Dancehall 360 Degrees Inc.: 2012-11-18

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Forty Years and A Remake

This month marks 40 years since the release of Perry Henzell's sensational movie The Harder They Come which helped introduce Jamaican pop culture to the world. Today, the Jamaica Observer concludes a series of stories on the film's impact and persons who were involved with it.

There will be a remake of The Harder They Come. Justine Henzell, daughter of Perry Henzell, the director/writer behind the classic 1972 film, told the Jamaica Observer last week that production on the project will start in 2013.

Henzell said she is keeping details of the new film "close to my chest".

Remaking outstanding films has become the norm for Hollywood in recent years. Producers in Tinseltown have made millions of dollars putting a fresh spin on movies like Scarface, The Nutty Professor, The Manchurian Candidate and 3:10 To Yuma.

While the plots are basically similar to the originals, the remakes are usually edgier, especially in the case of Scarface which starred Al Pacino, and 3:10 To Yuma which saw incredible acting from Russell Crowe and Christian Bale.

Interestingly, The Harder They Come was based on the exploits of Ivanhoe 'Rhygin' Martin, a St Catherine drifter who terrorised sections of west Kingston in the late-940s. Jimmy Cliff starred as Ivan, a country boy who travels to Kingston looking for a break as a singer in the music business. It does not materialise, and eventually he turns to a life of crime.

Kingston's gritty ghettos provided the perfect backdrop for the film which was an international sensation and made Cliff a superstar.

Who will play Ivan in the new film? Can that person be as raw as Cliff? Here are some potential candidates.

Mavado: Born in the tough Cassava Piece area of St Andrew, the 'Gully God' has genuine urban credentials. Mavado spent time as a youth in St Mary, which means he has some appreciation for rural life, a requirement for Ivan.

Bushman: The singer can identify with Cliff's Ivan. From Lyssons, a fishing area in St Thomas, he came to Kingston in the early 1990s and hung out at Arrows studio in the city's east end, yearning for that big break which came with Call The Hearse.

I-Wayne: Another singer who did the studio rounds (in his native Portmore and Kingston) before scoring with two chart hits in 2004. Familiarity with the tedium and rejection that go hand in hand with the music business may be a good thing for the Ivan résumé.

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Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/What-to-expect-from-The-Harder-They-Come-II-_13006704#ixzz2CrkCVJSq

Louise Frazer-Bennett Remembered

Louise Frazer-Bennett

WITH her raspy voice and no-nonsense attitude, Louise Frazer-Bennett etched her name as one of dancehall's foremost artiste managers, booking agent and mentor for more than two decades.

She had a hand in the careers of Wayne 'Sleng Teng' Smith, Tenor Saw, Captain Barkey and Wickerman, Ghost and Culture, Charlie Chaplain, Junior Reid, as well as Ninja Man and Bounty Killer.

Frazer-Bennett died on October 12, 2003, four days after being admitted to the University Hospital of the West Indies after complaining about severe headaches. She was 50 years old.

Howard McGowan, former entertainment editor at The Gleaner and close friend of Frazer-Bennett, remembers her as a shrewd businesswoman in a male-dominated industry.

"Louise would go the extra mile for her artistes and would haggle with producers and promoters to get the best deal for them," said McGowan, who covered the entertainment scene from 1979 to 1997.

"She commanded attention, not because of the unfortunate incident which scarred her face and hands but her business acumen," he continued.

Frazer-Bennett's in-your-face personality, gold jewellery, and outlandish fashions, added to her appeal.

"She was a colourful character but well respected in the industry," McGowan said.

One of six children born in the battle-hardened community in Jones Town in St Andrew, she was no stranger to social struggles. And, like her younger brother, former Jamaica and West Indies cricketer, Richard Austin, she was seldom out of the spotlight.

Producer and sound system owner Hugh 'Redman' James, like Frazer-Bennett, was a founding member the Sound System Association of Jamaica. Started in the early the 1990s, the union sought to bring 'soundmen' under one umbrella.

"Louise brought a lot to the table. She was head cook and bottlewasher once you say music, whether you be an artiste or sound system operator. You could call her anytime of the night. She was never too tired to listen," James told the Jamaica Observer.

James — who started the sound system Redman International in 1983 and five years later changed it to Jamrock — produced Tippa Lee & Rappa Robert's 1998 hit album Nuh Trouble We. He also had moderate success with singer Carl Meeks, all on his Redman International label.

He said Frazer-Bennett bargained with royalty collection organisation American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) to get the best deal for sound system operators.

"We even had Lord Anthony Gifford as lawyer for the Association," he said, adding that Frazer-Bennett would urge members to play Festival songs at their gigs.

"She distributed the songs herself," James continued.

"She fought for all concerned with the business and didn't get her due because she went too soon," he said.