On Sunday July 1st, reggae’s timeless idol Beres Hammond will ignite New York City with musical flames when he headlines the annual “Grooving In The Park…A day of Reggae Rhythm and Blues” at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens. Hammond will share the stage with veteran reggae icon, the Hon. Jimmy Cliff OM, Boyz To Men and reigning R&B king R Kelly.
“I am very excited about the lineup. The acts we have booked so far – Jimmy, R Kelly, Boyz II Men and Beres – represents the best of reggae and R&B and I am confident they will deliver a spectacular concert for fans. We are still looking to add more acts to complete the lineup, ” said event CEO Christopher Roberts, of Groovin Inc.
Six years ago – the last time the ‘Boss’ Beres Hammond was in town to perform at an outdoor music festival – fans welcomed him with open arms and thunderous applause continued throughout the duration of his set. Supported by the Harmony House Band, the reggae balladeer ran through hits like “Rockaway,” “In Love With You,” “What On Dance Can Do,” “She Loves Me Not,” “Step Aside” “Double Trouble” and “Putting Up Resistance.” Hammond’s stellar career was launched in the 70′s with the release of his monster hit “One Step Ahead,” which stayed at number one on the charts over for 14 weeks. In the 80′s he scored with “What One Dance Can Do,” “Tempted to Touch” and subsequent albums “Love Affair,” “Full Attention” (1993), “In Control” (1994), “Love From a Distance” (1996) and “A Day In The Life” (1998). His 2001 disc “Music is Life” was warmly embraced by fans globally and included the number one hit “Rock Away.” The success of the album led to a series of high profile sold out appearances at the world famous Madison Square Gardens. Hammond is ripe for another stellar set in NY so fans can fasten their seat belts and be prepared to be ‘Rocked Away’ with some sweet, soulful, reggae music at Hammond’s first and only New York performance this year.
Rhythm and Blues legend R. Kelly is a master producer, composer and performer and he is known for delivering music that is spiritual, inspirational and extremely sexual. He made his mark with smash hits like “I Believe I Can Fly,” “World’s Greatest” for the 1996 summer Olympics in Atlanta; and a duet with French-Canadian pop diva Celine Dion, which catapulted him to international stardom. He has also enjoyed great commercial success, recording collaboration tracks with Jay-Z’s “Not Guilty” and Kelly’s “Fiesta Remix.” Fans are hyped and ready for an extraordinary performance from the R&B crooner who will be returning to NY for his first performance since his “Best of Both Worlds” concert with Jay Z in 2004.
Jimmy Cliff
Music legend Jimmy Cliff created history in 2010 when he became the first Jamaican performer since Bob Marley to be inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The talented actor, musician, singer, songwriter, music producer and businessman is arguably the most celebrated reggae act alive on the international stage. He regularly plays stadiums and arenas in Africa, Brazil and parts of Europe and has an equally impressive following in the USA where he is best known for songs like “Sitting in Limbo,” “You Can Get It If You Really Want,” “Wild World,” “I Can See Clearly Now” and “Many Rivers to Cross.”
Boyz II Men
Grammy award winning R&B vocal group Boyz II Men are regarded as one of the most successful of all time. The group, best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies, gained international notoriety with their 1992 hit single “End of The Road” which remained at the #1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 charts for 13 weeks. The group reaped further success with hits “I’ll Make Love To You,” “One Sweet Day (with Mariah Carey) and On Bended Knee.” Their most recent studio album, “Twenty” was released in 2011.
With the event taking place on Sunday, July 1st during the American Independence celebrations and with Jamaica and Trinidad both celebrating 50th anniversaries this year, concert organisers say the festival will serve as a tribute to these three great nations. Detailed plans of the tribute will be announced soon.
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history in reggae has had a long string of successes. Inner Circle’s special brand of pop-oriented Jamaican beats and energy-filled live performances have allowed the band to transcend the traditional reggae niche and enjoy widespread crossover appeal. From the launch of their first album in 1978 entitled, Everything Is Great, to the launch of the album, Bad Boys which became an international hit featuring the title track as well as the dance party favorite “Sweat,” Inner Circle’s brand of unforgettable hooks and island beats has kept the band a mainstay in the reggae world.
