Copeland Forbes
Jamaica's most prolific global tour manager, artist manager and reggae historian Copeland Forbes has single handedly put Jamaica on more maps internationally than most Jamaican dignitaries have done since the country gained independence from Britain in 1962. This renders Forbes, to be amongst some of the most powerful and esteemed stature in the reggae industry today.
Mr. Forbes has and continues to be the driving force behind the globalization of reggae music for the past 49 years. We embrace this genius of a man as Jamaica’s Christopher Columbus, not for conquering new countries, but for introducing reggae and the Jamaican culture to the world.
Forbes, a truly multifaceted man, began his music career in 1962 with the Harmony Cats, a very successful group that performed at corporate functions across Jamaica. A few years later he debut his dancing career with a new group he formed “THE COASTERS” at Club Sombrero, appearing with the Mighty Vikings band. His dancing career evolved into the most illustrious and rewarding opportunity ultimately landing him in his first of four movies he acted in the first being THE FRENCH CONNECTION starring Gene Hackman and Roy Sheider which won five Academy Awards, followed by Groove Tube, Good Bye Baby and Forty Carats with Liv Ulman plus a regular spot on the most popular TV dance show at that time in the USA, Soul Train. Following this success, he turned his passion for his country and reggae into one of the most distinguished artist management and Tour management careers in popular music.
During his exceptional career, this reggae music pioneer who was once Mayor of Kingston has met and travelled with such Royalties as HRH Princess Margaret and Lord Snowden, HRH Queen Elizabeth the First, HRH the present Queen Elizabeth the Second, Prince Phillip (The Duke of Edinburgh), Secretary General of The United Nations at the time U Thant, Prince Constantine who later became King Constantine of Greece and His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie during his visit to Jamaica in 1966. During his 49 years in the music fraternity Forbes worked in the capacity of Tour Manager, Tour Coordinator, Road Manager and Personal Manager and also guided the careers of reggae international superstars: Bob Marley, The Mighty Diamonds, Black Uhuru, Third Word, Gregory Isaacs, Marcia Griffiths, Peter Tosh, John Holt, Luciano, Garnet Silk, Sly and Robbie, Bunny Wailer, The I-Threes, Jimmy Cliff, Andrew Tosh, Dennis Brown, Frankie Paul, Girlztown and Live Wyya Band, Beres Hammond, Freddie, McGregor and Burning Spear, et al. This list is not exhausted. In fact, Forbes had taken a lot of the super stars on their maiden tour. Beres Hammond, Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, the I-Threes….Working with these talents have afforded Forbes the opportunity to not only socialize with royalty and heads of states but to be present at some historical events in the music world. Two of the most salient are: Peter Tosh’s tour with the Rolling Stones in the late seventies and Jimmy Cliff historical concert in South Africa in 1980.
Forbes has been the recipient of over 260 international awards for his contribution to reggae music and his country. In June of this year (2011), he was awarded "The Toronto International Jamaica Day Legend Award," and the "Ottawa Reggae Festival's Life Time Achievement Award" by 2 Canadian Organizations in appreciation of his distinguished service and outstanding contribution to Jamaica’s musical legacy.
2012 marks Copeland Forbes 50th year in the reggae industry. To mark this milestone achievement, he will launch his highly anticipated autobiography, “Reggae My Life Is.” The book focuses on the who is who in the reggae industry. There has been quite a buzz, as reggae lovers, musicologists and historians await the book’s release. The book will be launched in North America, Africa, Europe, Australia, Japan and Asia. A special version of the book will be printed in Thai language for Thailand. Thailand is the most recent country that Forbes has introduced to reggae music and the Jamaican culture.
The 50th anniversary celebrations 2012 will entails Lecture Tours at some of the top Universities in North America and Canada. A special tour entitled “CHILDREN OF THE STARS” which focuses on the siblings of some of reggae’s superstars: Tarrus Riley, Queen Ifrica, Andrew Tosh, Kenyatta Hill (son of Joseph Hill of Culture) and one of the Marley sons. A tour featuring some of the Legends of Reggae, and a dancehall tour title “ONE LOVE AND UNITY” which will feature four of the dancehall heavyweights and finally the 2012 celebrations will climax in December 2012 in Jamaica. With a well scripted spectacular show which will have in attendance quite a few international celebrities from the music industry and will feature most of the Artistes that Forbes has worked with over the 50 years.
“The Height That Great Men Reach and Kept was Not Attained By Sudden Flight”
