Tasjay Productions sets December date for Give Thanks for Life concert

Reggae artistes Turbulence, Josey Wales, Everton Blender and Horace Martin are among those billed for Tasjay Productions’ Give Thanks for Life concert, scheduled for December 19 at Mandeville Primary & Junior High School in Manchester. The event, which will bring together established and emerging acts, will also coincide with the release of Why Dat Woman Cry, the second studio album from South Florida-based singer Rad Dixon. Produced and promoted by Tasjay Productions, the concert’s lineup also includes Uton Green, Hope Vocals, Omar Slik, Oneil Famous, Jah Kettle, Wezdum Fyah, Irie FM’s DJ Amber, Culture FM’s Suga Wayne and Sound Wave. For Tasjay Productions founder James A Smith, the event represents an opportunity to bring the label’s work back to the parish where his own involvement in music began, while celebrating the continued development of an artiste who has become a mainstay of its catalogue. “Jamaica is the foundation of everything we do. The music, the culture and the relationships started here. We are taking that music to the world, and I want people to know where we come from,” Smith said. Established in March 2003, the Jamaican reggae and dancehall label was named after Smith’s son, Tasjay. Although the producer has expanded his reach internationally, he says the label’s registered head office remains in Jamaica. “Naming the label after my son made it personal. I wanted to build something he could be proud of, something that would carry his name while making a contribution to Jamaican music,” he said. Smith’s musical journey began in Mandeville during the late 1980s and early 1990s, when he supported emerging artistes, including Garnet Silk, Tony Rebel, Uton Green, Kulcha Knox and Yasus Afari. His first full production project followed in 2001, inspired by Nicko Blair, then a young auto mechanic from Waterhouse. A recording session on Red Hills Road also helped establish his working relationship with Dixon, whose song No Escape caught his attention. Born Radcliffe Dixon in Dunsinane, Manchester, the singer began performing at age 10 and started recording professionally around 2000. Formerly known as Rated R, he later adopted the name Rad Dixon as his music took a more spiritual and socially conscious direction. His association with Tasjay Productions has since yielded several releases, including his debut studio album, Hard Times, in 2023. The project featured the Luciano collaboration Times Are Hard. Other releases include the EP Giving Thanks for Life and the collaborations Jah Live with Anthony B, Keep the Children Safe with Teacha Dee, and Right Portion with Talee. The forthcoming Why Dat Woman Cry marks the next chapter in that creative partnership, with its December 19 release timed to coincide with the Mandeville concert. Beyond his work with Dixon, Smith has recorded artistes such as Luciano, Anthony B, Leroy Gibbon, Horace Martin, Little Hero and Teacha Dee. His production catalogue also includes the Outta Jamaica and Arise riddims. “I enjoy working with established artistes, but giving someone a chance and watching them grow is just as rewarding. That is a big part of why I keep doing this,” Smith said. Gates for the Give Thanks for Life Concert will open at 7 p.m., with the show scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Tickets cost J$2,000 presold and J$2,500 at the gate.