Reggae Resounds In Caribbean Fest

By Shereen Oca
Staff Writer

Solomon (“Flex”) Joseph said his love of music, particularly reggae, was cultivated from a young age.

Although Joseph grew up in Los Angeles, the sounds he heard as a baby were reggae. Influenced by his Belizean father, Joseph said he then got into hip hop and R&B and started DJing as a teenager.

“I’ve been wanting to do this since I was a kid,” Joseph said of his desire to promote reggae. “I’ve got a vision … it’s all mapped out.”

What started as a lesson in self-promoting has manifested into a full-fledged career for Joseph. He has been producing shows for the past 10 years and accumulated a collection of more than 5,000 records.

Joseph also is the president of Adamari Empire — the company behind the Adamari Caribbean Festival 2008 set to rock-steady this Sunday (July 27) at Queen Mary Park.

Joseph, who still DJs occasionally, fine-tuned his business skills at the University of Southern California, studying interactive multi-media. His newly formed company has been putting on the Caribbean Festival at the Queen Mary Park for two years. (Adamari co-hosted the event with Sea Breeze Promotions last year, but according to Joseph both organizations decided to go their separate ways.

Sea Breeze will host the 11th Annual Caribbean SeaBreeze Festival Saturday, Aug. 9, at the Long Beach Veterans Memorial Stadium.)

“I love the seaside. (The festival) is outdoors on the grass right by the water,” Joseph said. “It’s just a day of love and unity, good music and great food. You can’t beat that on a Sunday afternoon.”

Last year’s maximum capacity was 4,500, and the festival sold out within the first hour, Joseph recalled. He went on to say that everything this year has doubled, resulting in a larger site map and greater capacity of 7,500 people.

Ten artists are lined up to take the stage during the 10-hour festival, which starts at noon. Performers include Supa G, Warrior King, Junior Reid, Lady Saw, Cham and two-time Grammy Award winner Shabba Ranks.

“That’s who everybody wants to see,” Joseph said of headliner Shabba Ranks. “His performance is world renowned. If you’ve never seen Shabba Ranks onstage, it’s like a rare occasion.”

Festival-goers can enjoy the traditional flavors of Jamaica such as jerk or curry chicken, oxtail, rice and beans and plantains. They can visit the dancehall sound tent that will feature area DJs, stroll along the stalls of vendors selling crafts and souvenirs or just kick back and take in the sounds and smells of the Caribbean. There also will be activities for children, including train rides and a jumper.

“(The festival) is definitely a family affair,” Jones said. “It’s really a celebration of our music. It’s a growing genre and needs as much help as it get.”

Tickets are $50 presale and $60 at the gate. VIP tickets cost $100 and include backstage access, front-stage viewing and more. Admission is free for children 9 years and younger.

Visitors are allowed to bring in blankets, beach chairs and disposable cameras. Camcorders, coolers, picnic baskets and tents are prohibited (a complete listing is posted on the Web site).

The Queen Mary is at 1126 Queens Highway.

For more information, call (310) 424-1276 or visit www.caribsumfest.com.