‘FIRSTBORN’ Kennedy honors century-old brand with Grace

On Nov. 15 tri-state area residents will be privileged to hear the genesis of Grace Kennedy, Jamaica’s most successful food brand.

On that date, the Jamaica Consulate will host the launch of a book titled “Firstborn: The Life of Luis Fred Kennedy” with the self-titled offspring front and center to detail how his father’s collaboration with John W. Grace satiated the appetites of diasporans and in the process established an unrivaled brand a century ago.

Slated for a one-night treat, the inaugural promotion here promises an intimate monologue/dialogue with Fred the author/lecturer/ambassador who in addition to revealing how a dream manifested to become the breadbasket of the diaspora will also reflect on his storied upbringing in Jamaica where he was born.

Luis Kennedy died in 1982.

On the 100 year-anniversary of the merger last year, Fred said the reason he penned the biography is “to celebrate the relationship of love and trust that we shared” and as “a tribute to him in praise of his contributions to the national development of Jamaica.”

Fred remains connected to the company as chair of the GraceKennedy Foundation, which funds educational, environmental and health initiatives in Jamaica.

He and his wife Georgianne share their time between his native Jamaica and adopted Canada, where their three daughters and families reside.

First launched earlier this year in Toronto, Canada and Kingston, Jamaica, the book delves into the history of the merger and incorporates family nostalgia, photographs, offering business tips and candid memories of growing up in the land of wood and water.

In addition to Firstborn: The Life of Luis Fred Kennedy 1908-1922, Fred W. Kennedy is also the author of Daddy Sharpe: A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Samuel Sharpe, A West Indian Slave Written by Himself, 1832 (2008); Huareo: Story of a Jamaican Cacique (2015); Huareo: Cacique de Jamaica (2016).

CARIB STAR APP SEALS A DEAL TO PROVIDE IRIE JAMS

Beginning next January, radio listeners accustomed to tuning into IRIE-Jam Radio will be able to hear familiar Caribbean music and information they relied on for 30 years at 93-FM until the station owners sold the station to a Christian Spanish language medium earlier this year.

According to Bobby Clarke, the CEO and founder of the Caribbean oriented program a partnership deal was sealed with iHeart Radio to collaborate on providing free all-in-one digital music, live streaming radio and podcasting service.

“Our partnership with iHeartRadio offers a tremendous opportunity to expand our reach, allowing us to showcase the rich culture from the Caribbean to a wider audience,” Clarke said. We are excited to embark on this incredible journey and bring the heartbeat of the Caribbean to listeners across the nation.”

In addition, he explained: “Irie Jam Radio has always been dedicated to promoting Caribbean music and culture.”

Rebranded as “Carib Star Radio” the replacement to programming aimed at a predominant Jamaican listening audience “will be available nationwide on the iHeartRadio app.”

According to a press release: ‘With the integration of Carib Star Radio into the iHeartRadio app, the Caribbean music genre is set to reach new heights, capturing a wider audience while providing more bandwidth for advertisers to promote their brands and products.”

Clarke gave assurances that personalities formerly heard on WVIP Radio (93.5 FM) ‘will be a major part of the new Carib Star Radio.’

But at least one loyal listener contends that the new deal does not suit his radio appetite.

Chester Mc Gibbon, a Long Island resident explained that since the demise of the 24-hour, Caribbean music formatted WLIB-AM “I have gotten accustomed to listening to the station in my car.”

The Jamaican national added that “as soon as I jump in my car the first thing I did was tune to 93.5 to hear what’s happening in my Jamaica community.”

However, Clarke is convinced that ‘by expanding its reach to a national level, Carib Star Radio aims to amplify the Caribbean music scene and bring the vibrant culture of the Caribbean to a diverse audience hailing from various corners of the United States.’

Bernie Weiss, Region President of iHeartMedia, New York concurred saying: “We are excited to work with Bobby Clarke and the entire Irie Jam Radio team on bringing Caribbean music to a wider audience.

He added that with its more than three billion app downloads and more than 170 million registered users, the medium provides “the perfect vehicle to do that.”

Catch You On The Inside!