Bayou Bar and Grill Presents

MIDTOWN REGGAE EXPLOSION JAN 21st!
(No Cover Charge)

Yes Massive! Live Reggae this Thursday...

Blu Restaurant & Bar Presents Live Reggae

Chinese Connection Dub Embassy
3895 Hacks Cross Road

8pm, NO COVER CHARGE

First Off, Friday 25th is IRIE NIGHTS @ Brinsons, but Unno Alreadi Know Dat Rite??Zeen...
Saturday 26th Reggae Nite Out at Ice Bar, 4202 Hacks Cross. Big Tingz...2 Rooms of Entertainment. Tell A Friend and Bring A Friend.... 

  

This Friday - Halloween Party - Rasta Style Here In Memphis TN. Best Costumes Both Male and Female Receive Cash Price. So Gwan Come Out In Dem Flashy Costumes....$5 Cover....18 and Up!!!

GLEN WASHINGTON - A TRIUMPH OF ENDURANCE...

(by C. Danny Breakenridge)

Catch Glen Washington LIVE in Memphis
October 14, 2011
Brinsons (341 Madison)

Advance tickets are $15 and available now at TicketRiver.com

While Lovers Rock was once Glen Washington’s most recorded genre, it is not the signature sound of this conscious and positive singer/songwriter. Many popular Reggae artists are known exclusively for either love songs or socially conscious songs. Glen Washington, however, is one of the few that differ; he is blessed with the ability to compose sugar-sweet love songs, socially conscious commentary, and spiritual, gospel- like material with ease. Listen to tracks like “Kindness For Weakness”, “One Of These Days” and “Bulla Land”, respectively, to explore the scope of his lyrical interpretation.

The musical career of Glenroy Washington - singer, songwriter, and drummer - personifies the cliché, “The race is not for the swift, but for those who can endure”. The triumph of Glen Washington’s endurance has been 25 years in the making, but he is finally reaping the rewards of his labors.

Like many successful artists, Washington evolved from humble beginnings. Born in the parish of Clarendon, Jamaica, Washington began his musical career in the early seventies as the lead singer for the group “Names And Faces”. He went on to become lead singer in a band called “35 Incorporated” and learned to play the drums under the guidance of their drummer at the time, Joseph Hill, who later became the soul of “Culture”. When Hill left the band, Washington filled his slot and became a singing drummer. He is currently one of the most highly demanded artists in reggae music, but this success has come after many years of recording and patiently waiting in the wings.

Witness Glen Washington LIVE - Friday October 14 at Brinsons, 341 Madison Avenue, Memphis Tennessee
Click Here to Order $15 Advance Tickets

There are positive lessons of encouragement and motivation to be learned from Washington’s experiences. His musical career is reminiscent of Boris Gardener: singer, bass player and bandleader, who after 25 years in the music industry recorded the golden “I Wanna Wake Up With You”. In the same vein, thirty years after recording the classic “Black Magic Woman”, Santana went on to sweep the 2000 Grammy Awards for the gigantic hit single “Maria Maria”. Similarly, Washington made his first hit record “Rockers Not Crackers” in 1978 for the Joe Gibbs Record label but did not grace the charts again until the release of his next hit, “Kindness For Weakness” in 1998.
Most music industry insiders would say that after 20 years in the business, it’s unlikely that an artist would release his biggest hit, but it has been proven again and again how speculative this business of popular music can be. Nearly 20 years into her career, Madonna released the album “Music” in 2000, which is regarded as one of her catchiest.

Over the years, Washington has recorded sporadically as a solo singer and extensively as a studio drummer and has laid tracks for various artists. Simultaneously, Washington was a full-time drummer (and sometime singer) in several different bands, such as The Avengers, The Titans, and Happiness Unlimited. With Happiness Unlimited he migrated to the USA to work with Stevie Wonder. Other bands he has played with include Calabash and backing artists such as Leroy Sibbles, Shinehead, Junior Reid, Gregory Isaacs, Sister Carol, and the Meditations.

After a short hiatus from performing, in 1997 Washington once again pursued his solo singing career by doing some recording sessions for Studio One’s famed producer, Clement Dodd. It was deja vu all over again with the release of Washington’s awesome debut album “Brother to Brother”. Studio One Sound was about to launch another major artist’s career. However, it was a year later while recording for producers Lloyd Campbell and Jason Sterling that Washington hit with the classic album “Next To You”. VP Records marketed it and featured the hit song “Kindness for Weakness”. Every track on this album can stand alone as hit single material.

Glen Washington’s smooth, raspy, bass voice is often likened to that of Beres Hammond. Washington says, “Beres is one of my favorite entertainers, so I regard it as a compliment to be compared to him.” With the release of over fifty singles and ten solo albums and two compilations, one with Gregory Isaacs and Dennis Brown called “Glen Washington and Friends” and the other with George Nooks, all in four years, Washington has firmly established himself not only as a singer, but also as a gifted songwriter who pens his own songs. Fans and critics alike agree there is not one bad song in his catalog.

Other albums released by Washington include “Can’t You See” produced by Jah Life Records; “Think About It” for Philip Smart; “Number One Girl” produced by Lloyd Campbell and Jason Sterling, “Solitary Red Rose” for Ruff Stuff; “Can’t Keep A Good Man Down” for Don One; “Wondering Stranger” for Coxone Dodd, “Reggae Max” for Jet Star; “Free Up The Vibes” for Stingray; and “Your Love” once again with Lloyd Campbell and Jason Sterling.

Washington is among the very few authentic reggae artists who have gained recognition while residing and recording (for the most part) outside of Jamaica. Not withstanding, the fans and press in Jamaica accept him warmly. Basil Walters, staff reporter for the Jamaica Observer reported, “Glen Washington’s performance at Rebel Salute was found particular interesting. He just stopped short of stealing the show in the early Sunday morning”. “Glen Washington defies the odds” said The Daily Gleaner reporter, Balford Henry. According to STARBIZ Entertainment News, “Glen Washington was cool and calm, but the audience was going wild.” at the Reggae Adventure Show. The XNEWS reported under the headline, “Consciousness Ruled Reggae Adventure: Glen Washington was a huge hit. He treated the thousands of patrons to a classic performance.”

Additionally he has received overwhelming response in the Caribbean, as well as performing in London, Germany, and Holland to enthused fans, working with his band, State Of Emergency, comprised of guitarist Dwaine Hoilett, keyboardist Jason Palmer, drummer Desmond Gaynor, on bass Zemroy Lewis, and the harmony duet of Lisa Cleary and Jeffery Forest.

“Reggae Music has made great advances, but still has not reached its peak” said Glen recently “so there is still room for improvement. Reggae is music from the heart that carries an earth-force and if you don’t deal with it from the heart, it will leave you.” He continued, “This music is to console, comfort and edify the people. Jah have to get praise all the time, even in a love song.”

Always extremely hard working and blessed with talent, Washington has proven to be both skilled and proficient at his craft, composing songs that cover the spectrum of romantic love, social and political issues, and religious themes; some are even auto- biographical.

Over the past four years, his peers and industry-wide activists have recognized him with awards such as The 1998 ReggaeSoca Music Awards for New Reggae Artist and Reggae Male Vocalist; The 1998 Canadian Music Award of Merit; The 1999 Tamika Reggae Awards Best Comeback Of The Year, and in 2000, Male Vocalist of the Year; the 2000 New York FM Awards; the 2001 Bruck Out Lover Girl Production Award and the 2002 Canadian International Reggae Award.

The word is out. The Endurance Man is coming on musically strong, armed with his powerful artillery of songs. This is what Washington has to say of his journey, “As a drummer backing other artists, I have toured the world, playing in countries like Japan, North, South and Central America, all over Europe and all the Caribbean Islands. Now I am repeating those trips as the featured artist, and it’s a great feeling to see thousands of fans coming out for my performances.”

REGGAE FRIDAYS START SEPTEMBER 23rd

BRINSONS, 341 MADISON AVENUE

MEMPHIS REGGAE SOUND SYSTEM ALONGSIDE 1YAWDI PRODUCTIONS.
JAMICAN FOOD AVAILABLE FOR SALE ON SITE. SPREAD THE WORD.
PREPARE FOR A BOOMBLAST MEMPHISSSS!!!!!

1Yawdi Productions and MemphisReggae Sound Squad

Happy "IRIE" Hour from 6-8 with Drink Specials
And Reggae Mix from 1Yawdi Himself

Authentic Jamaican cuisine all night.

Wednesdays at Rumba Room, 303 S Main St Downtown
Roots, reggae, dancehall, soca, calypso

Every Wednesday - Rumba Room
$5 ($3 before 9) 21+ Full Bar $2.50 Red Stripe

This week featuring Selectors Cush and Esso Tee all night.
Next week: Live music from Senga w/Selectors Cush and Esso Tee