Music heavyweights Shaggy, Mykal Rose, Freddie McGregor, Chino McGregor, Marcia Griffiths, Ky-Mani Marley, Konshens, Cham, Jemere Morgan and Ed Robinson, as well as Fat Joe and Flo Rida from the hip-hop community, were just some of the familiar faces at Circle House in Miami, Florida on November 16 for the inaugural Inner Circle Fest 2021.

Journalists converged virtually and face-to-face for the Band’s global press conference for its 53rd anniversary celebration and the release of Timoy ‘TeeJay’ Jones and Inner Circle’s new single and video, Riches We a Pree, as well as panel discussions on the journey, highlights and future of Jamaica’sindigenous music genres.

Both TeeJay and Inner Circle credited his manager, Sharon Burke, with bringing them together for the Riches We a Pree single.

The Glendevon, Montego Bay native lay his vocals for the single at Circle House studios in May this year and the track is expected on the dancehall artiste’s debut album, Rags to Riches, in 2022.

The burgeoning UPTOP Boss says he is thankful for and realises the positive impact this collaboration will have on his career.

Inner Circle founding members and bosses Ian Lewis and Roger Lewis said Circle Fest is about dialogue, networking,
celebration and music, and that the intention is to continue the conversation in other locations, annually as necessary to give everyone a seat at the Reggae table.

The pair also emphasised the importance of nurturing upcoming talent like Teejay rather than criticising them “as we continue to purposefully grow brand Reggae”.

Circle House Marketing Manager Abebe Lewis agreed and is already eyeing an even bigger Circle Fest for 2022.

Inner Circle have also collaborated with young Reggae talent – Kabaka Pyramid, Chronixx and Khago.

The band was founded in Kingston, Jamaica in1968 by the then teen brothers and included teenagers Stephen ‘Cat’ Coore and Michael ‘Ibo’ Cooper.

In 1970 they were joined by drummer William Stewart, percussionist Irvin ‘Carrot’ Jarrett, and singer William ‘Bunny Rugs’ Clarke, who would leave in 1973 to form the Third World Band.

Keyboard player Bernard Harvey (aka ‘Touter’) joined the band and Jacob Miller became the band’s memorable lead singer, recording hits like Tired fi Lick Weed in A Bush, Tenement Yard and Standing Firm.

Touring extensively and working with first Capitol and then Island Records, the band then played a hotel house band in the film Rockers.

As a live act, none equaled their popularity.

After Jacob ‘Killer’ Miller’s mysterious car crash death in 1980, the band moved to Miami where Bad Boys and Sweat gave them hits during the early 1990s. The Inner Circle Band won the 1993 Reggae Grammy for their album Bad Boys. The monster hit title track is a 1987 song by the Jamaican band, which blew up in the United States after its re-release in 1993, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number seven on the Top 40 mainstream.

Bad Boys, the single, remains the familiar opening theme of the American TV show Cops and is also used frequently in the Will Smith-Martin Lawrence action/comedy film series Bad Boys, which was named after the song.

Vocalist Trevor ‘Skatta’ Bonnick joined in 2013.

Oliver Mair, Jamaica’s consul general to Miami, who spoke at the global press conference, reminded participants that the Circle bosses received the Order of Distinction, Jamaica’s sixth highest award in 2019 and that Miller was awarded
posthumously.

Mair lauded Inner Circle for not only operating a successful business but also for creating a Jamaican community within Florida that is as benevolent as it is influential.

Shaggy, who sat on one of the day’s three panels, said Inner Circle are trailblazers and commended TeeJay’s tremendous work ethic.

Shaggy is also doing work with the dancehall artiste at his studios in Miami.

Freddie McGregor lauded the group’s strong foundation in and contribution to reggae music.