‘BLESS THE YAAD’ Redemption
Queen Black theater agent wins Tony
Ifrica drops
visuals
for ‘Four
Women’
Caribbean L 34 ife, OCTOBER 1-7, 2021
By Nelson A. King
The Caribbean has been
rocked by the new sound
of Gospel music coming
out of Jamm Productions
Studio located in Trinidad
and Tobago, according to
the Trinidad and Tobago
Guardian.
The publication said on
Friday that Pastor, Producer,
Studio Engineer
and Composer Keith Israel
introduced the riddim
in May 2021 “and received
such an overwhelming
response to the old school
dub style, which is considered
very rare in Caribbean
Gospel music that it
inspired him to create an
entire album with it.”
world,” according to Jamaican
entertainment publicist Ronnie
Tomlinson, of the Brooklynbased
Destine Media.
“As women face genderbased
violence, financial
oppression, stereotypes within
society based on their race and
the damaging legacy of slavery
the resurgence of the single
‘Four Women’ is so timely,”
Tomlinson told Caribbean Life
on Monday.
“Directed by Extreme Arts,
Queen Ifrica naturally personify
Nina Simone through
the royal images reflecting
the many forms of our Black
women,” she added.
“I was able to channel Nina
Simone because I am connected
to the four women mentioned
throughout the song
‘Four Women,’” said Queen
Ifrica.
Premiering on TheFader, on
Sept. 24, “Four Women” visuals
is “receiving great feedback,
as Queen Ifrica shared her own
spin on Nina Simone’s 1966
single, Tomlinson said.
She said the original song
was released in 1966 on
Simone’s ‘Wild Is the Wind’
album “and spoke to a similar
struggle that the women of our
society still face today.
“Ifrica has always been
known for advocating to end
violence against women in her
own songs like ‘Daddy,’ ‘Don’t
Touch Me There,’” Tomlinson
said. “She has also long been
a voice of representation for
Black women in the entertainment
space, as per her 2009 hit
‘Lioness on The Rise’, or more
recently her 2017 hit ‘Black
Woman.’
“This new single is merely
another chapter in the book of
her legacy,” she added.
“It was very exciting working
with people I am familiar
within the form of the band,
young vibrant people such
as the directors of the video
‘Extreme Arts’ was a perfect
match. Also, the communication
from Ghetto Youths International
team and Stephen
Marley the process was easy,”
Queen Ifrica said.
currently trending,” she continued.
Freiseis said rising stars
D’yani, Intence, Chronic Law,
TeeJay and Nklyne, among others,
are in the series.
“It was built off the framework
for the program ‘Bless the
Booth’, which debuted in 2015
and featured artists including
King Von, Bizzy Banks,
Abby Jasmine, Meg the Stallion
and Fivio Foreign,” she said.
“Both provide the opportunity
to showcase versatility on the
mic, and, as a byproduct, is a
helpful marketing tool.”
Freiseis said a new drop is
scheduled every Wednesday for
the next several months.
On the premiere episode
of “Bless The Yaad,” Spanish
Town, Jamaica native D’Yani
showcases his distinctive
fusion of reggae, dancehall and
soul music, according to Audiomack.
Since 2016, D’Yani has been
cultivating his own brand of
“expressive riddims, coated in
inspirational themes and an
overall infatuation with love,”
Audiomack said.
“Riding the wave of a handful
of singles released this year,
watch D’Yani ‘Bless The Yaad’
and inform fans and curious
listeners alike why he’s an
anomaly,” it said.
Shot by Sage English at
the Reggae Legends Villa in
Kingston, the Jamaican capital,
Audiomack said “’Bless
The Yaad’ puts the poetic mastery
of Caribbean talent, both
established and on the rise, on
the forefront.”
Continued from Page 33
Reggae Star Queen Ifrica.
Wonder Knack
Continued from Page 33
One of Jamaica’s rising musical artist, D’yani. @shotbydeth
resent a rainbow otherwise
ignored by producers and
investors, Gandy has maintained
a policy of integrating
diversity to the otherwise
imbalanced, exclusive entertainment
format.
For more than 30 years she
fronted representation of the
prestigious Jeffrey Richards
Associates even sharing coproducer
titles on numerous
Broadway productions.
“I want to give special thanks
to my work husband Jeffrey
Richards who has employed
me over three decades and who
has graciously shared his producing
credits…”
In acceptance of the prestigious
award she said: “I pay
homage to Douglass Turner
Ward, Gerald Krone and Robert
Hooks who founded the Negro
Ensemble Company in 1967
and created a free space…”
She credited the trailblazers
with enabling access and
membership to unions such
as SAG-AFTRA and Actors
Equity.
“As a press agent on Broadway,
it takes a village,” Gandy
added.
She also thanked the Tony
Administration, “security
guys” “press cohorts” and everyone
“who made my journey
less difficult.”
The honor is akin to a
lifetime achievement award
acknowledging 50 years since
Gandy exited CBS Records to
pursue a career in the less
diverse theater industry.
Since entering the foray, she
has added color, glamor and
increased Black press accessibility
to principals and thespians
of the theater.
Thirteen years ago, Gandy’s
image was added to a wall of
celebrity caricatures displayed
at Sardi’s Restaurant, the celebrated
mecca reputed for
attracting stars who lingered
to await broadcast reviews.
There with the likes of Elizabeth
Taylor, Richard Burton,
Lena Horne, Denzel Washington,
James Earl Jones and legends
of the stage, Gandy is
the distinguished first Black,
press agent to be prominently
displayed.
Gandy is no stranger to
some of the biggest names of
the stage, her affiliations with
Alan Alda, Phyllicia Rashad,
David Allan Grier, Stephanie
Mills, George Faison, Audra
McDonald, August Wilson,
Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis and others
are acclaimed.
Throughout her storied
career she has advanced the
profiles of Maya Angelou,
Diane Carroll and others who
staged performances during
Atlanta, Georgia’s Black Theater
Festival.
It’s not only the fact she has
maintained rapport with media
specialists that sets her apart
from others but her unique
personality, loyalty and fashion
sense serves as inspiration to
generations of aspirants.
She’s a role model, motivator
and community-minded to
boot.
Her impact has resonated
with interns, stage hands, box
office attendants, wardrobe
technicians, musicians, ushers,
imprinting indelibly from
the rafters, balconies, loge,
backstage, rehearsal halls and
red carpet arrivals.
Gandy’s façade and reputation
is legendary, she often
sports the glitz and glamor of
her profession.
Routinely fashioned by conspicuous
eye-wear, extraordinary
hair adornments, oneof
a-kind outfits and designer
accessories, she has been featured
in newspapers and elite
magazines.
Continued from Page 33
Riddim
Irene Gandy, the only Black
press agent on Broadway.
Photo by Vinette K. Pryce