by Howard Campbell
Hartford, Connecticut – For the reason that begin of 2024, veteran Jamaican present promoter Ardie “Cuban” Wallace has introduced a few of the greatest names in roots-reggae to Hartford, Connecticut. On December 28, he’ll welcome dancehall royalty there at United Banquet Hall.
Tremendous Cat, the self-proclaimed Don Dada, will carry out in that metropolis for the primary time since 1992. His earlier gig was on the Sunshine Membership, a venue that hosted different dancehall heavyweights like Shabba Ranks, Buju Banton and Capleton.
Wallace has promoted reggae occasions in Connecticut for 49 years, and whereas the Web has reworked how reveals are marketed, he nonetheless employs a tried and confirmed format to advertise occasions.
“You must go on di radio an’ pitch it, inform di artist’s story so di followers can put a face to their songs. Bear in mind, Tremendous Cat hasn’t been right here in over 30 years!” Wallace defined.
To assist inform these tales, Wallace faucets into school radio stations all through New England, particularly Massachusetts and Rhode Island which have been historically receptive to reggae.
These stations helped introduce Jamaican tradition to American audiences through the Nineteen Seventies. In line with the Montego Bay-born Wallace, “They’ve a greater data of di music” than lots of their West Indian counterparts. They play various reggae. They go from Jimmy Cliff to Buju (Banton), from Owen Grey to Bounty Killer. Additionally they inform their tales.”
Tremendous Cat broke by way of in the US through the early Nineteen Nineties by way of hard-hitting songs like Don Dada, Nuff Man A Useless and Dem No Fear We (alongside Heavy D). These songs loved heavy rotation on West Indian radio earlier than being picked up by the mainstream.
A cousin of legendary rapper Christopher “The Infamous BIG” Wallace, Ardie Wallace began selling reveals in Hartford through the mid-Nineteen Seventies. Toots and The Maytals, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, Tradition and Dennis Brown had been a few of the acts he delivered to the realm.
One in every of his greatest reveals came about in 1993 when Shabba Ranks shared the invoice with Bobby Brown, TLC and Mary J. Blige at what was then the Hartford Civic Heart (now the XL Heart), drawing 10,000 followers.
This yr, Wallace has promoted reveals that includes Stephen/Damian Marley, Stephen Marley/Michael Franti, Etana, Maxi Priest and Metal Pulse.
