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  • REGGAE NIGHT III BRINGS JAMAICAN FLAVOR TO THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL
  • Aug. 8, 2004
  • Bunny Wailer, Luciano, and The Skatalites
    Make Their Hollywood Bowl Debuts

    KCRW'S World Festival

    SUNDAY, AUGUST 8, AT 7 PM

    Media support provided by KCRW

    Following the wild success of the last two year's jammin' World Reggae celebration, the Hollywood Bowl presents Reggae Night III, a world-class Jamaican sequel on Sunday, August 8, at 7 p.m. In an evening of Hollywood Bowl debuts, the legendary Bunny Wailer headlines the night with Luciano and The Skatalites for some of the best reggae in the Southland's favorite outdoor music venue.

    Bunny Wailer - the last surviving member of the original Wailers - brings a roots-rock force to the Bowl while Luciano grooves with his dancehall rock and R&B-tinged reggae. Ska masters The Skatalites open the evening giving the Bowl's audience a sampling of reggae's infectious sounds.

    Reggae Night III is the fourth concert of KCRW's 2004 World Music Festival at the Hollywood Bowl, which was created in partnership with KCRW (89.9 FM/National Public Radio). The six-concert series continues with World Hip Hop on August 29 featuring Wyclef Jean, Thomas Mapfumo (with DJ) and Control Machete; and American Roots, featuring Lyle Lovett, Shelby Lynne and eastmountainsouth, on
    September 12.

    BUNNY WAILER teamed with Peter Tosh and Bob Marley to form the Wailers in 1964. Marley's closest friend, Bunny Wailer is the only surviving original Wailer. Born Neville Livingston in 1947, he attended the Stepney All Age School with Bob in Nine Miles, and the two young boys became good friends. Bob and Bunny were captivated by the Kingston sound systems of Sir Coxsone Dodd, Duke Reid, and Prince Buster. The two boys learned rhythm and melody in Joe Higgs' Third Street Yard, where they met Peter Tosh. Encouraged by Higgs, the three formed a musical unit, the Teenagers, and were signed to Coxsone Dodd's Studio One label in December 1964. The Wailers hit number one with "Simmer Down" in February 1964. A steady stream of rude boy singles in 1964 and 1965 cemented the Wailers' reputation. Bunny teamed up with Marley and Tosh to record several more albums, two with Lee Perry and two with Island, Catch A Fire and Burnin'. Bunny left the Wailers in 1974. This performance marks his Hollywood Bowl debut.

    In Jamaica in the mid-'50s, a fledgling recording industry saw the birth of what became known as ska. Created by fusing boogie-woogie blues, R&B, jazz, mento, calypso, and African rhythms, ska became the first truly Jamaican music and by the 60's all the vocalist were swarming to the studios to record their songs to this infectious new beat. THE SKATALITES Tommy McCook, Rolando Alphonso, Johnny Moore, Lester Sterling, Don Drummond, Lloyd Knibb, Lloyd Brevett, Jerry Haynes, and Jackie Mittoo began working together in 1963 and formed The Ska-talites in May 1964, when they recorded their first album. Their most recent album, From Paris with Love, was released in 2003. This performance is their Hollywood Bowl debut.

    LUCIANO - a superstar in his native Jamaica - performs a soulful and spiritual blend of rock and R& B-tinged reggae. He began his musical career singing in church and proceeded to work with prominent reggae producers for labels such as Aquarius and Sky High. After taking a two-year hiatus from performing in 1993, Luciano returned to the music scene in 1995, when he released Where There is Life. His most recent albums are Great Controversy and A New Day. This concert marks Luciano's Hollywood Bowl debut.

    EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

    Sunday, August 8, at 7:00 p.m.

    KCRW's World Festival

    HOLLYWOOD BOWL, 2301 N. Highland Ave. in Hollywood

    Reggae Night III

    BUNNY WAILER

    LUCIANO

    THE SKATALITES

    RAUL CAMPO, host

    Media support provided by KCRW

    Tickets ($1 - $76) are on sale now at the Hollywood Bowl Box Office, by calling Ticketmaster at 213.480.3232, at all Ticketmaster outlets (Robinsons May, Tower Records and Ritmo Latino locations), or online at HollywoodBowl.com. Groups of 12 or more may be eligible for a 20% discount, subject to availability; call 323.850-2050 for further details. For general information or to request a brochure, call 323.850.2000.

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  • Contact:

    Ryan Jimenez, 213.972.3405; for photos: Ellie Lloyd, 213.972.3448