CPR Reggae

CPR has a multidimensional education focus that operates year round to foster audience development, artist development, and community enrichment using a diverse array of strategies.

Community Conversation Series. This series of community forums began in 2009 when more than 200 patrons piled into the Billy Holiday Theatre to explore in three part harmony, the question “Could Dancehall be the Ruination of Reggae and by Extension the Jamaica Brand.” Each year, the series offers five monthly forums starting in February (Reggae Month/African Heritage Month) with the State of Reggae Reception which features a keynote address or panel discussion. Currently the forums take place in the studios of CPRLive and are streamed live to reach a much broader audience than initially conceived. Forums in the series address topics that of interest to artists as well as topics for audiences. The series formally ends in June (Black Music Month/Caribbean Heritage Month). In addition to the core forums, additional forums are presented from time to time during the remainder of the year as developments in the community dictate.  The series relies on donations from the community.

Workshop in Artist and Repertoire Development (WARD). The workshop in Artist and Repertoire Development is CPR’s response to the demise of the traditional record company where once upon a time, emerging artists could receive mentorship and development and preparation for success. As wards of the community, artists can now participate in workshop sessions that are conducted by concerned practitioners and professionals who are willing to share their wealth of experience. Participants also support each other’s development by sharing their own experiences and engaging in peer counseling to help each other grow. The workshop takes advantage of today’s communications technology and the internet to allow participation by artists and facilitators from various locations around the reggae world. In addition to the in-kind contributions of volunteers, the workshop relies on financial donations to keep going.

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CPRLive is CPR’s internet media platform that has become a key component in implementing all program initiatives. With the motto “It Ain’t Just Music, It’s Life,” CPRLive operates around the clock with a mix of live interactive programming (The Evening Suite) and a music stream of roots reggae music, old school dancehall and other related music forms along with vignettes that share insights into artists, the industry and life.

Tuesdays 7PM-10PM: Social Living explores contemporary and historical modes of social organization, providing a platform for economic literacy, social responsibility and an elevated social living quotient.

Thursdays 7PM-10PM: These no holds barred conversations with reggae practitioners and thought leaders address the creation, development, promotion, presentation and preservation of reggae music.

Saturdays 6PM-9PM: Reggae Calling, offers an unpredictable journey of music, good vibes and you with reasoning, interviews and the Female Focus- insights into achievements of outstanding women.

Archives: CPR maintains an archive of broadcasts as well as video recordings of other CPR program activities on our YOUTUBE channel, CPRLive. This includes entire programs, program excerpts, performances, and special activities including the Songbird Challenge. 

Announcements: Like us on FACEBOOK and receive notifications of all CPR and CPRLive activities. In addition, the page will also provide a treasure trove of good information and other announcements.

Special Projects

The programs of CPR include special projects that emerge from time to time. Special projects have included activities such as film screenings, town hall meetings and other special events.

The Legacy Project. One special project that is ongoing is The Legacy Project, an ongoing effort to preserve the history of contributions to the development and growth of the music. The Legacy Project entails gathering, archiving and curating information and materials that reflect the development of the genre. All are welcome to submit recommendations, information and materials for the project, including photography, audio recordings, video, literature, clippings and other materials and artifacts. The items will eventually be showcased in an online museum. Material and financial assistance are invited.

Performance

Music is all about performance and the enjoyment it brings. CPR got started when a group of reggae lovers set out to produce a special event to mark a very special occasion, the 75th anniversary of a coronation. That was in 2005 and that journey has morphed into this organization anchored by the hallmark event Reggae Culture Salute.

Reggae Culture Salute. Reggae Culture Salute marks the anniversary of the coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie I and Empress Mennen of Ethiopia. Emperor Haile Selassie I is central to the Rastafari Movement which informs the roots reggae and the multimedia Reggae Culture Salute underscores the unique relationship between reggae Rasta Emperor Selassie and Jamaica. The family friendly event typically showcases veteran roots reggae artists and emerging artists as well as nyabinghi drumming, dancing, a video tribute, award presentations and delectable Caribbean cuisine.

International Women of Reggae. This performance presentation is devoted to honoring the contribution of women to reggae and showcases women from around the world. The artists hail primarily from the Caribbean, North America and Europe but may be from wherever reggae can be found. As with Reggae Culture Salute (RCS), veterans as well as newcomers are reflected in the mix and whereas anywhere in and elsewhere RCS is partial to roots reggae, International Women of Reggae is more diverse in the flavors of reggae that are presented.

Performance                                                                                                         

Music is all about performance and the enjoyment it brings. CPR began by staging an event that continues to be the hallmark activity of the organization, joined by a second seminal presentation.

Reggae Culture Salute. Reggae Culture Salute marks the anniversary of the coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie I and Empress Mennen of Ethiopia with a multimedia event that celebrates the unique relationship between reggae Rasta Emperor Selassie and Jamaica. International Women of Reggae honors the contribution of women to reggae with a presentation that assembles women from the Caribbean, North America, Europe and elsewhere to offer a unique reggae experience.

Education                                                                                                              

CPR maintains a multidimensional education focus that operates year round to foster audience development, artist development, and community enrichment using a diverse array of strategies.

Community Conversations Series. This series of community forums was started in 2009 when more than 200 patrons piled into the Billy holiday theatre to explore in three part harmony, the question “Could Dancehall be the Ruination of Reggae and by extension the Jamaica Brand.” Each year, the series provides five monthly forums starting in February (Reggae Month) with the State of Reggae Reception and concluding in June (Black Music Month). Currently the gatherings take place in the studios of CPRLive and are streamed live to reach a much broader audience than initially conceived. In addition to the core forums, additional forums are presented from time to time during the course of the year as developments in the community dictate. Workshop in Artist and Repertoire Development. The workshop in Artist and Repertoire Development is an ongoing workshop that offers artists the opportunities for professional development in various aspects of the industry. The workshop helps discerning artists to cultivate their craft in a nurturing environment where they support each other, sharing experiences and challenges as seasoned practitioners and professionals share their expertise and experiences.

Media                                                                                           

Central to all CPR program initiatives is CPRLive, the internet media platform that serves as the glue that binds the various facets of the organization together with a mix of interactive programming and a live music stream of roots reggae music, old school dancehall and other related forms alongside vignettes that offer insights into artists, the industry and the environment that is reggae music. In addition, content derived from CPRLive’s programming and other CPR presentations form the basis of the CPRLive YouTube channel where missed programs and performances can be found.

Networking                                                                                                              

The motto of CPRLive states that “It ain’t just Music, it’s life and the practice of CPR reflects the same. The two performance events of the organization is balanced by two networking events addressing matters that impact the industry and the community.

The State of Reggae Reception, held in February each year marks African Hedritae Month. Reggae Month and the launch of the Community Conversation Series, a series of five monthly forums addressing various issues affecting the future of the music and its preservation. Kwanzaa, the African American celebration of community and the achievements of the year brings us together at the close of the year. Besides the ingathering, the harvest is celebrating by gathering school supplies which are donated to basic schools children in Jamaica, the birthplace of reggae music.

Special Projects                                                                                                     

The Legacy Project. The programs of CPR include special projects that emerge from time to time. Special projects have included activities such as film screenings, town hall meetings and other special events. Special projects also include an ongoing effort to preserve the history of contributions to the development and growth of the music labeled The Legacy Project. This effort entails the archiving and curating of information and materials that will, among other things, be showcased in an online museum.

Networking

The motto of CPRLive states that “It ain’t just Music, it’s life and the practice of CPR reflects the same. The two performance events of the organization is balanced by two networking events addressing matters that impact the industry and the community.

a.   The State of Reggae Reception, held in February each year marks African Hedritae Month. Reggae Month and the launch of the Community Conversation Series, a series of five monthly forums addressing various issues affecting the future of the music and its preservation.

b.   Kwanzaa, the African American celebration of community and the achievements of the year brings us together at the close of the year. Besides the ingathering, the harvest is celebrating by gathering school supplies which are donated to basic schools children in Jamaica, the birthplace of reggae music.  

Once again, we are back at summer and this one is special. This summer marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of CPR... It was the summer of 2005 that Sharon Gordon and I brought together a coalition of reggae industry practitioners to plan and stage the first Reggae Culture Salute to mark the 75th anniversary of the November 2nd, 1930 coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie I and Empress Mennen of Ethiopia, an event that would set in motion a sequence of events that include the emergence of the Rastafari Movement and ultimately reggae music. Reggae Culture Salute honors the unique relationship between reggae, Rasta, Emperor Selassie and Jamaica and the Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music strives to raise the bar in reggae music, elevate the profile of the purveyors of reggae and research, codify, curate and disseminate information about the reggae genre so as to increase understanding of its development, its significance, and its influence around the world.

 Today, CPR is a reggae lovers organization and as we advance into our second decade of existence, we continue to hold dear our motto and practice of working together to make things work and implore you to be a part of the next decade of preserving reggae music. This summer begins with the final forum of the seventh season of our Community Conversation Series, a groundbreaking series of forums that began in 2009 and has provided immense community education over the seven years, spawning several initiatives in the process. Join us on Thursday, June 25 for Who Mash Up Reggae - Part V when Christina Grand of Reggae Embassy will join us to explore education imperatives for the industry in a conversation titled, "What You Don't Know Could Hurt You" (see Who Mash Up reggae Part V below).

On June 27th, CPR marks the 4th anniversary of CPRLive, the broadcast platform of CPR, with a memberthon broadcast to launch the 2015 Summer Memberthon campaign to garner membership support for CPR. The broadcast which begins at 3:00 PM on CPRLive provides an excellent opportunity to become thoroughly familiar with CPR, its programs and its plans for the future, and to pledge your support for making things work. Log on to www.cprreggae.org between 3:00 PM and midnight and be a part of the 2015 summer memberthon (see 2015 Summer Memberthon below).

For the third year running, CPRLive will broadcast live from the International African Arts Festival. Make plans to visit the festival which takes place from 10:00AM to 9:00 PM each day from July 2 through July 5 rain or shine, but if you can't be there, CPRLive will broadcast from the main stage each day from 3:00 PM until 9:00 PM so you don't have to miss it all together. Be sure to stop by the broadcast booth and say hello when you visit the festival. We are located directly in front of the main stage on the grass.

We look forward to you joining us in getting summer underway and to your steadfast participation in working together to make things work as we pave the way to another decade of preserving the soundtrack to the movement of Jah people.

Once again, we are back at summer and this one is special. This summer marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of CPR... It was the summer of 2005 that Sharon Gordon and I brought together a coalition of reggae industry practitioners to plan and stage the first Reggae Culture Salute to mark the 75th anniversary of the November 2nd, 1930 coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie I and Empress Mennen of Ethiopia, an event that would set in motion a sequence of events that include the emergence of the Rastafari Movement and ultimately reggae music. Reggae Culture Salute honors the unique relationship between reggae, Rasta, Emperor Selassie and Jamaica and the Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music strives to raise the bar in reggae music, elevate the profile of the purveyors of reggae and research, codify, curate and disseminate information about the reggae genre so as to increase understanding of its development, its significance, and its influence around the world.

 Today, CPR is a reggae lovers organization and as we advance into our second decade of existence, we continue to hold dear our motto and practice of working together to make things work and implore you to be a part of the next decade of preserving reggae music. This summer begins with the final forum of the seventh season of our Community Conversation Series, a groundbreaking series of forums that began in 2009 and has provided immense community education over the seven years, spawning several initiatives in the process. Join us on Thursday, June 25 for Who Mash Up Reggae - Part V when Christina Grand of Reggae Embassy will join us to explore education imperatives for the industry in a conversation titled, "What You Don't Know Could Hurt You" (see Who Mash Up reggae Part V below).

On June 27th, CPR marks the 4th anniversary of CPRLive, the broadcast platform of CPR, with a memberthon broadcast to launch the 2015 Summer Memberthon campaign to garner membership support for CPR. The broadcast which begins at 3:00 PM on CPRLive provides an excellent opportunity to become thoroughly familiar with CPR, its programs and its plans for the future, and to pledge your support for making things work. Log on to www.cprreggae.org between 3:00 PM and midnight and be a part of the 2015 summer memberthon (see 2015 Summer Memberthon below).

For the third year running, CPRLive will broadcast live from the International African Arts Festival. Make plans to visit the festival which takes place from 10:00AM to 9:00 PM each day from July 2 through July 5 rain or shine, but if you can't be there, CPRLive will broadcast from the main stage each day from 3:00 PM until 9:00 PM so you don't have to miss it all together. Be sure to stop by the broadcast booth and say hello when you visit the festival. We are located directly in front of the main stage on the grass.

We look forward to you joining us in getting summer underway and to your steadfast participation in working together to make things work as we pave the way to another decade of preserving the soundtrack to the movement of Jah people.