Give Thanks For Life Concert: Rad Dixon & Friends

Manchester is also synonymous with the roots-reggae movement that flickered in the late 1980s, before exploding during the early 1990s. Two of its leaders, Garnet Silk and Tony Rebel, were born there.

On December 19, Mandeville hosts the Give Thanks For Life concert, with Rad Dixon as headliner. The roots singer, who is also a Manchester native, will be accompanied by an all-star cast that includes Josey Wales, Everton Blender, Turbulence and Horace Martin.

James Smith is founder and principal of Tasjay Productions, organisers of the event. Based in Toronto, Canada, he was also born in Manchester.

“The Give Thanks For Life Concert is designed to foster community unity, love, and holiday celebration through roots and cultural music,” he said. “It is special because it brings together a heavy-hitting roots reggae lineup.”

Dixon, who lives in South Florida, is the marquee act for Tasjay Productions which Smith started over 25 years ago. ‘Why Dat Woman Cry’, his second album, is scheduled for release in line with Give Thanks For Life.

‘Hard Times’, Dixon’s first album, came out in 2023. He also has an EP, ‘Giving Thanks For Life’, to his name and has collaborated on songs with Anthony B and Luciano.

Two of the acts on the show are brothers of Garnet Silk, who died at age 28 in a fire at his mother’s Manchester home in December, 1994. They are Omar Silk and Lij Amlak, while Uton Green is a contemporary of the charismatic singer.

Before Garnet Silk and Tony Rebel soared up the charts with producers like Donovan Germain, Bobby Digital and Richard Bell, Smith watched their progress from Kingston where he lived.

“In the ‘90s I was living in Kingston but from the ‘80s, it was great to have the vision knowing something great was coming from Manchester,” he said.

Garnet Silk, especially, had a meteoric rise through songs like ‘Mama Africa’, ‘Kingly Character’, ‘It’s Growing’, ‘Love Is The Answer’ and ‘Zion in A Vision’. His death robbed the roots movement of an artiste many believed was destined for greatness.

(Photo contributed)