Diamonds mark 41 years in reggae

Diamonds mark 41 years in reggae

Couples who sustain wedded union for four decades are often regaled to be unique, outstanding and at least tolerant of each other.

But for a trio to accomplish such time-honored anniversary is worthy of a gala celebration.

“The Mighty Diamonds 41st Anniversary Dinner and Fashion Show” delivered such a celebration last Sunday at Nakisaki when fans and well-wishers gathered to laud the three harmony-singing reggae talents.

The landmark achievement was regaled as an historical event with Nassau County handing citations to the trio for their outstanding careers in the field of music.

Raymond Thomas from The Nassau County Department of Community Development and Herb Flores from The Nassau County Department for Minority Affairs presented honors to Donald “Tabby” Shaw, Fitzroy “Bunny” Simpson and Lloyd “Judge” Ferguson.

The trio united in 1969 in Trench Town, Kingston. Revered for being the most consistent and long-running vocal trio in Jamaican musical history, their sweet harmonies and conscious lyrics are perhaps one of the reasons they have remained a permanent unit.

Their polished performances have not hindered their enduring sustainability.

Brooklynite Use Facebook To Launch

Rocker Campaign

When three fans of pop, rocker Tina Turner logged onto social web portal Facebook.com earlier this year, they aimed high – to serve notice on the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences that the ‘most glamorous rocker’ in music should be lauded with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Although Shaun Rasmussen lives in New York; Anja Offerman in Germany and Richard Hudson in the United Kingdom, the three collaborated to wage a campaign that would mobilize hundreds to sign on in support.

Rasmussen resides in our midst and is most known for his flighty feet, which annually lift Brooklyn’s Something Positive Dance Company during numerous cultural presentations.

He and his two European collaborators were instrumental in a successful fan campaign initiated to bring Turner’s 1989 hit song “The Best” back to the UK Charts.

Within weeks of launching the campaign, the song re-emerged on the UK Top 10, making Turner the female artist with the longest span of Top 10 hits on the UK singles chart. “Turner is an American national treasure, a global icon and the undisputed queen of rock n’ roll,” they agreed.

It is for that reason and the fact “after more than 50-years in music, Turner is still simply the best and deserving of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.”

They joined forces to start a campaign on the social networking site to get the iconic rocker the prestigious Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Since they founded the page, more than 10,000 people have signed up in support of their campaign.

To handle the level of fans logging on each week to post notes, photographs and videos created in support of Turner receiving the award, the site is now managing the page. Regarded as one of the world’s most popular entertainers, she is the most successful female rock artist in music history and was named “one of the greatest singers of all time” by Rolling Stone Magazine.

In a career that spans more than 50 years, Turner’s records have sold nearly 200 million copies worldwide.

The Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee was the first woman to grace the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine and the first Black woman to grace the cover of Vanity Fair Magazine.

Additionally, Tina Turner has broken concert attendance records worldwide and is reported to have sold more concert tickets than any other solo music performer in history.

To reflect on such an extraordinary life, Walt Disney Pictures produced the 1993 biopic of Turner’s life.

The title taken from the smash hit single “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” proved an enticing attraction.

The film grossed more than $60 million worldwide.

Turner is famous for her energetic stage performances, trademark choreography, powerful vocals, career longevity, widespread appeal and ageless beauty. In 2000, Turner retired from large scale touring.

She toured to declare her decision and titled it “Twenty Four Seven Millennium Tour.” The tour grossed more than $100 million.

In 2005, she released the greatest hits packaged “All The Best” which debuted at number two on the U.S. Pop charts with just 4 days of promotion.

Later that year, Oprah Winfrey at her Legends Ball honored the rocks’s monarch and subsequently received a Kennedy Center honor.

In 2008, after a hugely successful Grammy awards performance with Beyonce, the then 68-year-old Turner left semi-retirement to embark on the “Tina! – 50th anniversary tour.” With limited promotion, the 17- city tour ballooned to 95 sell out dates and grossed $130 million.

The tour featured five concert nights at London’s 02 Arena and became the venue’s highest grossing shows of 2009.

Catch You On The Inside!