Tarrus Riley
WESTERN BUREAU:
Award winning reggae crooner Tarrus Riley is confirmed for the Irie Jamboree festival slated for Labour Day, Sunday, September 6, at the York College Outdoor Complex in Jamaica, New York.
Riley, whose new album, Contagious, boasts tracks like Start A New (Cut it Off) and his current smash hit Good Girl Gone Bad, will be featured in the Roots segment with singer Gramps Morgan (currently on tour with John Legend and India Irie), Etana, Queen Ifrica, Tony Rebel, Natural Blacks, Ras Shiloh, Bushman and Ras Penco.
"Tarrus Riley is one of the most powerful voices in reggae right now," states Irie Jamboree Executive Louis Grant. "Tarrus is a heavy-hitting talent and we are excited about his performance on Irie Jamboree 2009."
Born Omar Riley, he is the son of veteran Jamaican singer Jimmy Riley (formerly of the vocal trio The Uniques), and nurse Lavern Tatham - he, therefore, refers to his songs as "healing music".
While he recorded his earliest singles as a precocious teenager for his father's Love and Promotion label, it was his mother who played the primary role in encouraging his musical talents.
She suggested he adopt his birth sign, Taurus, as his stage name back when he initially began deejaying over dancehall beats. Finding deejaying somewhat limiting, Tarrus began to further explore songwriting and singing.
Challenges
By the time Tarrus released Challenges in 2004, he had tweaked the spelling of his name and sang on each of his self-penned tracks. Produced by Dean 'Sax' Fraser, Challenges (rereleased by VP Records in 2008) yielded several Jamaican hits including the unwavering Rastafarian statement Barber Chair and a joyous celebration of music, Take Me Higher.
Other acts confirmed for Irie Jamboree 2009 are Grammy winner Sean Paul, Mr Vegas, TOK, Assassin, Spice, Chino, Barbee, Anthony Cruz and Laden who will perform in the 'Dancehall Hotshots' segment.
Pinchers, Daddy Lizard, Shinehead, Flourgon and Lady G will be featured in the '80s/90s Rub A Dub session, while singers Freddy McGregor, Ken Boothe and Sugar Minott will perform in the Vintage segment. Steele, Humble and Tasha T from Toronto, Canada, are also billed to perform.