Smithsonians cover Mother's Day classic

The Smithsonians, a group comprising veteran session guitarist Earl 'Chinna' Smith and three of his children, has recorded a version of The Intruders' classic song, I'll Always Love My Mama.

It was recently released by Earl Smith Jr's Homegrown label in tandem with his father's High Times Records. Smith senior plays guitar and sings lead on the song, with Earl Jr and sisters Jhamelia and Maria handling back-up vocals.

I'll Always Love My Mama was a big hit for The Intruders and the fledgling Philadelphia International Records in 1973. It remains a Mother's Day favourite.

The song is the latest release by the Portmore-based Homegrown label, which also has productions by roots artistes Anthony B, Lutan Fyah and Natural Black.

Original Wailers for US tour

The Original Wailers will headline the Green Festival, which is scheduled for August 13-15 at Gelston Castle Estate in Mohawk, New York. It is the third staging of the event, which promotes the importance of a clean environment.

On opening day, there will be a Jamaican film festival. August 14 has a full slate that includes a football and Twenty20 cricket match, a ska dance and jerk-seasoning cook-off.

Closing day at the Paper Mill Island Amphitheater will feature the Original Wailers, which is led by guitarists Al Anderson and Junior Marvin, both of whom toured as members of Bob Marley's band during the 1970s.

Rising American reggae band, John Brown's Body, is also scheduled to perform along with the Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad and the Rubblebucket Orchestra.

Protecting the environment and promoting alternative-energy sources is the focus of the Green Festival, which was first held in 2008. This year, there will be demonstrations in green technology and solar-powered tanning.

Everton Blender makes comeback

Everton Blender, a leading player in the roots-reggae revival of the 1990s, is attempting a comeback with a new album scheduled for release late this year.

Little was said about the project on the singer's myspace page but it confirmed work on the set had begun. It will be Blender's first studio album since 2005's It's My Time.

Blender broke through in the music business at the age of 38 in 1994 with the songs Family Man and Lift Up Your Head. The latter remains a contemporary roots anthem.

Both songs were produced by Richard Bell for his Startrail Records, which also released Blender's debut album, Lift Up Your Head and the follow-up, Piece of Da Blender: The Singles which were distributed by Heartbeat Records.

Along with Tony Rebel, Garnet Silk and Yasus Afari, the Clarendon-born Blender helped reintroduce the message of Rastafari to the dancehall in the early 1990s. Though he has not had a hit song in more than a decade, he continues to tour steadily.

Everton Blender starts a seven-date mini tour of Europe in July.

- H.C.