By Stephen Weir

Black History Month brings to  Canada  entertainers  from the Caribbean who might not normally  make the   trip  in the cold months.

Come February, a  Tribute to the Legends of Reggae  will be held first in Brampton and then in Montreal, with over 30 singers, comedians and musicians from Jamaica,   including  Lieutenant Stitchie, Tiger,  Pinchers and Canadian-based Exco Levi.

The Tribute will be performed first at the 600-seat Rose Theatre in downtown Brampton on Saturday February 16 (doors open 7 p.m.) Then 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 Denise Jones told the Caribbean Camera.  “

“Be it B Town or Montreal, come prepared to dance all night and sing along with lyrics that make you laugh and celebrate the Diaspora cultural tradition of The Griot, telling our stories.”

“ This is our fifth Trib to the Legends of Reggae during Black History Month, continuing from our 12-year run of our Trib to Bob Marley,”

“We decided that this was the right opportunity to pay tribute artists who have contributed significantly to the global growth of reggae and are with us to hear us say ‘thank you’ – as we remember those who are no longer with us.”

As part of the evening programme Juno Award winning reggae singer Exco Levi will perform a tribute to the late Garnett Silk, a Jamaican reggae musician and Rastafarian, known for his powerful smooth voice. In the early 1990s he was a rising talent. However, his career was cut short in 1994 when he died attempting to save his mother from a burning house.

MC for the two concerts will be former Much Music VJ, Master T. The TD Bank is sponsoring the shows as part of their support for Black History Month.

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