blender, Sugar Minott, Andrew Tosh, Shinehead, Junior Reid and Frankie Paul. The band has consistently met the needs of world-class performers, touring with them to the far reaches. 

The Reggae Angels vocalists are Fenton Wardle and Cynthia Roots.  Lead vocalist and bandleader Fenton Wardle started playing for the public at the age of twelve, playing his accordion in the streets in San Francisco. In 1982 Fenton fronted his first band Ily in New Hampshire, where he attended Dartmouth and graduated in 1984. In 1986 he formed a band on the West Coast called The Chosen Few. In 1989 the band re-grouped as The Elevations. Fenton sang lead and harmony vocals and played keyboards. With the Elevations, he produced two albums- Jah Guide and Good Judgment. In 1992 Fenton left the Elevations and started the Reggae Angels.  

For his Reggae Angels unit, Fenton has produced Guard the Honor, Jealousy, Truth and Conviction, Spirit, Signs and Wonders, Which Road Will You Choose, Live Positive, Come To Jah, Save Our Souls, A Heart With Love, Balance and Make Blessings. Augustus Pablo is featured playing melodica and synthesizer on the earlier works, adding his melodious far eastern sound. The early mixing was done in Jamaica with some of the top engineers including Sylvan Morris, David Rowe, Soljie, Dr. Marshall and Hugh Palmer. Scientist mixed the next four CDs in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.  Balance, Make Blessings and Prophetic Mission were mixed at Lion and Fox recording studios, in Alexandria, Virginia by Jim Fox. The Reggae Angels have one of the most prolific catalogues of any American based reggae band, including 11 CDs and numerous dubs.

Fans of reggae know The Reggae Angels deliver high-energy performances with a happy, uplifting sound and sincere message. Their music speaks of God consciousness. Their lyrics contain spiritual insights and teachings — the message. All different ages and kinds of people love and appreciate the Reggae Angels, especially the spiritually inclined. Their focus is on clarifying the message of the prophets — advice and prayers to bring us nearer to God. The Reggae Angels have their own recording studio in Oakland, California called The Workshop, where they help produce other artists as well as their own works. See the website www.ReggaeAngels.com for music samples and their upcoming show schedule.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Peter Wardle
King’s Music International
Phone: (510) 326-8445 or online at reggaeangl@aol.com
http://www.kingsmusicinternational.com