The Memorial Service at 1 p.m. in the Tillman Chapel at the Church Centre for the United Nations, 777 1st Avenue, New York, New York 10017, comes seven days after he passed way, on Sept. 5th.
Cannings was a virtual one-man band and created a niche for himself, releasing records since 1975. He was a noted guitarist, keyboardist, composer, arranger, songwriter, producer, TV host and studio engineer and also served as the ex-bandleader of J.C. Intruders.
His musical genres included Reggae, Ska, Calypso, Latin, Funk, Blues, R & R, Pop, Highlife, Jazz and he traveled with his guitar and amplifier to hospitals, nursing homes, senior centers, hospices, schools, colleges, libraries, universities and international festivals to share his reggae/world beat renditions.
“I am a student of the universe; it’s my mission to aid in the spiritual upliftment of mankind through positive, thought-provoking lyrics,” he once said.
Cannings had a BA degree in International Marketing from Baruch College and went on to found J.C. Records, JGC Entertainment Co., Can Can Music Publishing, Cannings Recording Studio, Inc.-the first and only black-owned 24-track studio in Manhattan during the time of its existence and founded a Performing Rights Organization, Our Own Performance Society, Inc. (OOPS), a not‐for‐profit corporation, which champions performing rights’ needs and lobbies the US Congress, the Copyright Office et al.
He also co-founded Capricorn Audio and Video Cassette Duplication Company. Cannings was a guest at the White House in 1979; and his files boast responses from Presidents Carter, Reagan, Clinton, Obama and from NYC’s first African American Mayor, Mayor David Dinkins — acknowledging both their receipt of his music and consideration of his opinions.
