RFUK Artist of the Week - Winsome Moncrieffe-Mitchell

By Coral Consciouslee

12th August 2015

Seeing this beautiful woman on stage is stunning enough, she has all the glamour from stars of yesteryear. Having read her musical history I have a newfound respect for her perseverance and courage in continuing her musical legacy. 

BIOGRAPHY

Winsome I am sure came out of her mother womb singing as she sings constantly even replies to a question with a song.

At the tender age of six Winsome remember participating in her school primary school production to Eye Level from the Van der Vaulk movie. She also danced to I can see clearly now by Johnny Nash.

She continued singing and dancing in school productions throughout her school life. She would be seen constantly holding a brush at break time pretending to be an artist on Top of the pops back in the 70’s
Winsome greatest influences are from the reggae genre and are Marcia Griffiths, Carroll Thompson and Louisa Marks, she also adores Whitney Houston, Mary J Blige and Keisha Cole

She entered a few talent competitions in Birmingham where she hails from received a recording contract at 17 after wining a singing competition at Tasha’s which never came to fruition. 

She was later introduced to Mr laurel Aitkin’s the ska legend from the sixties well known for the tune “ Guilty of loving you” Michelle Sutherland and Winsome formed a duo called Sugar and Spice and recorded their first tune called Sweet Loving for Mr Aitkins which reached No 2 in the Black Echoes reggae charts. Sugar and Spice enjoyed success and was touring nationally performing regularly.

Some of Winsome’s foundest moments are as follows:-
• Having Carol Thompson one of her favourites and the great Ruby Turner from Birmingham judge her at the competitions that she won.
• Backing Judy Boucher at the London Palladium singer of the great No 1 “I can’t be with you tonight”
• Supporting and backing the great Louis Marks at the Hummingbird Night Club in Birmingham
•Performing at the Indigo 02 in Greenwich on the Giants of Lover Rock in 2013
•Having a launch for her single, a video and photo shoot all in one day
Winsome decided to move to London in 1984 to seek her fortune and to go on to higher education at the London Southbank . She officially joined the lovers rock band Family Love in 1985, the band gave you hits like Anniversary and Decisions. Winsome left the band in 1990 to start a family. The band decided to reform in 2013 and Winsome released “Tell me why”

Family Love band featuring Winsome Moncrieffe—Mitchell released “Hurting Me” on the 2nd April which is receiving some nice reviews e.g.

A woman can relate to the lyrics
Sounds like the real old time lovers rock
Great original 

Winsome feels she sings for women over thirty who have experienced life and can relate to what she sings about.

Winsome is a strong believer in God and gives thanks daily that she is able to sing and go about her everyday life as she experienced a mini stroke on the 1st April 2014 and has had a wake up call to what could have been.

Her day time job is working with young people age 14 - 17 who are under achieving and are not maximising their full potentials, she sometimes organises workshop or events via performing productions to help increase their motivation and raise their aspirations.

She resides in London with her four children and feels she will continue to sing and dance until there is no life left in her. She often says life is for living, we have one life to live so I am going to live it by loving the life I live and living the life I love. Her favourite lyric by Bob Marley is “One good thing about music when it hits you feel no pain”.

Reggae at the Royal - July Edition!

By Coral Consciouslee
1st August 2015

Some may be wondering why I am writing my second review of a monthly event that I have attended three times now. It was BRILLIANT that's why!!

There was the same intimate atmosphere, the same meeting up of certain friends, artists, etc. However this time it seems there was a freedom in the expression of those who performed. Although I have heard John McLeansing more than once, last night he sang outstandingly, moving on stage with obvious pleasure. His rendition of Ed Sheridan's "Thinking Out Loud" had the crowd in noisy rapture.

So John set us up very nicely for one of my favourite dancers on stage..Winston Reedy. I just love the way he dances and I can testify that the man can still hit those high notes, seemingly as effortlessly as ever. HIs singing whipped the audience into a frenzy, making John bring him back on to the stage for an encore. In total we were treated to six songs!

Last but by all means not least was Carol Vieira (Kofi). For me this was my first time seeing her live and I was mesmerised. She was strong, vibrant, looked great and she belted out her classic songs as if her life depended on it. The audience were right behind her. We cheered, we clapped, we danced! Special mention should be given to the Zaine Band and the backing singers (Errol Nicholson and Singer Mandee) - they delivered.

So nice seeing Barry Boom, Sutara Ji and Audrey Scottcoming out to support. I close by asking you to follow their example and support an outstanding opportunity to hear artists and musicians of a legendary calibre. BIG UP REGGAE AT THE ROYAL.

P.S. Pictures courtesy of Courtney Anglin

RFUK DJ of the week - General Culture - Stockade Radio

By Coral Consciouslee

22nd July 2015

As you will read below, there is a lot to General Culture. I think from my perspective it is his unwavering support for UK Reggae Artists and the way he sucessfully engages the listener when interviewing them. Long may you continue General Culture!!

General Culture wears many hats. He is a Radio Personality/DJ/ Manager/Promoter at Reggaewave Radio Station (www.reggaewave.net),
and CEO & Founder Of Stockade Promotions /RADIO (www.stockadepromotions.co.uk). General Culture presents a show called The Live Conversation Show, on
Saturdays 6pm - 8pm GMT.
And on Wednesday you can catch my show "Simply British Reggae Non Stop" 6pm Til 9pm GMT.
This is a show which highlights the best of our british reggae artists.
Reggaewave Radio is an internet radio station created by Wayne Lyrics and managed by Tommoranks, Wayne Lyrics and General Culture.

Stockade Promotions Radio is dedicated to Raisng The Awareness Of Artists across the globe. In the day time we have promotions of artists, then in the evening we have live djs and presenters. General Culture has also been producing music for almost two decades and is a recording artist.

Please check out my LinkedIn profile:
http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/general-culture/10/503/a45
Follow me on Twitter: @general_culture

**Biography of General Culture - "Di 10-Star General" **

I started out in the business in the early 90's (1992) when a good friend I had been working with, Gus Philip aka Speego, suggested we start a partnership. We both started to make music together producing various riddims, such as Rumble Rock, The Hype riddim, the Lamborgini riddim, the Up-Park Camp riddim, and many more all released on the Stockade Records label. I have worked with various artists, such as my very good friends, Wayne Lyrics, Lorenzo and Selvie Wonder, Little Hero, Nail Point, Nicky Dread, General Levy, Chuckle Berry, Sandeeno, Super Sass, Welchman, Booji, Three in One Crew, Diamond Ranks, Deeni Ranks, Miraculous, Action Fire, Pinchers, Baije Man, Qshan Deya, General Pecus and Leroy Simmonds.

Later on, some other friends of mine who had previously formed a band named Brimstone, decided to get together with Speego and myself, and we formed our own band named The Foreigners Crew, comprising of Bassie, Theo and Shaka (the true genius).

Check out General Culture, the artist, featured on the Planet riddim from Stockade Records, with Nerious Joseph, Wayne Lyrics, Jimmy Shandie, Little Hero, Chuckle Berry, Shugo Banton, Kingjay, Three in One Crew, Ky-Enie, Anthony B, Heavyman, and lots more artists. The Planet riddim was co-produced by Wayne Lyrics. I have been back in the studio recording and finished another album called the Pressure Rock riddim featuring Jamaican and UK artists.

Since the completion of the Pressure Rock riddim album, I started work on another album called the Stockade Crusha riddim, which also features Jamaican and UK artists. Also in the making is the Sitting and watching Riddim, which again will host many Uk & JA artists. More works are in the pipeline for Stockade Records, as i have my hands in many projects. My engineering sound is Lindel Lewis - one of the best in the business.

Stockade Records and Stockade Promotions/ Radio also promotes artists in conjunction with Reggaewave Radio. We are part of the conscious Partners Network

Why do you perform without a contract?

With the recent interest being shown in reggae music, UK artist and musicians are seeing an increase in the amount of live work available to them.  Unfortunately the rise in UK reggae's popularity has also brought a rise in complaints about bad promoters.  Whilst listening to artists complain about cancelled shows and being short changed at the end of a gig etc., when I ask the simple question about what was agreed in the contract, I'm surprised to learn that most of them did not sign a contract!