Shabba Ranks lands in Jamaica

Dancehall Emperor Shabba Ranks landed in the island today, a source confirmed to The Gleaner.

"He came in at Montego Bay at 10 this morning with his wife and another person," the source, who requested anonymity, said.

The two-time Grammy Award winner is reportedly in the island to perform at Beverley Kelso's birthday bash scheduled for Sunday, April 14, in Arnett Gardens. Kelso, the only surviving member of the legendary Wailers, joined the group when she was just 14 years old and spent three years as a member, after which she migrated to the United States.

There has been a deliberate effort to give Kelso the recognition that she deserves. She turns 76 on Sunday.

Sunday's event is being staged by George Phang, a reggae record producer famously known for owning the Powerhouse label and YouTuber and philanthropist Big Stone.

Seaview Gradens resident Shabba Ranks always receives a hero's welcome when he returns to Jamaica from the United States, where he resides, and he usually visits Phang in Arnett Gardens.

Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon, better known by his stage name Shabba Ranks, took dancehall to the world stage in a huge way in the late 1980s and early 1990s and made a name for himself as one of the most popular Jamaican musicians globally. He gained popularity in North America with his album Just Reality in 1990 and released other studio albums, including As Raw as Ever and X- tra Naked, which both won Grammy Awards for Best Reggae Album in 1992 and 1993, respectively.

According to his Wikipedia bio, Shabba's biggest hit single outside of Jamaica was the reggae fusion smash Mr Loverman . Other big tracks include Housecall, with Maxi Priest; Slow and Sexy with Johnny Gill; Respect, Pirates Anthem, Trailer Load a Girls, Wicked inna Bed, Caan Dun, and Ting A Ling.

Last year, Shabba Ranks - as well as Lil Wayne and Buju Banton were featured in Jeymes Samuel's Hallelujah Heaven song off the The Book Of Clarence soundtrack.

Among the other artistes who will celebrate with Kelso on Sunday are Josey Wales, Little John, Johnny Clarke, Pinchers, Sanchez, Ken Boothe, George Nooks, Leroy Sibbles, Peter Metro, Nesbeth, Bongo Herman, Shaka Pow, and Blac-Er.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com