INSIDE THE CARIBBEAN: Diana King covers; Mr. Vegas no. 1; Melanie Fiona; more....

Diana King to record album of covers for Warner Japan
 
      *Diana King is back in the arms of a major label.  She is reportedly working on an album of covers for the Japanese arm of Warner Music. 'The album is being done exclusively for the Asian market. It should be released around summer', King told this column recently.
 
      Among the covers that will be included on the album is James Blunt's global smash You're Beautiful.  
 
      King says her fans can expect some new music right after the completion of the album for Warner. 'I will be working on some new material once I have completed this project, so the fans can listen out for that', said King.
 
      King was formerly signed to Sony Music's Work Group imprint in the 1990's. She released the albums Tougher Than Love and Think Like a Girl. In 2000 she signed with Madonna's Maverick label and released the album Respect in 2002.
 
      King scored a string of hits on the US Billboard Dance, pop, R&B and European charts. They include remakes of Ain't Nobody, Stir it Up and Say a Little Prayer, Treat Her Like a Lady, Summer Breezin, Love Triangle, L-L-Lies and the gold selling Shy Guy, which camped out in the number one spot on several charts across Europe.
 

Mr. Vegas is number one on most Caribbean charts
 

      Mr. Vegas not only has the number one song on the UK Reggae chart, but he has taken over pole position on the Caribbean Hot 30 Countdown with the single I Am Blessed.  The song is also number one in Jamaica, and on the reggae chart in Trinidad and Tobago.
 
      I Am Blessed was released on the Liv Up Records imprint and it is featured on the Good Life rhythm. That rhythm project also features the hits High Unda by Mavado and Mind Pon Di Money by Vybz Kartel.
 
      I Am Blessed is Mr Vegas' most recent chart topping single having followed closely on the heels of last year's Daggering and Mus Come a Road. Mus Come a Road spent time on Germany's Black Singles chart.
 
      And still on Mr Vegas, we understand that I Am Blessed which is currently number two on the Media Guide Reggae chart in the US. Media Guide monitors and tracks music on over 2,700 college, non-commercial and commercial radio stations in 150 US markets; and over 3,500 internet stations in real-time, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Melanie Fiona is one to keep an eye on
 
      I came across the awfully gorgeous Give it to Me Right by newcomer Melanie Fiona. The video has been in rotation on MTV and based on what I've heard so far, this young lady is definitely one to watch for 2009.
 
      Melanie's style is a blending of Amy Winehouse meets Duffy.
 
      Originally from Guyana, Melanie resides in Canada. She is signed to Steve Rifkind's SRC label and Universal Motown.
 
      Check out Melanie's video Give it to Me Right on Youtube. 
 
 
* Further afield:
 
      Lead singer of the group Traffik, Shayne Bailey controls the number one spot on the charts in Trinidad and Tobago with the song Sweetness. Miss Bailey was born in Trinidad and Tobago, moved to Grenada and then to Canada. 
 
      US pop singer Cyndi Lauper performed at the Atlantis in the Bahamas recently.
 
      Based on video footage that we saw and published reviews, dancehall artiste Busy Signal emerged as one of the top performers at the just concluded British Virgin Islands Music Festival.  Busy did a 55 minute performance which was laced with an arsenal of his biggest hits.  Queen Ifrica, Daddy Yankee, Serani, Sizzla and Tanya Stephens also performed at the three day festival.
 
      June 18 is the date, the location is Trinidad and the artiste is John Legend.
 
      St Vincent & the Grenadines will host its annual Vincy Mas on June 6. Soca artiste Shakki who is also the lead singer of soca band d'Vybz will participate in the festivities.
 
      Serani recently collaborated with hip hop newcomer Drake (an artiste signed to Lil Wayne's label), and Akon. And more Serani news, Bajan born R&B singer Shontelle is featured on a remix of Serani's Billboard charting single No Games.

      Queen Ifrica's Lioness on the Rise is back at the top of the Media Guide Reggae chart.

      And that’s a wrap for Inside the Caribbean for this week. We certainly hope that you enjoyed the column and we look forward to your comments and suggestions.  I can be reached at kevinjacksonkj@gmail.com

NOTE: Kevin Jackson is the Production Manager at Reggae Entertainment Television (RETV), an all music cable channel which is a subsidiary of the RJR Communications Group in Kingston, Jamaica. RETV is watched in Jamaica and 12 other Caribbean countries including Trinidad & Tobago, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Belize, Costa Rica, St Lucia, St Marteen, Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda.