-= KEEPACHILDALIVE.ORG =-

-= KEEPACHILDALIVE.ORG =-

"The incredible assault of HIV-AIDS on women in particular has no parallel in human history. The pandemic is preying on them relentlessly, threatening them in a way that the world has never yet witnessed" - Stephen Lewis

The ONE Campaign is a new effort to rally Americans to fight the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty. They are inextricably linked. Each ONE of us can make a difference. Together as ONE we can change the world. Sign the One declaration TODAY.

Reggae in Canada

... The first artist to record reggae in Canada was Jackie Mittoo, followed by Stranger Cole, Tony Eden, Audley Williams, the Webber Sisters, Leroy Brown, and Joe Issacs. In 1976, Toronto's Ishan People made the first of two albums for GRT. In the next 15 years, however, Messenjah, Sattalites, and Leroy Brown were the few reggae artists to record for a major Canadian label.

Hopeton Lewis, Artist of the Month March 2007 - The Crucible.

Hopeton Lewis was born in Kingston, Jamaica W.I. And grew up in Burnt Savannah, Westmoreland. At the age of 6, while attending the Burnt Savannah Holiness Church, his talent for singing was discovered. This ushered in the beginning of his singing career. Several years later, he returned to Kingston to live with his grandparents in Mountain View Avenue. While attending the Windward Road Primary School, he was awarded a scholarship to attend Camperdown High School. By the time he turned 15 years old, both grandparents died and he was left to fend for himself.

His ambition, zest for life and his love for music, inspired him to form his first group "The Regals". Hopeton did his first recording at Studio One and from there went on to become one of the key players in the evolution of Jamaican popular music. Soon he moved to Federal Recording Company, where he did a number of recordings including his hit song "Take It Easy" which started the Rock steady Era, In 1970 he won the Festival Song Competition with the hit song, "Boom Shaka-Laka" on the Treasure Isles Label. While singing under the Byron Lee's Dynamic Sound Label, his recording "Grooving Out On Life" reached gold status in 1973. He then join Byron Lee & the Dragonaires band as lead singer and tour with the group for over 4 years, after leaving the group he went on to perform on the hotel circuit throughout Jamaica and other Caribbean Islands.

Mr. Lewis has now returned to his first love worshiping the Lord through" Gospel Music" and continues to spread the word extensively through North America, the Caribbean and Europe delivering the Spiritual message of One Love, God's Love.

In 1996, he released his debut gospel CD, "This is Gospel" he has since released 12 other gospel CDs. On these CD’s are some original songs written by him and produced under his own recording label, Rockstone Music Production and Songs 4 Life Ministry.

To date, he has performed with various gospel artistes including, Candi Staton, Tramaine Hawkins, Alvin Slaughter and Monty Alexander to name a few.

The transatlantic slave trade...

The transatlantic slave trade is largely responsible for bringing to the Americas enslaved Africans.

This slave trade is said to have drawn between ten and twenty million Africans from their homeland, with approximately six hundred thousand coming to Jamaica (one of the largest importer of slaves at the time) between 1533 and 1807.

To find out more, click the link below.

CrucibleSOURCE

NATIONAL LIBRARY OF JAMAICA
12 East Street, Kingston, Jamaica
Telephone: [876] 967-1526, 967-2516, 967-2494, 967-2496
Fax: [876] 922-5567
Copyright © 1997-2005 National Library of Jamaica
Last updated: February 22, 2007 06:44 AM
Email: nljresearch@cwjamaica.com

Father of Popular Radio Host Dies
Allan Brown dies at 91

At approximately 11:50 a.m. on Tuesday, January 30, 2007, Mr. Allan Brown died at the Humber River Regional Hospital – Church Street Site (HRRH) in Toronto.
He was 91.

Mr. Brown, (Mass Allan) is survived by his wife Delphena Brown, (Miss Tiny) and children; Pearl Walters in England, Luther Brown in Toronto, Alous (Foster) and Dennevan (Denny) in Jamaica, and Owen (Owie) in the USA., and daughters-in-law, Rev. Paulette, Sophia, and Merle. There are 14 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

Visitation for Mr. Allan Brown will be on Thursday, February 8th from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and on Friday 9th from 7:00 to 9:p.m.at Ward Funeral Home, 2035 Weston Road in Toronto.

The funeral service will be at Westmount Gospel Chapel, where he was a member, on Saturday February 10, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. The church is located at 59 Kingdom Street in Etobicoke. (Scarlet Road & Lawrence) Interment follows at The Beechwood Cemetery, 7241 Jane Street.

Mass Allan and Miss Tiny have been married since January 13, 1957. They lived at Dover Castle, St. Catherine, Jamaica and migrated to Canada in October 1989. After hospitalization in October of 2005, he became a resident of Yorkview Lifecare Centre in order to receive appropriate care. While at Yorkview, he regained strength and mobility and was well respected by his caregivers. After a short hospitalization, he died peacefully on Tuesday, January 30. His son Luther was with him.

Mass Allan is an example of a father who knew the values of hard work, faith in God and service to community. In his homeland Jamaica where he worked as a carpenter, he earned the respect of his peers as a master tradesman. He served as an elder in the Redwood Gospel Hall church, where he was responsible for prayer services and communion. He was one of the founding members of the Redwood Community Center, and he served as President of the Redwood Parent Teachers Association. On migrating to a new country, he quickly got involved. At the Westmount Gospel Chapel, he was responsible for serving communion. He worked as an Attendant at the Snack Counter at the Driftwood Community Centre, where he won the admiration staff and youth as a caring and firm leader.

Pearl, Mr. Brown’s eldest is retired and lives in England. Dennevan is a Teacher who doubles as a Programme Host on ROOTS FM in Jamaica, Owen, is in the construction industry in the USA., Alous is a Telecommunications engineering manager in Jamaica, and Luther is a school Principal in The Toronto District School Board and the producer/host of Caribbean Crucible on CHRY 105.5 FM, Toronto

Mr. Brown’s 91 years is a profound lesson in gratitude to God

Sherona Johnson – Hall, Dead at 59

Our tribute to
Sherona Johnson – Hall
April 26, 1948 – December 30, 2006

Community Leader, Activist, Mother, Friend First-born daughter of Harold Johnson and Clementina Gale, Sherona Hall grew up in a family of -5 brothers and sisters in Kingston, Jamaica. Witnessing the impoverished conditions within her community, she was inspired to take action. At an early age, she dedicated herself to promoting human and civil rights.

As a teen, so influenced was she by the body politic of the day in her native Jamaica that she became the co-founder and secretary of the Youth League of the People's National Party of Jamaica.

Additionally, Sherona supported the fight for independence in Southern Africa throughout the late 1970's by participating in seminars, open discussions and demonstrations, thus keeping the focus of the peoples struggle constant within the media - and on the minds of many concerned Canadians.

She always defended the aims and objectives of the youth throughout her community work as well. Sherona never wavered in her advocacy. Whether it was affordable housing for youth, employment issues or the struggles faced by youth caught up inside the criminal justice system, she always stood firm in the belief that political education and cultural awareness were seminal to youth achieving in this world.

She worked for over 30 years as a court reporter, the last two decades in her own firm, thereby creating a template for business entrepreneurship while opening doors for employment of young men and women pursuing this field. She struggled alongside her fellow sisters and brothers to help give a voice to African women and marginalized groups in a political context therefore providing a space for political dialogue to occur.

At the age of only 59, Sherona's decades of tireless, organizing, campaigning, personal sacrifice and boundless generosity leave an unforgettable legacy for thousands of people in Toronto, Jamaica, across Canada and around the world.

To cherish her memory, she leaves her son, Lowell Ruddy and brothers, nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Sherona Johnson – Hall
April 26, 1948 – December 30, 2006

Crucible Awards 2006

Artist	Award	Year	Title	Country
Gyptian	#1 Dance Hall Single	2006	If You Really Love Me	Canada
Steel	#1 Single	2006	Confession	Canada
Cham & Alicia Keys	#1 Single, International	2006	Ghetto Story	Jamaica/USA
Jully Black	Artist of the Year Female	2006	This is Me	Canada
Sean Paul	Artist of the Year, International	2006		Jamaica
Leroy Brown	Artist of the Year Male	2006		Canada
Jay Douglas	CD/Lp of the Year	2006	Touch Of Magic	Canada
Tasha T	CD/Lp of the Year	2006	Tasha T	Canada
Dermott Williams	Circle Of Distinction	2006	Radio	Canada
JoJo Bennett	Circle Of Distinction	2006	Foundation Bassist /A&R	Jamaica
Leroy Sibbles	Circle Of Distinction	2006	Foundation Bassist /A&R	Jamaica
Milton Blake	Circle Of Distinction	2006	Radio	Canada
Pluggy Satchmo	Circle Of Distinction	2006	Dance	Canada
Prince Buster	Circle Of Distinction	2006	Preducer/Artist	Jamaica
Super V	Circle Of Distinction	2006	Radio	Canada
Bitty MCLean	Comeback Artist	2006		UK
Ghost	Comeback Artist	2006		Jamaica
Horace Martin	Comeback Artist	2006	Pozitive Vibez	Canada
Alaine	Crucible Mention	2006		Jamaica
Keith Poppin	Crucible Mention	2006	Get Togher	USA
LA Allen	Crucible Mention	2006		Canada
Orville (Wiz) Malcolm	Crucible Mention	2006		Canada
Otis I	Crucible Mention	2006	Nah Hear	Canada
Nana McLean	Gospel Album	2006	Breakthrough	Canada
Prince Everald	Longevity	2006		Canada
The Mighty Mystic	Longevity	2006		Canada
Walli Rich	Longevity	2006		Canada
Willie Williams	Longevity	2006		Canada
Explorer Productions	Producer of the Year	2006		Canada
Eddie Grant	Respect Due	2006		Canada
George Nooks	Respect Due	2006		Jamaica
Jimmy Reid	Respect Due	2006		Canada
Partick Roots	Respect Due	2006	Radio	Jamaica
Tipper	Respect Due	2006	Classic Review	Canada
Winston Richards	Respect Due	2006	Writer/Producer	Canada
Humble	Rising Star	2006		Canada
Michael Thompson	Rising Star	2006		Canada
Tami Chynn	Rising Star	2006		Jamaica/USA
Treson	Rising Star	2006		Canada