REGGAE IN THE PARK

REGGAE IN THE PARK|REGGAE IN THE PARK
Photo by Tangerine Clarke|Photo by Tangerine Clarke

Grammy award-winning reggae band, Morgan Heritage returned to its native Brooklyn for a historic free concert at the Prospect Park Band shell last Friday, attracting thousands of excited fans who danced and waved their hands in the air to some of the group’s popular songs, and selections from their new album, “Strictly Roots.”

The phenomenal concert celebrated the 38th Annual BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn Festival, that welcomed the world-renowned professed reggae royalty whose legendary Jamaica-born father Delroy Morgan appeared on stage, sending the crowd wild, as Roy “Gramps” Morgan ‘big- up’ ‘dad’ for inspiring his children to become singers — before presenting him with the Grammy Certificate from the music awards show last February.Morgan Heritage won Best Reggae Album at that event.

The humidity in the atmosphere did not deter reggae lovers who clambered in front of the stage as the dred-locked artists put on a high octane performance singing hits — “Down by the River” and “Perfect Love Song,” and preached ‘we’ “Wanna Be Loved,” whether black or white, wrong or right.

Peter “Peetah” Morgan invited a fan to the front of stage to sing along — “She’s Still Loving Me” a favorite, as the bass guitarist revved up the sound during an evening of unadulterated reggae music by the mega stars, who recently packed Mandela Park in Amsterdam.

The performers whose 10th studio album is climbing up the charts – were born in Bushwick, and paid tribute to some of reggae greats, turning up the temperature with “I am not afraid” by Etana, Toots and the Maytals’ “Bam Bam” and a medley of Bob Marley’s hits.

For almost two hours, fans jammed to the infectious music of Peter “Peetah” Morgan, Roy “Gramps” Morgan, Nakhamyah “Lukes” Morgan, and Memmalatel “Mr. Mojo” Morgan, who inherited the illustrious music that became the most loved in the world.

“Love and respect to African people, Caribbean people. Hispanic, white people don’t forget where you come from because one day we have to go back.”

“We are known as the reggae family, we play reggae music to bring people together,” said lead singer Roy Morgan to a screaming crowd that wanted more of the bands adoring music, after the set was over.

The show ended with the “Lord’s Prayer” sang in the style of reggae.

BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn Festival opened the night’s entertainment with British Dependency, a trio from Anguilla with global ambition that put on an electrifying performance of reggae, funk and pop influences.

Their most recent record, “Finding Wisdom,” was recorded at Tuff Gong Recording Studio in Kingston, Jamaica. It earned them a spot touring with The Wailers last year.

The summer series will continue with Dr. Dog with the Knights on Friday, 12, and Andra Day / Son Little on Saturday, 13 at 7:30 pm.

To learn more, log on to www.bricartsmedia.org.

Roy “Grumps” Morgan performing during the 38th Annual BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn Festival in Prospect Park.
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Photo by Tangerine Clarke