Catch both Romain Virgo and Christopher Martin this Sunday as they join Dr C’s Dance hall Surgery from 1PM!
LISTEN BACK
Christopher Martin
Jamaica is a special country when it comes to music, producing some of the best talent the world has ever heard. One gifted young man, with his roots grounded in Jamaica, is sharing his musical genius with the world at large. Christopher Martin is the quintessential modern reggae artiste with a loyal fan following, He embodies swagger and sex appeal matched with his outstanding stage presence and tremendous vocal talent.
Martin was born on Valentine’s Day in 1987 in the rural community of Black Pasture, St. Catherine. Martin, who was musically inclined from an early age, honed his skills at Watermount All-Age School and later graduated Cram St. Jago High School. During these years, his love for music blossomed. In 2005, he won Jamaica’s top televised talent show Digicel Rising Stars.
Following his initial success, Martin joined the Big Yard recording outfit, home to diamondselling artiste Shaggy and producer extraordinaire Robert Livingston. He has worked with the best in the business, including Arif Cooper of Fresh Ear Productions, Shane Brown of Jukeboxx Recordings, Christopher Birch and Mosiah Music. His hits such as “Nah Go Change,” “Take My Wings,” “Jamaican Girls,” “Gallis” featuring Busy Signal, “Paper Lovin’,” “Come Where You Going” “Cheater’s Prayer,” and “Chill Spot” continue to tear up radio waves across the globe. The tremendous vocal prowess, proven lyrical ability and down-to-earth persona he shares with his audience has kept him at the top of his game and won him fans worldwide.
Romain Virgo
In the five years since he made history as the youngest winner of Television Jamaica’s (TVJ) popular “Rising Stars” talent competition at just 17-years-old, Romain Virgo has emerged as one of the island’s finest singer/songwriters whose innate skills ensure that quality, consciously themed roots reggae will continue to flourish. With the release of his self-titled debut album for VP Records in June 2010, the majority of the tracks produced by Donovan Germain, CEO of Kingston’s Penthouse Records, critics and fans alike were duly awed by Romain’s expansive vocal range and his ability to convey romantic longings with the same sincerity heard in his powerful breakthrough hit “Can’t Sleep”, which decries rampant gun use among Jamaican youth. The same year Romain commenced a hectic touring schedule that took him throughout the United States and all over Europe where his dynamic live performances have generated a large, loyal following.
In September 2011 Romain made history again as the first Jamaican artist to perform at the Academy of Country Music Awards, held in Nashville, Tennessee. Romain’s version of veteran country stars The Gatlin Brothers’ 1979 hit “All The Gold In California” was featured on VP Records’ “Reggae’s Gone Country”, with Larry Gatlin singing back up; His performance of “California” alongside the Gatlins, garnered Romain a standing ovation from country music’s elite, and assuredly earned the 22-year old numerous Nashville based fans.
Undoubtedly 2012 will be the biggest year so far of Romain’s short but already stellar career. He was named Artist of the Year by JaRIA (Jamaica Reggae Industry Association) at their February awards ceremony held in Kingston; a big winner at the Linkage (Reggae) Awards, held in Mount Vernon, New York in March, Romain was honored as Recording Artist of the Year, Best Male Vocalist and Most Consistent Artist. “Winning these awards is very encouraging and to know that people all over the world are taking on to this music, we give thanks,” Romain said in a March 2012 interview in the Queens, New York offices of VP Records.
