Baha Men, courtesy photo

Shaggy, courtesy photo

Joining the Baha Men is singer Maxi Priest. The British performer gained widespread notice Stateside in 1988 with his reggae remake of the Cat Steven's song "Wild World." Other hits would follow with Priest showcase his musical diversity and infectious blend of R&B, Jazz, hip hop and reggae. Rounding out the group is Gregory Isaacs, one of reggae music's superstar icons. The "cool ruler's career has spanned more than three decades and his smooth and easy ballads have been captured on an impressive 86 records including his most recent Reasoning With the Almighty. Tickets for the performance are $20-$30. Call 703-218-6500.

For us it really began with Reggae Sunsplash in 1985 (the annual festival actually began in 1978). And each year we have immersed ourselves in the pulsating glory of the music and culture of this island retreat. But after more than 20 years, the production quality became inconsistent, the venue was switched from Montego Bay to Kingston and later Ocho Rios, and moved from mid-summer to early February. For this and other reasons Reggae Sunsplash's long run as the premier reggae music festival lost its popular appeal.

Enter Reggae Sumfest in 1993. From the very beginning organizers made it clear that its main focus was to expose and promote Jamaica's music to the world. And because Sumfest Productions Ltd. included the heavy involvement of key personnel in Montego Bay's hotel and tourism community, the festival was also founded on some very economic principles. With heavy marketing internationally, the festival enticed music lovers to make Jamaica their vacation destination. With over 50,000 taking the bait each year, the festival helps to generate economic activity throughout the country, and that has had a positive impact on the foreign exchange earning potential of the island.

Nestled between Jamaica's Emancipation and Independence Day celebrations, countdown is underway to the six-day event scheduled for July 31 - August 5, 2001. Beyond the marketing hype Sumfest Productions Ltd. has done an impressive job in its handling of the musical affair. There have been tighter controls of the program year after year and improvements in the stadium facilities. But reggae purists continue to lament the insistence on including non-reggae acts in the mix. This year they've included Snoop Dog, Alicia Keys and Ja Rule. On some level the diversity does make sense as it clearly helps to broaden the festival's appeal to audiences in Jamaica and internationally.

But the masses still go wild for the unparalleled lineup of reggae acts. Confirmed to date are: Shaggy, Beres Hammond, Beenie Man, Luciano, Bunny Wailer, Freddie McGregor, Glen Washington, Cocoa T, Bounty Killer, Capleton, Merciless, Baby Cham, TOK, Sizzla, Mr. Lexx, Mr. Vegas, Alozade, Bling Dawg and more. (A preliminary schedule is provided below). While all artists will no doubt be primed to deliver good performances the word is still out on who will most likely get the crowd's nod as the festival's MVP. Last year all paled in comparison to the electrifying performance of Capleton who hit song "More Fire!" nearly had the thousands burning down the arena from sheer fanatical excitement.

For details and regular updates about Sumfest 2001 as well as travel information visit the festival's official website at www.reggaesumfest.com.