Organizers of the upcoming “Jamaica Strong” hurricane relief concert in New York have reaffirmed their ambitious goal of raising US$1 million to support Hurricane Melissa rebuilding efforts in Jamaica.
“Our goal is to make at least a million dollars for the Jamaica Strong Relief Concert,” Jammins Entertainment CEO George Crooks said at the recent ‘Jamaica Strong’ relief radiothon held at De Islands Restaurant in Queens. Thousands of dollars in relief items were dropped off by patriotic Jamaicans and friends of Jamaica; these will be packaged and shipped to the island.
“That is the minimum we’re aiming for at this event,” Crooks added, emphasizing that the goal reflects both the scale of the crisis in Jamaica and the strength of the diaspora in answering the call.
Kacy Rankine, CEO of Roadblock Radio and co-producer of the Jamaica Strong event, amplified Crooks’ call during the radiothon, saying, “This is New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania… the whole USA coming together. We’re going to send something big to Jamaica.”
The benefit concert, headlined by Shaggy and Sean Paul, will take place at the UBS Arena in Queens, NY, on Friday, December 12. The lineup just got bigger: Reggae Queen Marcia Griffiths and gospel star Kevin Downswell were announced as additions over the weekend. The concert is being hailed in music circles as the largest unified diaspora response to a hurricane ever.
“This is more than a concert,” quipped Bobby Clarke, CEO of Irie Jam Foundation, one of the co-producers of the event. “This is recovery, this is rebuilding. I am extremely proud of the Jamaican diaspora. Our goal is to send over a million dollars back home to help families whose lives were ravaged by Hurricane Melissa.”
Marcia Griffiths, one of the most revered voices in reggae history, and Kevin Downswell, known for modern gospel anthems of strength and hope, are both expected to deliver pivotal moments on the UBS stage.
“We are truly honored to have a reggae legend of the stature of Marcia Griffiths perform at the Jamaica Strong Concert at the UBS Arena,” Rankine shared. “She will be going all out to entertain fans and sweep them away with musical treasures.”
Griffiths gained international recognition with Bob Andy in 1970 for their cover of Nina Simone’s “Young, Gifted and Black,” which sold half a million copies in the UK and Europe. She also scored a massive global Billboard hit as a solo artist with “Electric Boogie.”
“Marcia represents the foundation of our culture, and Downswell brings the spiritual uplift our people need right now,” Clarke said, echoing the urgency. “Jamaica needs all of us to help lift the pain and suffering in western Jamaica, and we’re stepping up.”
Net proceeds from the concert will support housing reconstruction, school repairs, and emergency assistance in storm-ravaged parishes.
Tickets are on sale, with promoters urging supporters to act as momentum builds.
