GT Taylor

The lifespan of an entertainer is unpatriotic as the winter breeze on a tropical breeze. For a particular and peculiar moment, you will wear the pyjamas of a cat and the next fleeting days, you are an overweight dinosaur. It takes a particular magic, stamina, charm and luck, to remain a legend even for a decade and still be relevant with the ever-changing times. Roy George Taylor is a Jamaican icon that has remains relevant in the entertainment industry from the late sixties to present times. This young entertainer has been able to maintain a distinct hypnotic aura over his audience and is not ready to roll over and die. This genius has been able to reinvent himself and create a niche in broadcasting, acting, show promoting, and record producing, as a compeer among other functions, in the wide range of entertainment services.George Taylor was born in Kingston on November 23 1949.He attended Russells and All Saints All Age, Vauxhall High. Kinston Technical before Medgar Evers College 9in New York where live for 13 years. A popular emcee from the late sixties, he got involved in acting and played major role in plays such as the Village Rooster, Gun Court Affair, and Obeah Wedding among others. He had the chance to create history as the person to compeer the first set of Tastee Talent Shows .He was deeply involved in stand up comedy when he migrated to New York and formed a group called the Ticklers and created a buzz and prominence in the nightclub scene in the tri-states area for many years.GT Taylor returned to Jamaica in the early nineties. He started the Occasions Club in Braes River St Elizabeth. This hip club along with its weekly talent shows co-produced by Howard Hendriks (of Linkz FM ) was able to draw attention to the young growing dancehall movement in the early nineties and was soon to be awarded Best Rural Club in Jamaica several times. The highpoint to the popularity of the club was the hosting of a 21 sound clash never before in the history of Dancehall Jamaica. He moved to Whitehouse Westmoreland with a name change to Club Classique. He then returned to Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth with the same flavour .However with the economic crisis and the dwindling value of the dollar, he was forced to close the club in the early part of the new millennium.The deep love for the microphone led GT Taylor into the world of radio. A brief stint as a freelance announcer with Radio Jamaica led him to Jamaica’s hottest radio station Irie FM where he has been working for over 12 years .The high popularity of his Thursday and Friday night shows has opened the opportunity to emcee at top events such as Sting, Reggae Sunfest, Sunsplash both yard and abroad .He has been the leader in the polls/ratings in the Jamaica with the number one night show for years. He has won several awards local and international for his contribution to radio. The nights at Irie FM would not be irie without GT Taylor.GT Promotions, his company is integral to his success. Due to the high demand for playing music in the dancehall, he created his crew called the GT Aggregation that has been ramming dancehall weekly at home and abroad since early 2000.One of the high point of his success is the respectability garnered of playing in competition with the cult legend of David Rodigan from London. These occasions had been the talk of the town for weeks.GT Taylor was always encountering a great problem with space. From the days of Occasion Club in Braes River, there was never sufficient space to host his show. This led to changing concepts to develop a Christmas show in a park which was christened GT Taylor Extravaganza. For the past seven years this show has been at either Font Hill Beach Park or Black River Independence Park in St Elizabeth. He has been able to select from the wide cross section of artistes across the different genres that is from the reggae tree. It is of no surprise to see Beenie Man, John Holt, VBZ Kartel, Morgan Heritage, Richie Innocent, Ken Boothe, Elephant Man. Luciano, Perfect, TOK, Tanya Stephens among others performing on one show for the night. One could never describe George as a self-centred person as he always gives to charities such as to the Black River Hospital among others from the proceeds of the show. His love for his home parish of St Elizabeth is unquestionable in supporting the sick and the needy.GT Taylor has just started experimenting in record production. This was not a dream but rose from the demand of the youths in the business that felt he is an avenue that their voices can be heard. With his first album about to hit the streets, a unique characteristic is that the compilation is a mixture of established and fresh talents. He is known to assist the career of young artistes by playing good songs that some other disc overlooked. Gt Taylor is overlooked. Gt Taylor is the man that is loved by artistes and fans alike across the growing world of Reggae.GT Taylor is still the man to watch. This man will still be the Dance Hall master for years to come.THE GT TAYLOR MAGNUM EXTRAVAGANZAFrom the Ringside By Howard HendriksThe number seven is celestial. The number seven is an anniversary usually counted as a positive turning point. Wise men states that if you can travel the pathway of seven years in a marriage, than the tendency for divorce lie in the dust. Nature and the almighty one had been a major factor and partner in making the seventh staying the most successful since its genesis. The management of Magnum Wine should not be able to “find a bottle with a cork” on Christmas night, everything sells off. I have been participating at shows at Independence Park, Black Power St. Elizabeth since 1985 and this is the first time for years, I have not seen any grass.The show kicks off at 10:10pm under the tutelage of the mad man of LINKZ FM Howard “Worries” Hendriks after he had introduced the SANE Band. The lovely girls from the Computer Paul, Boot Camp label, “Make Boy Cry” spiced up the anxious and impatient crowd. Stacious was fat, phat and nice as she stamped her class and she was followed by the CAMP and Hi-Octane. Homeboy, Easy Wayne pioneered the blazing of the first set of fire. He gave a class about the different Towns of St. Elizabeth and the herb they produce in the Ganja Parish. It was an ever glowing Nanko the rising Down sound star that thrill the ladies with “Lucky You”, “Mi Loco Amor”, and “Inna the Club”. He invited up Lion Cub during his start who hit hard with “Sika”. Joe should be a proud manThe high Empress of soul was next. Ethana is on the rise as a female star AND Jamaica should take her serious for 2007. The young Lauyn Hill clone belted out her rendition of “Killing Me Softly” and her rising hit “Wrong Address” to the appreciative crowd. Glamaton from St. Elizabeth drove the “Taxi” well and 2008 will be his year. Villa Patch and Freezy led the way for the veteran group To-Isis. They held the audience with “Real Ghetto Pain” and an acapella version of “Dream Lover”.Edi Fitzroy is a staple on the GT Taylor Christmas Extravaganza. The former accountant from the defunct JBC and Roots FM is still a relevant warrior in the local industry especially with his brand new album to be drop soon. He commanded positive attention with “Prison Life”, “Princess Black” and “First Class Citizen”.It is nice when a sponsor for a successful show has the talent to perform his own songs. This was the case with Iley Dread from Kings of Kings who delivers some of his locally produced hits. Viper preludes Hero and the God Bless Crew. Hero delivered “God Alone” along with his other recent hits. At midnight Anthony Cruz waked the town with lighters galore with hits such as “Place Too Bloody” and “Half Way Tree”. This was the end of the long segment mastered by Howard Hendriks.The conceptualizer George Taylor of Irie FM took the reigns of the show. He introduced Mikeylous A.K.A Nigger Mikey who went down extremely well. The cool calm and lanky Professor Nuts had the crowd eating out of his hands with some witty lyrics. He received the first high powered encore of the night. He was followed by Half Pint with his waist length locks flashing in the morning that generated applause with his hits such as “Mr. Landlord”, “Political Friction” and “Greetings” The “Princess of St. Bess” Heather Cummings was given the task to introduce Taurus Riley. This was one of the high moment of the night especially when he introduce his father Jimmy Riley after singing”Beware” and “Stay with me”. The Riley men hit hard with hits such as “Love And Devotion” Rougher Yet” and “My Conversation”. Teflon was followed by Yogie A.K.A Courtney John and the mischievous Jovi Blackwell. Jovi was able to bring out the freak in Yogie performing their hit ”Hey” and “I go Crazy” and this is an ideal combination and should remain the same for the future. The Bootilicious and the ever sexy Magnum Girls entertained the crowd during the intermission dancing the latest moves such as “Dutty Wine” and “Hot Wuk”. Ron Muschette started his section with the perfect Perfect who delivered his hits such as “Hand Cart Man” and “5 Gangsters”. Star time was at 2:40AM. Mr. Vegas is the star to watch for 2007. He ripped the Audience with “Sucky Ducky”, “Constant Spring” and the bad “Hot Wuk”. He had the Magnum girls on the stage bubbling with him. At one stage, he climbed the light tower with one of the girls as they both hot wuk to the delight of the crowd.The host GT Taylor monitored a band change at 3.20am for the Ruff Cut band. The man from Elderslie, St. Elizabeth, Fanton Mojah created some excitement with hits such as “Corruption” “Seek And You Will Find”, “Jah Is By My Side”, “Hail The King” and “Babylon Build Great Walls”. The Reggae Ambassador of Dancehall, Sean Paul drew serious forward from the St. Elizabeth massive. Everyone danced, jumped, screamed during his set. Along with his brother and Farenhieght they mash the place with “We Be Burning”, “Gimme The Light”, “Shake That Thing”, “Like Glue” and encore with “Never Be Same”. This led to a public endorsement by Mr. Taylor of his admiration of the hardworking deejay. Sean Paul was a hard act to follow. I-Wayne with silky movement like a sholin monk was able to sustain the momentum. He delivered “War Dem A Study”, “Lava Ground”, the mega “Can’t Satisfy Her” and “Life Seeds.At 4:15AM, Desmond Ballentine dressed in a whit suit, black hat with a spliff between his lips and a champagne glass enter the stage, struck a pose and the crowd simply erupted. He touched Beenie Man, Bounty Killer and Vibez Kartel lyrically stating the “Ninja Get Mad Again”. He called on Spice and she add her chapter to the saga. The crowd erupted to an orgasm when he drew for the lover boy of Dancehall, Shaggy. He blazed with the mega hot “Church Heathen” and encored with “Hot Gal”.Eloise Kelly introduced the poor people defender Chuck Fender at 4:30AM. He was potent with “Gash Dem And Light Dem” and “Murderers”. He called on Cherine Anderson for a duet on “Coming Over Tonight” and finished with “Oh My Lord”. Macka Diamond was up next with “Money Oh”. She called on Lady G where they both did combinations such as “Want A Money Man”, “Bun Him” after lashing out at lesbians. She closed with “Stamina” on the Taxi rhythm and encored with “Hoola Hoop”. Anthony B came and raid the barn. Capleton appeared in a red satin suit and declared it was fire time and he was on top of things. He also delivered “Forty Something” and “Small World” Ras Murdock worked his set well and blaze the place with his hit “Blazer”Moses Davis brought the crowd to a frenzy at 5:15AM in the morning. He expressed his support for his wife against the critics and the pity and sympathy he has for arch rival Bounty Killer. With flags waving he reeled out “Slam”, “Old Dawg”, “Product Of The Ghetto”, and then he called out the Don Mafia and explained his split with Shocking Vibes. He finished his stint with “Red Red”, “Hmm”, “King of the Dancehall”, and “Heart Attack”. Busy Signal was given the task to close the show. Without being political and as a diplomat, he sang “Not Going Down and “Highest Grade”. He touches Movado “Gangster for Life” and explained to the crowd that Movado had illness in his family and was unable to come. The high point of the show was Sean Paul, Taurus and Jimmy Riley, Yogi and Jovi Blackwell, Ninja man, Spice and Shaggy and all the ladies that performed. Missing in action were U-Roy, Vibez Kartel, Movado and Richie Spice. Sound stage and lighting were provided by John Swaby. Stage Management was handled by Worrel King and Margret from Kings of Kings production.Magnum wines must be pleased for sponsoring this peaceful and tight show. Other sponsors were Irie FM, Bari Enterprise, Buck River Ice, Kings of Kings, Lynch Auto, CVM TV, Water Loo Guest House, Hype TV, Arrow’s, X News, VP Records, Don Motors, Ace Hardware, RE TV, and Organic Thinkers among others. Black River has never been the same, as this chapter of the Christmas Extravaganza showcase is the talk of the town until February 2007.I did not see when Spice received her [email protected] 876-8567725 For information and queries.--------NOTICE THIS PAGE IS STILL IN MAJOR CONSTRUCTION------------