Entertainment

BITTER 'BLOOD' - Junior Reid lashes out at Sumfest organisers

FORMER BLACK UHURU member Junior 'One Blood' Reid has beef with the Sumfest Promoters.

His grouse comes from his non-appearance on the show for over 10 years now, despite his presence on the local and international scene.

Reid returned just this week from a stint in Montreal, Canada, with his sons and the One Blood family, and will soon jet off for a United States tour which ends in September. He told THE WEEKEND STAR that he cannot understand why an artiste of his ranking has not been booked for Reggae Sumfest.

"I am disappointed with the Sumfest people them, cause they say they represent cultural artiste, yet they leave off Junior Reid from the lineup for so long," Reid complained. "Reid is a foundation cultural artiste from a long time, who loves to perform for the people dem so I can't understand it."

Reid added that he has not performed at that show for 12 years but he is not bitter about it. He noted, however, that he could not help asking questions about the methods used to choose the artistes who get to perform on the show.

"I am not against any of the artiste dem who already on the show still, but I feel that Junior Reid is a big enough artiste to be on the show too...I feel that I am current. Put Junior Reid on any show right now and he can close it. I am current and in the youths dem sights...I think it (his omission) is deliberate."

Responding to the charge, Sumfest spokesperson Johnny Gourzong denied slighting or targeting Reid.

"What I can say to that is that there was nothing deliberate about that (Reid's omission)," Gourzong explained. "We have to put out x number of artistes on all the nights, from young acts to the big ones, and the numbers are tight."

"We have the utmost of respect for Mr Reid. In fact, I listen to his music all the time...We would never deliberately slight an artiste like that."

As Gourzong outlined, Sumfest organisers have a formula which they use for selecting the artistes who will work on the show each year.

"We look at currency, who has strong appeal in the marketplace at the time. Overall we look at the marketability of the artiste. We have no reason to pick an artiste and deliberately leave them out of the show," Gourzong continued, hinting that Reid's luck with the show may change soon.

Junior 'One Blood' Reid has been one of the most lasting faces of Roots Rock Reggae music. He surfaced in the group Black Uhuru in 1986 following the departure of Mykal Rose. Four years later he left and began a decorated solo career which took him on tours all over the world. He has also collaborated with several international acts, to produce some memorable hits over the years.

Among some of his best are All Fruits Ripe, Banana Boat Man, Listen To The Voices, and the unforgettable One Blood.