Ready for reggae? LARRY ALEXANDER PLANS TO MAKE VANCOUVER THE NATION’S REGGAE CAPITAL WHETHER VANCOUVER knows it or not, Larry Alexander plans to turn his new home into the reggae capital of Canada. ’ And he has no doubt he will reach his goal. For one, the former radio D} doesn’t lack confideace. “I consider myself a virtuaso in everything | do,” he says con- fidently. Alexander intends to push the Jamaican-born, bass-heavy, get- up-and-dance music on every club owner in the Lower Mainland until the witole area is hopping to “reggae-mania.” “Before, the club owners never knew where to go to find reggae,”’ says the Jamaican native, who moved to Vancouver two months ago and has already set up Van- EVELYN JACOB spotlight feature couver’s only Worldbeat reggae booking agency, The Music Ad- vantage. In Orlando, Florida, Alexander was booking as many as 16 reggae bands through his company, Neonwave Entertainment Inc. He is just beginning to break into Vancouver's entertainment scene with his first show at Chardonnay’s beginning Thursday, July 20. The Music Advantage represents alt of the city’s reggae bands in- cluding Mango Dub, Tropical Breeze and One Riddim. And Alexander has ambitious plans for them all. “t want to place these bands in clubs on a rotating basis instead of a one-shot deal at the Commodore or 86 Street.” Afexander, 41, laments that reg- gae has never been able to top the record charts in Nosth America. “it’s been on the verge, but it can’t break through.”’ Even reggae’s patron saint, Bob Marley, who sold over 120 million Guitarist Harpist Saturday Sunday Brunch Brunch West Vancouver | Drop by for a Cappuccino or Light Meal © Very Casual Lunch, Brunch, Dinner 2427 Marine Drive, West Van. albums, never had a No. 1 hit. “Native lamaican singers — the raw roots men — never make it to the top,’ explains Alexander. “Some major artists with reggae tracs have had hits, like Paul Simon and Graceland and UB40. But not the Jamaican — not the Rasta-man. Like the root of a tree that never sees daylight, the roots music man will perhaps always remain underground.” Reggae has had to struggle to reach the very top of pop music despite the fact that other musical forms borrow {rom it extensively. According to Alexander, even rap music, the current pop music fla- vor of the year, had. its beginnings in reggae. Not only has it not sold as well, Alexander contends that reggae artists have yet to receive their fair share of radio airplay time. The reggae sensation would be sweep- ing the nation if reggae wasn’t confined to community and cam- pus radio stations. “They (stu- dents) are the ones who go out and buy the tapes and records,”’ he says. ‘Reggae is a cult among university students. They love this music.” Alexander was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and moved to Florida when he was 12. After being named top male vocalist in the U.S. Air Force, he toured as the opening act for Earth, Wind and Fire, Gino Vanelli and Natalie Cole. His songs have been performed by Roberta Flack and Olivia Newton John. As weil, Alexander was manager of the renowned Blue Note Jazz Club in New York. “During those years | was nomadic. | was constantly chan2- ing,”’ he says. “I never had avy family to tie me down. | get bu. ed se quickly — that’s why I spreed my wings.”’ Strolling the Seawall Open 7 Days & Nights a Week 926-8838 _ 21 - Wednesday, July 19, 1989 - North Shore News NEWS phato Cindy Goodmsn REGGAE DISCIPLE Larry Alexander plans to make Vancouver the reggae capital of Canada. Academy Award-winning writer/director Oliver Stone brings shock radio to the screen in this relentlessly fast-paced, suspense thriller starring Eric Bogosian. Available Thursday July 20th CERCLA Pa OY EN Pin A ERS a CA COA ALAIN LEGER A A =; SNAI ORI) 82 AIDA MS NWA "2 (A TO OE 57> ASM a SR “aha leah i a dl a a ye eg 7 2 IAS a RS FS a fess (RR) AMUSING ANU STEREO Re Ceneges Cinece, Fam, Ad Raps Hegecem! HOME VIKO. - 333 B ooksbank Aven sy ePark’ & Tilford 16 Dept. 983.2179 |