Priest And Cohen Provide Salubrious Songs And Poetic Supplemments At Their Pharmaceutical Debut

 

Photo by David Hynes

Bounteous licks and beauteous lyrics from the talented duo of Robert Priest & Bob Cohen, providing healthy doses of original music & poetry in the colourful embrace of Shelley Cinnamon's artwork Saturday at the Henley Gardens I.D.A.

Photo by David Hynes

R Zee Jackson

                               Photo by Corby: 31 May 2026 at Castro's

Known for his showmanship and gregarious personality, R Zee Jackson, familiar to many as Esso, was a singer and record producer, and, in Toronto, a conspicuous and responsive source of Canadian Rasta aesthetics and sensibilities. He passed away peacefully on July 24th. 

 "When R.Zee joined Ital Groove," the late Bernie Pitters told me," he was humble and serious. We told him he must come out on stage and address the people more." He laughed. "We created a monster."

As a producer and recording artist, R. Zee's award-winning 1980 LP Seat Up established his visibility locally, and further album releases, such as Reggae Labrish and Unda De Struggle spread his name worldwide, leading to travels in England and the U.S.A.

In Toronto, he made efforts to focus attention on the presence of the burgeoning reggae community. In response to his own win at the Black Music Awards, he held a Black Media Awards Night at a popular club called Bond Street, recognizing the influencers who were then active in print, radio and concert production. 

In the Jamaican community centered at Eglinton and Marlee, he became well-known for presenting artists and recording their work. In 1984, he assembled a collection of top Toronto musicians to tour the west coast as Jamafrika, with shows in Vancouver, Seattle and Portland. 

For the last ten years he has toured the world with Cedric Myton, leader of The Congos, one of the most highly-esteemed reggae vocal groups of the 70's, with several European performances already being advertised for the coming months.

With Cedric Myton - 2015 Aug. 1st - Bagnols-sur-Ceze, France 

He had returned to Canada recently to appear at some live shows, at BSMT254, and a surprise cameo at Reggae On The Beach with Bless Up sound System, and to publicize the release of his latest album Black Coffee And Dub.

His passing has sent waves of love and remembrance through the world reggae community, and especially the city he had called home for over fifty years. His positive personality and dedication to the music will be irreplaceable.

   

   

About Last Week's Orbital Disastrophe

 

Radio Regent is a not-for-profit youth media training organization that is under-staffed and has no budget anymore for the radio station. All future funding is going towards the journalism program that is connected to the video programming. The radio station has been at near closure every fiscal year.

The staff at hand is down to one part-time employee, so when things go off the rails, like during last week's Orbit when a USB-induced virus prevented our tech person from accessing the computer which had switched shows on us (Open The Correct Show, HAL - I'm sorry Dave, but I can't do that), there is no-one on site to rectify matters.

 

There is a donation button on the website for people to help support us through these difficulties.

A Pharmaceutical Social

 

Kick off your long weekend this Thursday afternoon with some free ice cream from Ed's Real Scoop and cool musical vibes from T.O. poet Robert Priest and guitarist Bob Cohen, with a backdrop of Shelley Cinnamon's luxurious landscapes - at the Henley Gardens pharmacy in the mall on the south-east corner of Kingston Road and Victoria Park. The Summer Social Event of the season starts at 3:00 p.m. all are welcome, young and old, friends and neighbours and even good dogs.

Musical Refresheteria Open For Business Today

 

Beaches Jazz 2026 - Thursday Night

 

More new music from the Northern Realms