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KADS MIIDA. VISUAL ARTIST FOR ERNEST RANGLIN & THE ALPHARIANS "JUST WHAT IT IS" FEATURING TAN TAN

5/20/2018

Kads Miida, a Tokyo-based visual artist created the throwback visual for the cover of the upcoming release, Just What It Is by Ernest Ranglin And The Alpharians Featuring Edward 'Tan Tan' Thornton. Click here to get your copy!

Visual Artist Kads Miida was born in Kyoto, and is now a Tokyo resident. Mr Miida fuses art and music. Since his first opportunity to paint a mural for a reggae club, Mr Miida says he was inspired by the energy of reggae music. As told to designer Maria Papaefstathiou, Miida says since the first time “I touched the riddim of Reggae [it] fit well with me, and I thought that I would like to paint simply the energy. I want to show the people what I see in the dancehall culture and reggae riddims.”

Facebook| facebook.com/kadsmiida Instagram| @kadsmiida

HAVE YOU HEARD? GIVE A GIFT AND GET A GIFT!

5/14/2018

In celebration of Alpha’s 138th anniversary on May 1, 2018, Alpha is pleased to give back to the school’s supporters a special musical gift–a pre-release copy of the song “Just What It Is” (Pop Up Music JA) recorded by the acclaimed guitarist Ernest Ranglin accompanied by Alpha past students. Indeed all the musicians donated their services with Alpha, and you, our friends and family, in mind. We are grateful to them for their generosity and their music and we look forward to sharing it with you.

LEGENDS OF JAMAICAN JAZZ REUNITE TO BENEFIT ALPHA

5/1/2018

From his role in Jamaica’s first smash hit, Millie Small’s “My Boy Lollipop”, to his eclectic contributions to Jamaican jazz and reggae, 85-year old Jamaican guitarist Ernest Ranglin is the elder statesman of Jamaican music. Challenging him for the position might be 86-year old Edward ‘Tan Tan’ Thornton, a graduate of the Alpha Boys School whose training at Alpha launched an amazingly varied work experiences--from performing with Eric Deans Orchestra as a teenager to a Beatles recording session as a young man and now touring with Rockabilly Punk outfit Kitty, Daisy & Lewis. Pop Up Music JA is pleased to partner with some of Jamaica's most influential musicians on this, its debut, Friday, June 1 release.

Until June 1 "Just What It Is" will be available exclusively on the Alpha Boys School website > alphaboysschool.org.

DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR REGGAE POSTER CONTEST

3/4/2018

The International Reggae Poster Contest (IRPC) is an initiative designed to celebrate positive international reggae culture. The contest highlights the globalization of reggae and the resounding impact of its message. The contest was founded by Michael Thompson and Maria Papaefstathiou in 2011. The umbrella term “reggae,” as used by the organizers of the International Reggae Poster Contest, encompasses all the popular Jamaican musical genres: Ska, Rocksteady, Roots Reggae, Dub, Dancehall and the unique Jamaican Sound System.

Click here for the IRPC website and links to submit your work.

MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA DONATES A COPY OF "MAN IN THE STREET" TO EVERY REGGAE AUCTION BIDDER!

2/24/2018

This year, everyone who bids on any item in the Reggae Auction (click here) will receive a complimentary digital copy of "Man In The Street" recorded by the Melbourne Ska Orchestra!

Originally recorded by the Skatalites featuring Alpha past student Don Drummond, "Man In The Street" is a ska classic!

REGGAE AUCTION 2018 PROUD TO INCLUDE ASTRO SAULTER IN ITS CONTEMPORARY ART CATEGORY

1/30/2018

"Ackee" by Astro Saulter

The 2nd Annual International Reggae Auction is set to launch Feb 1 and continues through Reggae Month with a special auction event to close the month-long charity campaign on February 28. This year, we are especially pleased to include artwork from Jamaican artist Astro Saulter in the items up for bid. Proceeds from the sale of the work by Mr Saulter, who has cerebral palsy, will support Mr Saulter's healthcare expenses.

Watch the video below to learn more about Mr Saulter and stay tuned for the details about the art up for bid...

URBAN SUNSET. A TRIBUTE TO DEADLEY HEADLEY

12/16/2017

Tredd Smith films presents Saxsemilla. A salute to Headley Bennett and The Alpha Boys School.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF REGGAE MUSIC

12/3/2017

Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broad sense to refer to most types of popular Jamaican dance music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that evolved out of the earlier genres like Ska and Rocksteady. The shift from Rocksteady to reggae was illustrated by the organ shuffle pioneered by Jamaican musicians like Jackie Mittoo and Winston Wright.

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ALPHA ALL STARS & RAE TOWN OLD HITS UNITE IN OLD HARBOUR BAY

10/19/2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS LOU

9/7/2017

Louise Simone Bennett-Coverley or Miss Lou, OM, OJ, MBE (7 September 1919 – 26 July 2006), was a Jamaican poet, folklorist, writer, and educator. Writing and performing her poems in Jamaican Patois or Creole, she worked to preserve the practice of presenting poetry, folk songs and stories in patois ("nation language"). Visit her website here.