Now into its 21st year, this year’s festival will encompass 14 days of performances by 50 artistes drawn from St Lucia, the regional and international circles. It will kick off with opening acts from Trinidadian power couple Fay Ann Lyons & Bunji Garland. The opening will also feature dancehall wonder Busy Signal and Saint Lucian singing sensation Teddyson John.

In addition, this year’s performing acts will include multiple Grammy winner, Lionel Richie, 5 time Grammy winning artiste Ziggy Marley, African trumpeter Hugh Masekela, pop and hip-hop Melanie Fiona and gospel king Kirk Franklin.

St Lucia tourism director Louis Lewis said the longevity of St Lucia Jazz was testament to innovation and determination which was needed to ensure it remained fresh and exciting to maintain public interest.

The upcoming event was also endorsed by tourism minister Lorne Theophilus who was happy to see the return of the popular Opening of Jazz. “There has been clarinet calls for the return of this component of the festival. For many patrons this simple, yet symbolic opening had significant meaning by aligning St Lucia Jazz with the average St Lucian, featuring St Lucia’s best musical talents within a festival that has become renowned for attracting the world’s best,” he said.

The St Lucia Jazz Festival has maintained its ranking as one of the world’s top five festival

Actor/recording artist Jack Black, Fergie and current nominee Ahmir ”?uestlove” Thompson (The Roots), and Ringo Starr will appear as presenters.

The Grammy awards will be hosted by two-time Grammy winner LL Cool J and takes place live on Sunday, Feb. 12 at Staples Center in Los Angeles  

Previously announced performers for the 54th Annual Grammy Awards include Adele (in her first live performance since undergoing vocal cord surgery last fall); Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson; Glen Campbell with The Band Perry and Blake Shelton; Coldplay and Rihanna; Foo Fighters; Bruno Mars; Paul McCartney; Nicki Minaj; Katy Perry; and Taylor Swift. Aldean, The Band Perry, Minaj, and Shelton will perform on the Grammy telecast for the first time.

Previously announced presenters are Dierks Bentley, Drake, Miranda Lambert, and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Detectives arrested Elephant Man late Monday and charged him with grievous assault and rape.

Police say a woman has accused the 36-year-old entertainer of assaulting her at his home in St. Andrew parish. They gave no further details Tuesday.

The entertainer known offstage as Oneal Bryan is expected to appear in court this week.

Defense attorney Linda Wright could not be reached Tuesday.

The dancehall rapper is best known for the track “Willie Bounce” and for his collaboration with recording artists such as Wyclef Jean and Busta Rhymes.

Yes, the syndicated series delivered the music of Earth Wind & Fire, the Jacksons, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder into America’s households, infusing them with soul in weekly doses. Yes, it gave viewers groovy dances and Afro-envy, helping get them hip to a funky world that many had never experienced, or maybe even suspected.

But it was more than that. Before BET would give African-Americans their own channel, and before black music and faces found their way to MTV videos as well as network dramas and comedies, “Soul Train” became a pioneering outlet for a culture whose access to television was strictly limited.

“Most of what we get credit for is people saying, `I learned how to dance from watching “Soul Train” back in the day,”’ Cornelius told Vibe magazine in 2006. “But what I take credit for is that there were no black television commercials to speak of before `Soul Train.’ There were few black faces in those ads before `Soul Train.’

“And what I am most proud of,” he added, “is that we made television history.”

“Soul Train” (which went on for 35 seasons) didn’t make history just by influencing the music charts. It served as a pop-culture preview and barometer of fashion, hairstyles and urban patois.

By some measure, “Soul Train” was the equivalent of Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand,” although belatedly. Arriving on the wave of the Civil Rights Era, it premiered 13 years after “Bandstand” went national, then took a while longer to attract local stations to air it and advertisers to support it.

From there, it became a Saturday afternoon ritual as soul and rap artists (and white artists, too, including Elton John and David Bowie) showed off their latest releases while kids responded on the dance floor.

“When you come up with a good idea, you don’t have to do a whole lot,” Cornelius told The New York Times in 1996 in describing his show’s formula. “The idea does it for you.”

On “Soul Train” (”the hippest trip in America,” the announcer proclaimed, “across the tracks of your mind”) the host, of course, was Cornelius, but to describe him as the black Dick Clark is somewhat misleading. (A bit like calling Pat Boone the white Little Richard, as David Bianculli noted in his “Dictionary of Teleliteracy.”)

For Cornelius, the difference was in the execution, as he told The Associated Press in 1995.

“If I saw `American Bandstand’ and I saw dancing and I knew black kids can dance better; and I saw white artists and I knew black artists make better music; and if I saw a white host and I knew a black host could project a hipper line of speech _ and I DID know all these things,” then it was reasonable to try, he said.

On his show, Cornelius was the epitome of cool, with a baritone rumble that recalled seductive soul maestro Barry White, and an unflappable manner all the way through the hour to his trademark sign-off: “We wish you love, peace, and SOUL.”

He laced his show with pro-social messages directed at his black audience.

On a 1974 program, he interviewed James Brown about the tragedy of violence in black communities (”black-on-black crime looks very bad in the sight of The Man,” Brown said sorrowfully). Then he brought on a 19-year-old Al Sharpton, already a civil rights activist, who presented Brown with an award for his music.

But Cornelius never let preaching get in the way of “Soul Train’s” hipness _ or of his own.

Standing by Mary Wilson of the Supremes on another edition, he sported a slim black suit that flared into bellbottoms, a grey shirt with white polka dots, and a huge afro.

“What do you do for kicks?” he asked Wilson, who mentioned bowling as one hobby, but said how much she wanted to dance with Cornelius on “Soul Train.”

“You can dance with me,” Cornelius replied. “But not on television.”

Riley died Thursday at University Hospital of the West Indies, where he had been a patient since November, when he was shot at his house in an upscale neighborhood in the capital of Kingston, his son Kurt Riley said Friday.

Riley also had been shot in August and was stabbed in September last year. His record store in Kingston’s downtown business district also was burned down several years ago. Police have said they know of no motives and have not arrested anyone.

Kurt Riley told the Jamaica Observer newspaper that the family did not know what motivated the attacks.

“Unfortunately, Daddy didn’t wake up so we could talk to him to find out if there was something he was not telling us,” he was quoted as saying. “He was a straightforward man who was allergic to hypocrisy.”

As a teenager, Riley founded an influential harmony group, The Techniques, which recorded for pioneer producer Arthur “Duke” Reid. Riley also toured with Byron Lee and later gained fame for producing songs such as “Double Barrel” by Dave Barker and Ansell Collins.

He worked with musicians including Gregory Isaacs, Johnny Osbourne, Sister Nancy and Buju Banton.

Musicologist Kingsley Goodison, who knew Riley for more than 40 years, said he was one of the people responsible for introducing reggae to England.

“Winston Riley is an unsung hero,” he said. “He was one of the hardest workers in the business.”

Riley also is credited with creating the stalag rhythm, which later influenced hip-hop and dancehall. Unlike his contemporaries who shunned dancehall music, Riley embraced contemporary reggae and had several big hits during the 1980s.

One of his biggest productions was singer Tenor Saw’s “Ring The Alarm”, which has been sampled by several hip-hop artists.

Riley is survived by several children and grandchildren.

With several albums to his credit, Flame, aka Marcus Gray is slated to perform at the Dry Dock in Bridgetown, Barbados from 10pm – 12am on New Year’s Eve.

A musical maestro in the holy hip hop game, this Grammy nominated artist who delivers a unique blend of soulful funk, rock and hip-hop has released five albums to date  including the  self-titled “Flame, Rewind, Our World Fallen,” and “Our World Redeemed,” which was  nominated for a Grammy Award.

The St. Louis native who has a passion for biblical counseling and applied theology has also been nominated for Dove and Stellar awards throughout his music career.

His latest album “Captured,” released under his own record label, Clear Sight Music, debuted at #1 on Billboard Gospel, #5 on Billboard Christian, and #152 on Billboard Top 200.

In 2004, he released his debut album with Cross Movement Records and now reigns amongst the forefront runners in the Christian Rap industry known to challenge and encourage its audience with an unwavering clear presentation of the Gospel.

The Lifetime Achievement Award honors performers who have made contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording. The award is determined by vote of The Recording Academy’s National Board of Trustees.

Diane Ross has sold more than 100 million albums and has received a number of accolades for her work, including a Golden Globe and Tony Award and has been a Kennedy Center Honors recipient.

Gil Scott-Heron”s music influenced the creation of the rap genre. The first artist signed to Arista Records, his recordings such as “Johannesburg” and “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” were known for their sharp lyrics that commented on social and political issues. His songs also helped tell stories of African-Americans in the United States. Scott-Heron continued to record up until his death in 2011, releasing his most recent album, I’m New Here, in 2010.

The 54th Annual Grammy Awards telecast, which will be held at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012, and broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.

ADAAWE, an all-women’s African music ensemble

Three-hour cultural extravaganza on December 24 performed at the Music Center broadcast live on KCET and KPFK-FM streamed live at www.kcet.org

WHAT:
Bring the whole family to L.A.’s biggest Emmy-nominated holiday show, the 52nd Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration, hosted by Suzanna Guzman and Tia Carrere at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. More than 20 choirs, music ensembles and dance companies from the many neighborhoods and cultures of L.A. celebrate the season during this free three-hour extravaganza. Even the parking under the Music Center is free! See it live from 3-6 pm at the Music Center downtown. Watch it live on KCET from 3-6, and again from 8-11 pm. Hear it live on 90.7 FM KPFK. Stream it live at www.kcet.org. The L.A. Holiday Celebration is a gift to the community from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Click here to view the video trailer.

Highlights of this year’s show include:

• Liturgical Afro-Cuban drumming and song from ADAAWE, an all-women’s African music ensemble
• Traditional dance from the Mexican state of Zacatecas from the Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company
• The Jazz Tap Ensemble with a holiday-inspired tap dance and an ensemble of live jazz musicians
• A modern interpretation of the traditional Korean fan dance from Kwan Gyu Lim Dance Company
• Classic Hanukkah songs – Klezmer style – with The Shpil
• Prime Note Ensemble, an all-male Filipino choir singing in English & Kinaray-a (a Filipino dialect)
• GRAMMY® nominated Lisa Haley and the Zydekats celebrate the holidays Americana/Cajun/Zydeco style
• Current Latin GRAMMY® award nominee La Santa Cecilia with a holiday hybrid of Latin culture, rock and world music
• Mandrill, one of Funk and R&B’s most progressive bands and an important pioneer on the world music scene, will perform a holiday-themed selection
• Holiday hip hop from Versa-Style Dance Company
• Pop culture humorist and author Charles Phoenix returns as HC’s holiday reporter, hosting videos that feature holiday traditions celebrated in L.A. County

Please scroll down for a complete list of performers
and links to downloadable, high-resolution photos.

WHEN:
Saturday, December 24, 2011 from 3 pm to 6 pm

• Doors open at 2:30 pm
• Patrons may come and go throughout the three hour performance
• Reservations for tickets to the show or parking are not necessary; no wristbands required.
• Those who can’t make it to the Music Center can watch the live broadcast from 3 pm-6 pm on KCET, stream it at www.kcet.org, or listen live at 90.7 FM KPFK. The KCET broadcast repeats again from 8 pm-11 pm

WHO:

• 24 performing artists (scroll down for full list) from across L.A. County
• Sponsored by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
• Produced by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission as part of the Free Concerts in Public Sites program
• Live telecast on KCET is produced by CDK Productions

WHERE:
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Music Center
135 N. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles 90012

HOW:
Information hotline: (213) 972-3099 or www.HolidayCelebration.org

ADMISSION:
FREE

PARKING:
FREE in the Music Center parking garage

OTHER:
Since 1964, the Arts Commission has produced a holiday celebration in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Music Center every year on December 24th. The program honors the spirit of many cultures and holiday traditions through music, song and dance.

The L.A. County Holiday Celebration is a gift to the community from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

Artists performing in 52nd Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration:

• ADAAWE, an all-women’s African music ensemble, will perform liturgical Afro-Cuban drumming and song – Click here to download a high resolution photo of ADAAWE.
• Agape Love Ensemble, members of the Agape International Spiritual Center, will perform “Love is the Light” and “O Holy Night” – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Agape Love Ensemble.
• The Bricks*, comprised of young musicians dedicated to making music that delivers positive social messages, will perform classic holiday selections – Click here to download a high resolution photo of The Bricks.
• Charles Dickens Carolers*, a 24-person a cappella choir dressed in festive attire, will present classic Christmas repertoire – Click here to download a high resolution photo of the Charles Dickens Carolers.
• City of Angels Children’s Community Chorus* will premiere on the Holiday Celebration with classic holiday repertoire – Click here to download a high resolution photo of City of Angels Chorus.
• Colburn Children’s Choir and the Young Men’s Chorus will perform a Nigerian holiday folk song and a classic Christmas selection – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Colburn Children’s Choir.
• Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles will return to this year’s program with holiday repertoire – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Gay Men’s Chorus.
• Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company will perform a traditional dance from the Mexican state of Zacatecas – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Grandeza Mexican Folk Ballet Ensemble.
• Harmonic Bronze Handbell Ensemble, a 20-person music ensemble of 11 to 18-year olds from Antelope Valley, will perform a festive rendition of “Hava Nagila” – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Harmonic Bronze Handbell Ensemble.
• Jazz Tap Ensemble will perform an upbeat holiday-inspired tap dance that interacts with an ensemble of live jazz musicians – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Jazz Tap Ensemble.
• Kwan Gyu Lim Dance Company* will perform a modern interpretation of the traditional Korean fan dance – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Kwan Gyu Lim Dance Co.
• La Santa Cecilia* will premiere on this year’s program with dance-able holiday selections fusing contemporary and traditional Latin and South American sounds – Click here to download a high resolution photo of La Santa Cecilia.
• Lisa Haley and the Zydekats will return to this year’s program with a Zydeco-inspired holiday performance – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Lisa Haley.
• Mandrill*, one of Funk and R&B’s most progressive bands and an important pioneer on the world music scene, will perform a holiday-themed selection – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Mandrill.
• Mariachi Sol de Mexico will perform classic Mariachi holiday favorites – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Mariachi Sol de Mexico.
• Mt. Rubidoux Seventh Day Adventist Church Choir, winner of the People’s Choice, Best Large Choir, and overall first place in the LA Region How Sweet The Sound Choir Competition, will perform gospel holiday selections – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Mt. Rubidoux Choir.
• Palmdale High School Choral Union, a 40-person chorus from the Antelope Valley, will present a spiritual hymn and a swing-style holiday song – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Palmdale HS Choral Union.
• Prime Note Ensemble*, an all-male Filipino choir singing in English & Kinaray-a (a Filipino dialect) – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Prime Note Ensemble.
• Salvation Army Tabernacle Children’s Chorus, the largest and youngest choir on the program, is known for their “choralography” and light-hearted holiday songs – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Salvation Army Tabernacle Children’s Chorus.
• The Shpil* will perform a medley of classic Hanukkah songs in their Klezmer style – Click here to download a high resolution photo of The Shpil.
• Trumpetology* will premiere on the Holiday Celebration with a brass-centered jazz interpretation of “What Child is This” – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Trumpetology.
• Versa-Style Dance Company*, a Hip Hop ensemble representing the diversity of Los Angeles – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Versa-Style.

• Voices of Destiny*, a 45-member gospel chorus and national winner of the Verizon Wireless How Sweet the Sound Competition, will premiere with a spiritual holiday offering. Click here to download a high resolution photo of Voices of Destiny.

• Young Angels Choir, a Korean-American youth choir, will return to Holiday Celebration with holiday repertoire – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Young Angel’s Choir.

* indicates groups new to the Holiday Celebration this year.

The Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Laura Zucker, Executive Director, provides leadership in cultural services of all disciplines for the largest county in the United States, encompassing 88 municipalities. The Arts Commission provides leadership and staffing to support the County-wide collaboration for arts education, Arts for All; administers a grants program that funds more than 350 nonprofit arts organizations annually; oversees the County’s Civic Art Program for capital projects; programs the John Anson Ford Theatres and co-produces Live @ the Ford on KCET; funds the largest arts internship program in the country in conjunction with the Getty Foundation; and supports the Los Angeles County Cultural Calendar on ExperienceLA.com and SpacefinderLA.org, a site connecting artists and arts organizations. The Commission also produces free community programs, including the L.A. County Holiday Celebration and a year-round music program that funds free concerts in public sites.The 2011-12 President of the Arts Commission is Ollie Blanning. For more information please consult the Arts Commission online press kit: http://lacountyarts.org/page/pubnewspress

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With this song she went on to represent Britain in the Eurovision song contest  and a Top Ten US Billboard Hot 100 smash for 12 weeks.

The song was awarded a Grammy nomination for “Best Dance Recording” in 1997 ” Gina went on to release 5 more hit singles from her debut album selling over 2 million copies, which included the album titled single selling over a million copies worldwide.

The new single “Next 2 You” featuring Vigilante, is out now available at all digital retailers, through Discipline Music.

Actors Taraji P. Henson and Taylor Lautner are the latest presenters added to the one-hour special, which takes place live on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at the Nokia Theater L.A. LIVE. The show, which will also announce nominations in several categories as well as feature performances by past Grammy winners and/or nominees, will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network from 10 – 11 p.m. ET/PT.

Other previously announced performers are Jason Aldean, Lady Gaga, Ludacris, Rihanna, Valerie Simpson, Mike Stoller, Sugarland, The Band Perry, and Usher. Previously announced presenters are Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry.

The concert also serves to increase awareness and create better understanding of the injustices of discrimination.

Taking place at the Gibson Amphitheater at Universal City Walk on November 1st, the concert will include performances by  Chaka Khan,  Eric Benet, Grammy Award-winning rapper Pras Michel and rock guitarist Malina Moye.

Proceeds from the concert event will benefit several key charities, including Children with Leukemia in Armenia, The Chaka Khan Foundation, We Are You Foundation, Genocide Memorial Museum, as well as Artists for Peace, to name a few.

The concert’s founding organization, Artists for Peace (AFP), was founded in 2008 by Flora Martirosian whose mission is to unite artists from around the world for genocide awareness. For more information on Artists for Peace visit www. Artists4peace.org.

“It is a great honor and privilege to work with the greatest vocal talent in our business, SAG singers,” noted Alan Silvestri. “I commend them on their mission to build bridges between all those involved with music in our industry both on the creative and business side.”

The Screen Actors Guild Singers Committee represents singers who specialize in on-camera and off-camera vocal performances that have enriched and enhanced the scores of countless motion pictures since the Guild’s inception. Meet the Composer events celebrate the achievements of the honored guest and the contributions of the SAG singers community to the art of film and television production, while building bridges between singers and composers, music supervisors, producers and directors.

The album features collaborations with Daz & Kurupt of Tha Dogg Pound, Goldie Loc, and Deacon of the Chuuch.

With his enigmatic charisma and kinetic flow stamped on every track, Long Beach’s original rapper will release “Best Kept Secret” under his own imprint Fly2k Records on August 30.

Joel Chin

KINGSTON, Jamaica  _ A Jamaican music producer for a top reggae label has been shot to death outside his home in an upscale neighborhood of the Caribbean island’s capital.

Police in Kingston say Joel Chin was attacked late Tuesday after he stepped out of his car in the driveway of his home. Police have not disclosed a possible motive.

Chin was the grandson of Vincent “Randy” Chin, a pioneering reggae producer from Jamaica who established VP Records in New York. The company has made stars out of artists like Sean Paul and Beenie Man.

VP Records says Joel Chin moved from New York to Jamaica two years ago to spend more time on music.

The label says the 35-year-old was instrumental in launching the careers of several reggae stars.

One of the most internationally recognized female Brazilian performers of her generation,  Mercury will make her Greek Theater debut on October 13 with Canibália, her 11^th International tour incorporating music from her new release of the same name.

Canibália is laced with a mix of pop, samba, bossa nova, reggae, axe, merengue, and salsa and is Mercury’s boldest and most radical new approach to Brazilian popular music.

In the past year, Daniela Mercury has sold-out in over 20 cities worldwide, and has performed Canibália for over 7 million people.

Mercury’s performances embody a beautiful and explosive celebration of the past, present and future of Latin music, and her remarkable artistry transforms every one of her concerts into an exhilarating night at Carnaval.