VP RECORDS PRESENTS REGGAE NIGHT WITH
FREDDIE MCGREGOR, CHRISTOPHER MARTIN, NEW KINGSTON & IKAYA
PART OF THE 33RD ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CONCERT SERIES
The Free Concert Begins at 7:30PM on Mon. Aug 10 At Wingate Park in Brooklyn, NY
On Mon. Aug 10th, 2015, in Brooklyn, NY, VP Records presents Reggae Night with performances by Freddie McGregor, Christopher Martin, New Kingston and Ikaya. The free event, hosted by the Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, is part of the ongoing Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series held every summer at Wingate Field, opposite Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn. Entrances are on Brooklyn Avenue between Winthrop Street and Rutland Road. Gates open approximately at 6pm and the show starts at 7:30pm.
FREDDIE MCGREGOR
With his deep reggae catalogue spanning almost five decades, Freddie McGregor is one of the few first-generation reggae icons here today who has blazed a path through virtually every stage of the genre – from ska, rock steady to early and modern day reggae. Freddie has been on the scene from the earliest days of ska when he joined the popular duo the Clarendonians at seven-years-old. He then went on to record for the legendary Studio One during the glory days of rock steady and early reggae, singing for the Generation Gap and Soul Syndicate band. As a solo artist, he is responsible for roots and culture classics like “Rastaman Camp” and “Mark of the Beast.” In addition to Jamaican music, Freddie always had a knack for American soul music and some of his early iconic covers included Main Ingredient’s “Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely” and Tyrone Davis’s “Can I Change My Mind.” He has worked with legendary Jamaican reggae producers like Niney the Observer, Coxsone Dodd, and Linval Thompson and at the end of the 1980s decided to establish his own recording studio and record label, Big Ship.
CHRISTOPHER MARTIN
Born on Valentine’s Day in 1987 in Jamaica’s rural community of St.Catherine – Christopher Martin made his mark in 2005 when he won his native country’s top televised talent show competition Digicel Rising Stars. With his tremendous vocal prowess, soaring melodies and proven lyrical ability, he has consistently churned out hit after hit – including “Cheaters Prayer,” Change Me Plans,” Take My Wings,” “Giving It,” “I’ll Be Your Driver,” “Paper Loving,” “Chill Spot” and “Look on My Face,” “Steppin Razor” and “I’m A Big Deal”- on local and international reggae charts. He is gearing up for his debut album with VP Records and promoting his recently released EP Steppin Razor.
NEW KINGSTON
Known for fusing their reggae sound with modern pop, jazz and r&b music, New Kingston is a young vocalist/instrumentalist group consisting of three brothers Tahir a.k.a. SLIM (keyboards/vocals), Courtney (drums/vocals) and Stephen a.k.a SUKI (guitar/vocals). They have worked with artists like of Tribal Seeds, The Wailing Souls, Sugar Minott, Collie Buddz, Mr.Vegas, Morgan Heritage, Gyptian and Shabba Ranks and have been touring non-stop in support of their third album Kingston City.
IKAYA
Born February 5, 1986 in Kingston, Jamaica, Ikaya started singing and writing songs from an early age. The island’s rising singer is making waves in reggae with hits like “Ugly Girl” (featured on Strictly The Best Vol. 50) and “My Man” (featured on Reggae Gold 2015). Ikaya is currently working in the studio on her debut album with VP Records.