REGGAE STAR FACTOR: HEAT 4

By Coral Consciouslee
21st August 2015

 

We got to the Shaw Theatre, literally minutes before the show started. Once again, pleased to say the show started on time. Also was good to note that attendance was very much better than the week before.

At the risk of sounding like a groupie, Bobo El Numero Uno did a superb job of welcoming and warming up the crowd before recording of the show got underway, afterwhich he was joined by the equally professional Elayne Smith. To be honest these two comperes could quite easily have had a show for themselves! Their banter and easy flow with the audience and contestants was an entertainment in itself. I honestly couldn't stop laughing and applauding.

The standard of competition was very high indeed. Knowing only three would be going through to the semi finals, personally I thought there were four. I didn't envy the judges at all! The semi finals is definitely going to be close.The band was tight and clear. I love watching the bass player! Bitty McLean on stage.....excuse me whilst I reminisce again.....Bitty McLean on stage.....

There is so much that I could write about, but suffice to say that when I say you are getting one heck of show from start to finish each week, it really is true! Although attendance is improving each week, support is still needed. The ultimate aim is to find, recognise and acknowledge talented reggae singers in the UK - there are some real diamonds out there! 

I applaud Jack Reuben and all the team at ReggaeStar Factor for producing a well organised and well presented show, which I am sure will last for years to come. He said to me last night that this is just the beginning. 

One of the definitions I found for the word "support":
"...to uphold (a person, cause, policy, etc.) by aid, countenance, one's vote, etc.; back;

RFUK ARTIST OF THE WEEK - WINSOME MONCRIEFFE-MITCHEL

By Coral Consciouslee
12th August 2015

Seeing this beautiful woman on stage is stunning enough, she has all the glamour from stars of yesteryear. Having read her musical history I have a newfound respect for her perseverance and courage in continuing her musical legacy. 

BIOGRAPHY

Winsome I am sure came out of her mother womb singing as she sings constantly even replies to a question with a song.

At the tender age of six Winsome remember participating in her school primary school production to Eye Level from the Van der Vaulk movie. She also danced to I can see clearly now by Johnny Nash.

She continued singing and dancing in school productions throughout her school life. She would be seen constantly holding a brush at break time pretending to be an artist on Top of the pops back in the 70’s
Winsome greatest influences are from the reggae genre and are Marcia Griffiths, Carroll Thompson and Louisa Marks, she also adores Whitney Houston, Mary J Blige and Keisha Cole

She entered a few talent competitions in Birmingham where she hails from received a recording contract at 17 after wining a singing competition at Tasha’s which never came to fruition. 

She was later introduced to Mr laurel Aitkin’s the ska legend from the sixties well known for the tune “ Guilty of loving you” Michelle Sutherland and Winsome formed a duo called Sugar and Spice and recorded their first tune called Sweet Loving for Mr Aitkins which reached No 2 in the Black Echoes reggae charts. Sugar and Spice enjoyed success and was touring nationally performing regularly.

Some of Winsome’s foundest moments are as follows:-
• Having Carol Thompson one of her favourites and the great Ruby Turner from Birmingham judge her at the competitions that she won.
• Backing Judy Boucher at the London Palladium singer of the great No 1 “I can’t be with you tonight”
• Supporting and backing the great Louis Marks at the Hummingbird Night Club in Birmingham
•Performing at the Indigo 02 in Greenwich on the Giants of Lover Rock in 2013
•Having a launch for her single, a video and photo shoot all in one day
Winsome decided to move to London in 1984 to seek her fortune and to go on to higher education at the London Southbank . She officially joined the lovers rock band Family Love in 1985, the band gave you hits like Anniversary and Decisions. Winsome left the band in 1990 to start a family. The band decided to reform in 2013 and Winsome released “Tell me why”

Family Love band featuring Winsome Moncrieffe—Mitchell released “Hurting Me” on the 2nd April which is receiving some nice reviews e.g.

A woman can relate to the lyrics
Sounds like the real old time lovers rock
Great original 

Winsome feels she sings for women over thirty who have experienced life and can relate to what she sings about.
Winsome is a strong believer in God and gives thanks daily that she is able to sing and go about her everyday life as she experienced a mini stroke on the 1st April 2014 and has had a wake up call to what could have been.

Her day time job is working with young people age 14 - 17 who are under achieving and are not maximising their full potentials, she sometimes organises workshop or events via performing productions to help increase their motivation and raise their aspirations.

She resides in London with her four children and feels she will continue to sing and dance until there is no life left in her. She often says life is for living, we have one life to live so I am going to live it by loving the life I live and living the life I love. Her favourite lyric by Bob Marley is “One good thing about music when it hits you feel no pain”.

RFUK PRODUCER OF THE WEEK - CARLTON "BUBLERS" OGILVIE

By Coral Consciously
5th August 2015

This is definitely someone on my interview hit list....the producer affectionately known as "Bubblers". When reading his biog I had to scale it down before posting because the list reads like a who's who in the music fraterntiy. I encourage every serious-minded music follower to set aside time and read this summary of his history. Keep your eyes open for my interview coming very soon....

BIOG

Turned professional in the early 80’s. Played and co produced on BARRINGTON LEVI’s songs :- 

HERE I COME
TOO EXPERIENCE
DANCEHALL ROCK
LIVING DANGEROUSLY 

Played and Produced on MAXI PRIEST hit album “BONIFIDE”
which went to No. 1 on the American Billboard Album chart 

Played and Produced on ASWAD hit album “RISE & SHINE” including the hit single “SHINE” 

Went on to work with Sly & Robbie on various album projects, with artistsuch as :- 

SUGGS (Madness)
SIMPLY RED
ANNIE LENNOX (Eurhymics)
MAXI PRIEST
DENNIS BOVELL 

Worked and played on various album projects with ADRIAN SHERWOOD of ON-U SOUND along with Doug Winbush & Skip McDonald of the legendary The Sugerhill Gang & Sinead O’Connor. 

Was the main Recording & Mixing Engineer and one of the producers of the UK based RUFF CUTT MUSIC studio and Record Label. 

producing artist like :- 

GREGORY ISSAAC - MYKAL ROZE - BERES HAMMOND
DON RICARDO – MICHAEL GORDON (Investigators)
FREDDIE McGREGGOR – ANTHONY B – SYLVIA TELLA
MIGHTY DIAMONDS – MYKAL ROSE - GAPPY RANKS
PETER HUNNIGALE – RUDY THOMAS – LLOYD BROWN
DONNA MARIE – J C LODGE – JANET KAY – DON CAMPBELL
LUTAN FYAH – DOBBY DOBSON … 

to name but a few… 

Has played Keyboards on over 15 albums for JETSTAR MUSIC 

And is one of the main nucleus (players) with The UK’s top premier backing band – The RUFF CUTT BAND, who have been backing a whole manner of
Reggae artists since 1981 right up to the present day, from DJ’s to
Singers… Just finished producing an album with VICTOR ROMEO EVANS called “SUPAVIC” 

In the middle of producing an album with PAULETTE TAJAH 

And co-producing a few tracks with REGGAE STAR FACTOR winner 

CHARDEL RHODDEN on the NU-EDGE PRODUCTIONS label

NU-EDGE PRODUCTIONS started about 1984 by “Carlton Ogilvie aka BUBBLERS”. The first release was a track called “PUSH PUSH” by SLIM BATSON which was held off the number 1 

Slot by CLEMENT IRIE’S “BUN & CHEESE”. A further release was with THERESA JAE then everything 

Went a bit quiet due to other commitments. I was doing productions for other people such as BARRINGTON LEVY, MAXI PRIEST. ADRIAN SHERWOOD’S ON-U SOUND label, JET STAR,LEE FRANCIS of SMARTMOVE RECORDS, LLOYD CHARMERS & RUFF CUTT MUSIC to name a few. Plus live stage shows and touring…That kept me busy for quite some time. In late 2011 with the music industry slowing down, I decided to go into my own productions again.I done an album with an artist called EMPRESS AYEOLA Intitled “STRAIGHT TO THE POINT” A brilliant Roots album and a brilliant Roots artist. I Also an album with VICTOR ROMEO EVANS Intitled “SUPERVIC”. licked over “LOVE IS A TREASURE”originally by FREDDIE McKAY and I featured artisrs – CARROL THOMPSOM, GAPPY RANKS, PETER HUNNIGALE, VICTOR ROMEO EVANS, JANET KAY, LLOYD BROWN & LUCIANO. Both album and singles were well received. In 2012 I got seriously ill an was out of the picture for almost 2 years but im getting much better so I’m getting back on track, So I can dedicate more time now to my productions(NU-EDGE PRODUCTIONS) I have a new original riddim called the “BIG FROCK RIDDIM” featuring CARROL THOMPSON, VICTOR ROMEO EVANS, EMPRESS AYEOLA, TRU-IDENTITY, DON CAMPBELL, PAULETTE TAJAH & CHAKA DEMUS & PLIERS. Due for release in early Febuary 2015 on Itunes (Download). You can get EMPRESS AYEOLA’s album on Itunes and also the “LOVE IS A TREASURE” series of songs by the artists featured earlier on iTUNES