AWARD-WINNING GERMAN REGGAE ARTIST GENTLEMAN EXCITED ABOUT DEBUT NYC PERFORMANCE
New York: With six albums under his belt and over one million collectively sold in Europe, German’s multi-platinum and award-winning reggae artist Gentleman is fired up about his first major North and South America tour this month. The tour billed the “Gentleman & The Evolution Diversity tour,” includes a west coast run supporting SOJA that will make stops in San Francisco; Santa Cruz; Hollywood & San Diego, California; Falls Church, Virginia and New York City.
Earlier this week Gentleman did a private meet & greet and an intimate performance at Universal Music. He did interviews on MTV Iggy in Times Square; Intiative Radio (an NPR-affiliated radio program that is syndicated to over 10 markets in the North East and Nashville) and Irie Jam radio, 93.5FM, the loudest voice to the Caribbean Diaspora in NY. He also did an acoustic performance and an interview on Sirius XM’s ‘The Joint’ with host Pat McKay. His debut live performance at Le Poisson Rounge in Manhattan, New York will take place on Tuesday, March 13 with special guest singer Richie Stephens.
“I am extremely excited about my debut performance in New York, home to the largest Jamaican population in the Diaspora. Any opportunity I get to perform for my Caribbean fans is an opportunity I cherish” the German sinjay noted.
Gentleman’s North and South American tour is in support of his VP Records album titled Diversity that was released in February. The international version of the album already sold Gold (more than 100,000 units) and charted at #1 in Germany as well as #2 in Switzerland and Austria and is the follow-up to his Europe platinum-selling record Confidence.
On Diversity, Gentleman stays true to his first musical love – roots reggae – teaming up with top Jamaican recording artist Tanya Stephens; the late Studio One veteran and dancehall pioneer Sugar Minott; Christopher and producers Don Corleon, Red Roze, Shane Brown, Xterminator and Firehouse Crew.
Gentleman, the son of a Lutheran pastor was drawn to reggae’s revolutionary spirit and truth-seeking lyrics ever since he was introduced to the island’s sounds. He has since had a string of solo hits and platinum-selling records in Europe. He won Best National Artist five times for three different award shows (Echo Award 2003 & 2005, Comet Award 2005, 1Live Radio Award 2004 & 2005) and has been nominated twice for Best Reggae Artist (Martin 2004 Awards and Reggae and Soca Awards). He has collaborated with artists ranging from pop superstars Pink and Destiny’s Child to reggae legends Michael Franti & Spearhead and Barrington Levy.
Last summer he teamed with Richie Stephens on the tribute single “Live Your Life” which topped reggae charts in Florida and Jamaica and was voted “Song of the Year 2011” in New York by Irie Jam Radio. Their follow up single/video ‘Warrior,’ has already started to make inroads on the play list of stations across the globe.
Earlier this year, Gentleman delivered a riveting live rendition of “Live Your Life” at the 16th annual Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival, where he was a special invited guest of Stephens. Their performance was hailed as one of the highlights of the festival.