Hitman Walle Condemned 'Merciless' Rumours as Insensitive.

Hitman Walle Condemns 'Merciless' Rumours.

Written by Shaun Cain

Legendary dancehall artiste, Hitman Wally, has denounced the widespread distasteful rumours surrounding the July 19, 2022 death of Leonard "Merciless" Bartley. 

Merciless, who had abused alcohol, was found dead in a motel on Beechwood Avenue in the Jamaican capital, Kingston.

The St. Catherine based Hitman, who released several chart-topping songs between the 1990s and early in the millennium, met Merciless between 1994 and 1995 at the heights of the “Lend out Me Mercy” hit.  The two men subsequently became very good friends and music collaborators. 

The late Leonard 'Merciless' Bartley

A very hurt Hitman Walle has told the Star Gazing with Shaun Cain Show on YouTube that he is very disappointed with the persons who have been posting on social media that Merciless was broke and hungry.  He described these persons as insensitive because they have failed to consider how their posts would affect the late artiste's family, friends and fans. 

He has pointed out that the misleading posts have also alleged that the "Gal Dem Gizada" entertainer died after taking viagra tablets, which were too strong for him. Hitman Walle stated that the posts pontificated that the artiste met his demise after he invited a female to his motel room and took the pills to boost his sexual performance. 

As Hitman Walle agreed to sensitise the public on the Star Gazing with Shaun Cain Show about the kind of person Merciless was, he demaned that the public exercise patience and wait for the autopsy report. He warned that it is irresponsible to jump to conclusion. 

Hitman Walle

Hitman Walle, a native of  Spanish Town,

has paid tribute to Merciless, was arguably the king of lyrical dancehall clashes. He remembers the "Mavis" and “Mama’s Cooking” hitmaker as a very kind person, who looked out for his friends. He noted Merciless would do whatever he could to help anyone who was in need.

The highest water mark of his career was arguably a lyrical clash at the annual year-end showpiece event, Sting, in Jamaica two decades ago. The Warhead arguably outperformed Bounty Killer, Ninjaman and Beanie Man on the same night.

 

Merciless's career allegedly took a nose dive following his unrivalled performance at Sting in 2002. Hitman Walle has told the Star Gazing with Shaun Cain Show that Merciless was side-lined on several occasions for shows and other commercial opportunities. 

Watch Hitman Walle's full interview on the Star Gazing with Shaun Cain Show by clicking the picture above.

 

Hitman Walle asserted that this and other events in Merciless's personal life, including the sudden death of his wife, Keisha Gibbs-Bartley in Longville Park, Clarendon on the 3^rd of April 2015, had a profound effect on the entertainer.  He spent the rest of his life trying to come to terms, but never really succeeded. 

 

In order to help himself to cope with these deeply heart-breaking and despairing experiences, Merciless turned to the bottle. Hitman Wally acknowledged that although Merciless was a heavy drinker, the intoxicating spirits did not affect his ability to record and perform coherently.  He expressed amazement at the way the "Ol' Gallis" dancehall star would demonstrate his lyrical dexterity in the studio. He says Merciless, who was born in the small community of Turner in Chapelton, Clarendon on the 1st July 1971, was always energetic and confident.

 

As both artistes pursued their careers, they often ended up making music at the same recording studios.  Hitman Walle eventually produced some of Merciless's records. One of their latest productions will be released by Sony Music on the 19th August 2022.

Meanwhile, several fellow dancehall artistes have since paid tribute to the “Gal Dem Gizada” entertainer on social media. Among them are Bounty Killa, Beenie Man and General B.

 

Up to the time of publishing this article, the cause of Merciless's death was still not known.

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Shaun Cain is the presenter of the Star Gazing with Shaun Cain Show on YouTube. He is a newspaper columnist, published author and former Jamaican radio presenter.

Windrush Travesty - Wise Wurdz (Official Video)

Gospel singer, Donovan Campbell, shares his humbling story on the Star G...

Donovan “Brother DC’ Campbell is a Jamaican singer, songwriter, author and life coach, who originally hails from May Pen in Clarendon.

 

The born-again Christian, who now resides in Canada, told the Star Gazing with Shaun Cain Show that he grew up in a single-parent household.  He recalls that on many occasions, there was not much food on the table.  He says, there was no running water at his home, so he had to collect the precious commodity from a standpipe about a hundred yards away.

Donovan Campbell on the Star Gazing with Shaun Cain Show.

 

A domestic accident almost took the May Pen native’s life.  When he was still a young child he accidentally drank kerosene oil.  He was taken to the May Pen Hospital and the prognosis was not good.  The doctors told his mother that his chance of surviving was very small. Campbell, who is now a Gospel recording artiste, remembers his mother getting down on her knees and pleading to god to save her son’s life.  He has rejoiced at the fact that the dark clouds had lifted, and he is happy to be here today. 

 

As the Campbell grew older, he recollects how his mother struggled to look after him and his 4 brothers.  One day, the singer/songwriter decided that he had to do something to help take the pressures off his mother.  That was the point when his entrepreneurial instincts took over.  He started selling sweets to his school mates, which brought in some money to supplement the outgoings of the household.  

 

The man of god adds that he subsequently realised that more money was still needed to sustain the family. As a result, got himself a job at a local supermarket.  He reveals that his contributions had a big impact on the family and his mother was grateful for his support.

 

After graduating from the Vere Technical High School in the parish, he got a job at the May Pen Hospital.  The life coach says he found strength in the fact that the same institution where he almost died, had turned out to be the very place that he would find employment several years later.

 

Having survived against the odds, Brother DC is now helping others to overcome their own adversities through music, motivational speaking, and life coaching.  Only recently he co-authored the book, Our Life’s Journey, with his wife Samantha. 

Donovan & Samantha Campbell.

Also, it was not long ago that he released his first album, God + Me = Purpose.

Cover of Campbell's new album.

Brother DC’s works are available on all major digital platforms including Amazon.

Star Gazing with Shaun Cain Show reflects on Robbie Shakespeare influenc...

For a very long time, the drum and baselines of the musical duo, Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, simply known as Sly and Robbie, have been tightly woven into a great many records that we have grown to love over the years. 

Robbie Shakespeare
(Maureen Cousin's pic)

Shakespeare’s passing on the 8^th December 2021 at the age of 68 following a kidney surgery, has left many musicians and fans alike reflecting on the larger than life reggae soldier that had suddenly disappeared from the frontlines of our musical heritage. 

 

Shakespeare was born in September 1953 in Kingston, Jamaica and grew up in the east end of the country’s capital.  He was raised in a musical family and spent most of his youthful years around up and coming musicians.  His brother’s band, The Emotions, used to sharpen their skills at Shakespeare’s house. It was as a result of that early exposure that he developed a deep love for the bass guitar. By the early 1970s, he had established a name for himself in the Jamaican music industry.  

 

Armed with his powerful base guitar, Shakespeare watched over the music, ensuring that its familiar and inspiring accompaniments were always melodious and pleasing to the ear. In so doing, he helped to give Reggae and Dancehall music its unique sound.

 

He later met fellow musician, drummer Sly Dunbar, and the two became very good friends.  In early to mid-1970’s, they teamed up to create the formidable musical duo, Sly and Robbie.  They would go on the change the sound of Reggae and dancehall music forever. In 1974, they set up their own record label, Taxi Records. That was the beginning of the musical taxi juggernaut that transported so many fledgling artistes to stardom.

 

Shakespeare helped to deliver several notable records to the listening public. In fact, he is thought to have either played on or produced more than 200,000 recordings. His finger prints were all over the Wailers’ “Concrete Jungle”; Burning Spear’s “Marcus Garvey”; Ini Kamoze’s “Here Comes the Hot Stepper” and Black Uhuru’s “Red” albums.  Over the year, he had also contributed to the works of Dennis Brown, Peter Tosh, Gregory Isaacs, Black Uhuru, Yellowman, Sugar Minott, Daddy U-Roy, Beenie Man, Capleton and the Florida, USA based singer, Talmigila, among many others.  

 

With Shakespeare and Dunbar working together, the two musical giants eventually built a repertoire that soon drew the attention of international audiences. The Taxi Gang, as they later called themselves, packed their instruments and strummed off to pastures new. The Taxi Gang zipped across the world, adding their unique musical flavours to the works of some of the most powerful names in international music.  They have straddled the Pop world, working with Joe Cocker, Sting, Gary Barlow, Cyndi Lauper, Joan Armatrading, Sinead O’Connor, Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, Carly Simon and Grace Jones. 

 

Shakespeare also contributed to the motion picture soundtrack album to the John Singleton’s 1993 film, Poetic Justice, starring Janet Jackson and Tupak Shakur.  He played on the Chaka Demus and Plyers track, “I Wanna Be Your Man”, which was released on the album.  The Poetic Justice soundtrack album peaked at number 23 on the Billboard 200 Chart in August 1993.

 

In addition to making music for other artistes, Shakespeare produced albums of his own.  These include: Language Barrier, Rhythm Killers, Taxi Fare, Rhythm Doubles, Dubrising and Friends.  After being friends and making music for more than 4-and-a-half-decades, Shakespeare and Dunbar sped off with the Grammy Award for the Best Reggae Album in 1999.  It was their unyielding friendship that brought them the award, as the album, “Friends”, edged out the other nominees. 

 

12 years later, Shakespeare appeared in the BBC documentary, Toots and the Maytals: Reggae Got Soul, in 2011. The focus of the documentary was on the life and work of this musical giant, who passed away in September 2020.   

 

Shakespeare’s departure from this mortal coil has left a gaping hole in the heart of Reggae and Dancehall music. So massive was his influence on the music of Jamaica that it might take decades to see his kind again.

Robbie Shapespeare's tribute on the Star Gazing with Shaun Cain Show.

Even though many of the younger artistes did not work with Shakespeare, they accept that his contributions to the Jamaica’s musical heritage were phenomenal.  

As the music industry mourns Shakespeare’s leaving, Jamaicans were able to view his body on Sunday, 6^th February 2022 at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston.  The country’s Culture Minister, Olivia Grange, says she knows that Jamaicans have been waiting for a chance to say goodbye to Robbie, who along with Sly, has contributed so much to our music.  A condolence book was also opened at the National Indoor Sports Centre. 

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Shaun Cain is a journalist, author of the Reggae Larger than Life Fun and Games Book, voiceover talent and producer/presenter of the Star Gazing with Shaun Cain Interview Show on the Star Gazing with Shaun Cain YouTube channel. 

Check out the channel today.  Please remember to subscribe, like, share and leave a comment.

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Reggae singer, Pressure Busspipe, eyes Europe

United States Virgin Islands native, international Reggae singer, Pressure Busspipe, currently has Europe in his sights. The Caribbean national plans to take his brand of conscious music to a doting audience on the continent in 2022. The artiste, whose latest album entitled Heights of Greatness, was released in August, has told the Star Gazing with Shaun Cain Show that Europe has been courting him for some time and he is ready to visit and share his catalogue of righteousness.

The artiste recently engaged the services of the United Kingdom-based Robert Rex Entertainment to help lay the foundations for his arrival on the continent.

The Heights of Greatness singer noted that he and his team have selected Robert Rex Entertainment after receiving recommendations and doing their own research.  

The Rastafarian singer who grew up in the capital of the US Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, is confident that this entertainment promotions agency is best placed to help make his trip to Europe an impactful one.

Pressure Busspipe is one of the Virgin Islands' biggest and best-known musical exports. He is a righteous singer, who has fully embraced Reggae Music and Rastafarian teachings.

Born Delyno Brown in the early 1980’s,  Pressure Busspipe was exposed to the music of Jamaica when he was a still a young child. He explained that he paid very close attention to the constant servings of righteousness that Reggae delivered. The singer said he felt a natural connection to the music, as it depicted life without the glossy pictures that often veil the pervasive hypocrisy and double standards among humanity.

Pressure Busspipe boasts that his father was a member of a popular local reggae band and he used to admire his dad’s works. As he watched his father perform, Pressure Busspipe eventually began to feel the urge to get involved as an artiste.

He originally started his music career as a drummer, but since finding his voice, he retired his drum sticks and high hats.  The singer points out that, as he received his appointment from Jah as a messenger, he realised that he was chosen to write and perform conscious lyrics that motivate and uplift humanity.

A look at his repertoire revealed that Pressure Busspipe released his ‘Love and Affection’ album in 2007 with the title track finding fame due to the deep emotions it stirred among the lovers of reggae music. Two years later, the singer published his ‘Coming Back to You’ album.  Not long afterwards, ‘The Sound’ echoed.  Again, the St Thomas native showed he is a vocal powerhouse.  His ‘Virgin Islands Nice’ record caught the attention of the island’s tourism department, which used the song as the backdrop of an extensive marketing campaign to attract visitors to the sun-kissed US Virgin Islands.

As Pressure Busspipe continued to build his repertoire, he released the ‘Africa Redemption’ collection of songs, which featured international star, Chronixx.  His next album, ‘Red Rose’, rocked and released its attention-grabbing fragrance, which created an endearing pathway that took it all the way onto the Billboard Reggae Album Chart where it peaked at number 8. The singer’s latest album, ‘Heights of Greatness’, has been widening the Rastafarian artiste’s fan base around the globe. 

Pressure Busspipe's impact as a prolific musical messenger has been duly acknowledged. He received the Caribbean American Movers and Shaker Award for International Artiste of the Year in 2017.  The Atlanta, USA-based singer and his father, Irvin “Brownie” Brown, were honoured by the US Virgin Islands Senate in 2018 for their musical contributions.

You can watch Pressure Busspipe's FULL Star Gazing with Shaun Cain interview here.

https://youtu.be/DGj-51C_-js 

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Shaun Cain is a journalist, author of the Reggae Larger than Life Fun and Games Book, voiceover talent and the producer/presenter of the Star Gazing with Shaun Cain Interview Show on the Star Gazing with Shaun Cain YouTube channel.

When you visit our channel, please remember to subscribe, like, share and leave a comment. 

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Hearts of Talent Set to Beat Loudly inside Wembley Stadium.

By Shaun Cain 

Grand finale of the Hearts of Talent is scheduled for the 27th November 2021 at the famous Wembley Stadium in north west London. The Hearts of Talent, the brainchild of businesswoman, Jasmine Dale, has been attracting much attention from national organisations. The show is now operating in partnership with the National Health Service (NHS) North West, The London Metropolitan Police, public communications and promotions company, Clear Channel, The English Football Association (The FA) and Wembley Stadium. 

Shaun Cain and Jasmine Dale.

Jasmine Dale is a businesswoman, community activist and visionary.  She was born to West Indian parents and raised in north west London. She attended John Kelly School in Neasden.  She spent her entire life in Brent, so she feels a strong sense of loyalty and responsibility to the Borough.  Jasmine started her own hairdressing and beauty business in Brent. Her business specialises in several African influenced styles such as plaits and cornrows. The Brent native recalls that it was not easy running her business, as the daily challenges could be overwhelming sometimes. However, she persevered and learned how to balance the demands of being an entrepreneur.

Jasmine, whose father served in the British Army for 9 years, revealed that one of the reasons she set up her own business was what she described as the need to be earning money while being of some value to her nation. 

 

For several years, a major social problem began staining the fabric of the nation’s capital. Knife crimes were rampant throughout the London.  Stabbings became a mainstay in the news. Almost every day there was a stabbing, which often resulted in someone dying.  Common among the statistics were black youths. Despite the intervention of the police, these incidents persisted. After spending many years operating her hairdressing parlour on Blackbird Hill near Wembley in north west London, where some of her customer had been victims of knife crime, she decided to step in.

 

Jasmine felt that the youths’ attention needed to be refocused on something that will give them a voice by encouraging them to put down the knife and pick up the microphone. As a result, she created the Brent Factor Talent Showcase. The Brent Factor Talent Showcase, which started in Brent in 2018, provided opportunities for the Borough’s young people to showcase their singing, rapping, dancing, spoken word and film-making talents.  She told the Star Gazing with Shaun Cain Show that the youths needed to hear positive things about themselves, so that they could be motivated to follow their dreams. She declares, “it’s there for them to build their self-esteem, think differently about employability and find an alternative to being in a gang.”

 

The show has been receiving support from the business community in Brent and from the Local Authority.  The Brent Factor, as it’s commonly called, received entries from across London and other parts of the country.  The popularity of the show continued to rise.  It subsequently became clear that a more strategic outlook was required. Jasmine sat with her team and brainstormed.  Following the meeting, she engaged the services of a marketing agency to help deliver the show’s message more widely, so it reaches more youths across the United Kingdom.  As a consequence, the Brent Factor brand was supplanted with the Hearts of Talent. “The Hearts of Talent means a lot to me as a person.  It’s a passion project and I believe it will mean a lot to the society, to the younger generations,” Jasmine explains.   

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Shaun Cain is a journalist, author of the Reggae Larger than Life Fun and Games Book, voiceover talent and the producer/presenter of the Star Gazing with Shaun Cain Interview Show on the Star Gazing with Shaun Cain YouTube channel.

When you visit our channel, please remember to subscribe, like, share and leave a comment. 

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Make Music that Remains Relevant for Years to Come, demands Fullie Charge.

 

Reggae and Dancehall Artistes Must Make Music for the Future.

By Shaun Cain 

London, UK: 31st August 2021.

Dancehall artiste, Fullie Charge, is encouraging his fellow entertainers to start making music  that will be relevant for years to come.

In an interview on the Star Gazing with Shaun Cain Show on 29th August 2021, the "Nah Give up the Fight" artiste explains that this is the only way Reggae and Dancehall artistes will be able to leave a legacy from which future generations can take inspiration.

Host Shaun Cain and Fullie Charge

Fullie Charge, who was born in the Jamaican capital, Kingston in the 1990s, lost his mother tragically when he was just a teenager. He has found solace in music, which he has been recording and performing for much of his life.

He maintains that music is supposed to inspire people, and if it focuses on the common human experience, it will positively impact successive generations in the future. According to him, the music that is being made nowadays seems to have a very short shelf life, as after a few days being released and enjoyed, it's forgotten.

The "Pain Inside" entertainer has noted that although Bob Marley passed away more than four decades ago, his music continues to inspire people all over the world and help them to cope with life's challenges. 

Fullie Charge feels that Reggae and Dancehall music should give people vision and hope. The "Be By Myself" artiste has promised to lift people's spirits through his records. He notes that life has given him a diverse range of experiences that enables him to emphasise with people from different backgrounds. The Harbour View resident believes music born out of empathy connects with audiences and wedges itself into the psyche of the human race.

In nurturing his skills as an artiste, he has crossed paths with some of the pioneers of Jamaica’s music industry, who have imparted a lot of knowledge, and they have even advised him to practise and hone his craft.  Fullie Charge has met and reasoned with veterans, Errol Dunkley and Ken Booth. He says they always welcome young artistes that exhibit a burning desire to continue building on Jamaica’s musical heritage.

Errol Dunkley, Fullie Charge & Ken Booth

Earlier in his career, the artiste, who is also a graduate of the Clan Carthy High School, contacted several event promoters that gave him the opportunity to showcase his talents.  He has performed in Rema and Rae Town in Kingston, and at other locations across Jamaica.

Among Fullie Charge's catalogue of recordings are: "Pain Inside", "Naah Give Up the Fight", "Be By Myself", "Naah Kill Nobody", "Eyes On You" and "The Ultimate Being" among others.

Watch Fullie Charge's interview on the Star Gazing with Shaun Cain Show. Click the picture.

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Shaun Cain is a journalist, author of the Reggae Larger than Life Fun and Games Book, voiceover talent and the producer/presenter of the Star Gazing with Shaun Cain Interview Show on the Star Gazing with Shaun Cain YouTube channel.

When you visit our channel, please remember to subscribe, like, share and leave a comment. 

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