Tarrus Riley, Chris Martin, I-Octane, Sanchez to rock lovers for Valentine in NY

Tarrus Riley

Chris Martin

I-Octane

KINGSTON, Jamaica — On February 14, romance swirls globally. It is, after all, Valentine’s Day.

In Queens, New York Irie Jam Radio celebrates the occasion with ‘Ladies Ball — Love Satisfaction’, a pre-Valentine’s Day show on February 8 featuring a potent cast of lovers rock artistes.

The headliners represent two generations of a genre that first took off in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s.

Sanchez, Tarrus Riley, Christopher Martin, I-Octane and KraniumIt are confirmed for the highly-anticipated Ladies Ball — Love Satisfaction, which takes place at the Amazura Concert Hall.

Bobby Clarke, who operates Irie Jam Radio, says the softer side of reggae has a loyal following in the Big Apple, which makes events like ‘Ladies Ball’ a hit with a particular demographic.

“Lover’s rock is exceptionally huge in the tri-state area, especially in Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens. In this geographic market the adult working class is the majority, the ladies still outnumber the men seven to one and we all know the romance of that genre of music is and always will be the ladies choice,” Clarke explained.

Though dancehall music has a strong base among first and second-generation Americans of Jamaican parentage, Clarke says older Jamaicans and West Indians cling to lover’s rock.

“In New York the Beres (Hammond) and/or Sanchez fans far outweigh the (Vybz) Kartel and/or Mavado crowd and as the dancehall massive gets older they instantly convert to what they grew on, which always gives lovers rock the edge,” he said.

Sanchez burst onto the scene in 1988 with his massive cover of Jermaine Jackson’s Loneliness. He maintained a strong chart presence well into the 1990s thanks to ballads like End of The World and Soon as I Get Home.

Riley and Martin have kept the lovers rock flame burning in Jamaica with a flurry of easy-listening songs, which include the former’s She’s Royal and Cheater’s Prayer by Martin.

Lover’s rock exploded in the UK during the 1980s. It was the alternative to militant roots-reggae that was the sound of choice for rebellious British West Indians.

While it produced home grown stars like Maxi Priest and Peter Hunningale, lover’s rock’s biggest exponents included Dennis Brown and Gregory Isaacs whose careers got a lift in the UK with songs like Money In My Pocket and Night Nurse, respectively.

–Cecelia Campbell-Livingston

source: jamaica observer