News Americas, QUEENS, NY, Fri. July 22, 2011: VP Records is remembering the Cool Ruler Gregory Isaacs as the singer’s birthday passed by on July 15th, some 10 months after his dead.
The “We Remember Gregory Isaacs,” double-disc collection is set to be released on Aug 16th. It will feature sixteen of the legendary vocalist’s most loved songs, sung by artists including Tarrus Riley, Etana, Romain Virgo, J Boog, Gyptian and Duane Stephenson.
Among the tracks will be classic hits like “Front Door,” “Mr Brown,” “Night Nurse,” “Storm,” “Soon Forward,” “Tune In,” “My Number One,” “The Border,” “Love Is Overdue” and “Red Rose” as well as obscure favorites such as “My Only Lover” and “Stranger In Town.”
The album also includes extensive liner notes and a bonus disc of instrumental versions by saxophonist and producer Dean Fraser.
“When my friend Gregory passed away last year, I wanted to express my appreciation for our musical association and love for him as a close friend,” said Fraser. “We’d performed together all over the world through the late ‘70s and ‘80s when I was a member of We The People and later with Sly & Robbie. I decided to do a tribute album, but had no money to produce it. I reached out to the reggae community and was overwhelmed by people’s willingness to give their time and talents to make this vision real.”
Isaacs passed away at age 60 on October 25, 2010. His widow, June Isaacs, marked his birthday last week by launching the Gregory Isaacs Foundation.
Meanwhile, the popular singer will also be remembered on Saturday, July 23 during International Night of Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
“We feel that Gregory was one of the icons of Reggae music, it is only fitting that Reggae Sumfest would do this,” said Johnny Gourzong of Summerfest Productions.
