HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — The Stay Strong Jamaica benefit is happening Friday night at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel, bringing together reggae royalty to help rebuild the island after Hurricane Melissa.
“We’re hoping that many Jamaicans come out, West Indians, and friends of Jamaica will come out. It’s not only the music. It’s a benefit -- relief benefit,” Inner Circle’s Roger Lewis said. “No homes, electricity, basic things we take for granted is gone.”
“It was Shaggy’s idea. It’s a continuation from New York,” Inner Circle’s Ian Lewis added.
Now the concert series is making its stop in South Florida, collaborating with the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood.
“Hard Rock, they have I believe 5,000 employees, but 300 of them are Jamaican,” Oliver Mair, the Consul General of Jamaica, said. “They actively asked management, ‘Hey, we have to support our homeland.’ Hard Rock has been very supportive and gone beyond the call of duty to help us in the relief efforts, so I want to thank them.”
The official theme song on the Spotify playlist for the concert is performed by the bad boys of reggae, Inner Circle, and it was written by member Ian Lewis.
“As Bob Marley says, ‘Everything is going to be alright. Don’t worry.’ It’s a spirit. This is a concert with a purpose,” Ian Lewis said.
Entire communities are now facing years of recovery, but that spirit and resilience of Jamaica is driving this movement.
“We have just had over $10 billion U.S. dollars’ worth of damage after Hurricane Melissa -- arguably the most powerful system of all time to hit Jamaica,” Mair said. “This is our way to ask the community to come together and support us in this relief concert on January 2nd at Hard Rock, which features over 20 excellent reggae artists coming to support our relief efforts.”
The one-night concert will feature performances by Julian Marley, Shaggy, Wailers, Wayne Wonder and some special surprise guests!
“We still need a lot of support. It’s going to take us years to rebuild those sections. This is not a sprint,” Mair said. “Your ticket for this concert is your donation, so we’re asking everyone to come out.”
The show kicks off at 8 p.m. Friday and tickets start at $51. You can also make donations at the event.
For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
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