Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

Art Bites:  Happy Birthday Bob! One Love Wishes From The 6Ix.  Saturday was Bob Marley Day in the city of Toronto. For the 30th year in a row, the city has issued an official proclamation in honour of Jamaica’s reggae icon. Marley, who was born on February 6th, 1945 died in 1981, is honoured around the globe on the 6th for his music and his legacy of promoting peace.  “ Bob Marley always tried to use his influence to help tear down the walls of apartheid and promote unity,” said John Tory, the mayor of Toronto, as he read the city proclamation on camera ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQwcfgBR_IU&feature=youtu.be ). “Today his music continues to inspire and uplift people throughout the world.” Every year the Bob Marley Day Committee holds a ceremony in Toronto to mark February 6th.  During the ceremony the committee, headed up by Toronto lawyer Courtney Betty, always recognize individuals for their contribution in “building our City and our country.” In 2021,...

Caribbean stars win big at JUNOs By Stephen Weir A long anticipated and much delayed award ceremony took place on line over the past week. The JUNOS, which honour Canada’s best recording artists, were originally scheduled to be given out on stage in Saskatoon in mid-March but were cancelled because of the Virus lockdown.  On Monday evening the 42 JUNO Awards were presented online. The big winners were  singer-songwriter Alessia Cara (3 awards) and Sean Mendes (Single of the Year Award). For the second year in a row, nine-time JUNO Award winner Avril Lavigne won for JUNO Fan Choice Three Caribbean Canadian performers from the GTA were nominated for Junos in the categories of Reggae, R&B /Soul Recording and Rap. Brampton’s Daystar Peterson (aka Tory Lanez) Tory Lanez maintained his reign of the Rap Recording of the Year category, marking his third consecutive win, as well as being the first artist to win in both the Rap Recording and R...

Champion drops and the world listens.  By Stephen Weir It was the wind that brought Reggae singer Exco Levi a powerful message crying out to be made into a song. Two and half years later that message finally dropped, Champion has arrived! Five-time Juno award winner and long-time Canadian reggae star Exco Levi released his new single Champion to a global audience last Friday, and this song of hope already has begun to find a following. “ You know I let my songs come to me. Sometimes it takes a little time, but, with what is going on in the world right now it has been worth the wait,” Levi told the Caribbean Camera yesterday. “ I sing about Drizzy and Usain Bolt, and others, but they are just a fraction of the vast glorious people who are all around us.  When I sing about being a champion, it is not just about sports or music. You can be a Champion in anything you do.  I say be a champion for Faith.” Levi sees his song as a siren call to the globa...

Tribute to the Legends of Reggae By Stephen Weir Denise Jones announces Tribute line-up at BHM launch   The exciting thing about Black History Month is that it brings to this country Caribbean entertainer who might not normally tour in a cold cold Canadian winter.   On Saturday February 16 th and Sunday February 17 th there will be Tribute to the Legends of Reggae performed first in Brampton and then in Montreal, with over 30 singers, comedians and musicians including Jamaica’s Lieutenant Stitchie, Tiger, Pinchers and Canada’s Exco Levi. The Tribute will be performed first at the 600-seat Rose Theatre in downtown Brampton on Saturday night (doors open 7pm).   On Sunday the show takes to the road for a performance in Quebec at the Jamaica Association of Montreal Hall, 4065 Jean-Talon West.   “ Yes it will be a party of 30 who will ride in a luxury coach to Montreal to warm up the Belle Province with dancehall lyrics and rhythms,” promoter Denis...