Italee, Quizz & Friends

From May 4 to July 27, 2010, singer and producer, Italee Watson and entertainment media guru/promoter (Whaddat.com, RETV, YUSH) Carrie “Quizz” Sigurdson get together as RPM Promotions to revamp what was the original current live music night in Kingston – Tuesday nights at Village.

Steve Mullings, the new owner of Village Blues Bar (formerly Village Café), approached Quizz in April to help him get his once hugely popular hang out back on the party map. The bar had been given a complete makeover and is more perfect than ever for an intimate live music experience. Meanwhile, RPM Promotions (Revolutionizing People’s Minds thru Music) was planning their own takeover of the music scene for the betterment of Jamaica and we all agreed this would be the best way to start to build a solid foundation. In 2 short weeks, Italee and Quizz pieced together an outstanding band and line up for the first Tuesday, May 4. We promoted heavily with flyers, plugs on radio, Facebook and Twitter. 100 patrons comprised of media, off duty recording artists and music lovers filed into the Village and watched as newcomer Juss Ice, 90s sensations Gabriel and Singing Sweet, the diva Tami Chynn and Big Ship’s Chino rocked the mic in the small, intimate setting over the young RPM band’s instrumentals. The 2nd in the series was May 11 with Facebook sensation LaLa Nain, Marcus I, G Whizz and Laden. The packed house loved it!

RPM Promotions is “Redefining Live” by partnering an intimate live setting and acoustic band with commercial artists and a disk jockey. Popular party DJ, Richie RAS has come on board as RPM’s “Director of Vinyl” to control the vibes before the show begins. The RPM band is a set of 5 young musicians from the School of Music, handpicked by Italee and Quizz and sure to become a staple on reggae stages everywhere.

Live music without the negativity that plagues our current music is something that everybody wants and needs right now. Jamaica moves with the music so the music is the perfect place to start if we plan on making a difference in our country. The movement starts here!

Tomorrow night, May 18th, Italee & Quizz turn up the volume with a superb showing of chart topping artists including Nickeishia Barnes (Runner up, Rising Stars 2006), Wasp (Unfair Officer) and heavy hitters T.O.K and Gyptian whose song, “Hold Yuh” is currently on several Billboard charts and causing a frenzy in Jamaica.

Now that we’ve gotten the organising and logistics down pat and over 4 dozen artists booked so far (including Tarrus Riley, Sezi, Assassin, Tifa, Timberlee, rock band Downstairs, Crimson Heart Replica, Tanya Stephens, Konshens, Munga Honorable and Italee herself), we can concentrate on pushing the series even harder. The news has already spread like wild fire through the music community, and we invite you to come support the movement.