D-day for Festival Song Competition entries

This Friday, March 18, is the deadline for entries in the Jamaica Festival Song Competition.

Orville Hill, the competition's committee chairman, noted that the deadline was previously extended to accommodate entrants who had requested additional time to 'tighten up' their entries.

"This is a special year for the Festival Song Competition as it is our Diamond Jubilee, so we are looking for a memorable, festive and patriotic song that can tie the yearlong Jamaica 60 Independence celebrations together and help to unite Jamaicans across the globe," Hill said.

NOTABLE REGGAE ARTISTES

The competition, which is open to all Jamaicans 18 years or older, has produced many notable reggae artistes over its almost six decades, while also cementing its place on the annual independence celebrations roster for Jamaicans both at home and abroad.

The Jamaica Festival Song Competition, which was first staged in 1966, has helped to launch and advance the careers of some of Jamaica's most-acclaimed singers and songwriters.

Winners of the competition have included Toots and the Maytals, Desmond Decker, Eric Donaldson, Roy Rayon, Stanley Beckford as well as the newest 2020 and 2021 winners, reggae superstar Buju Banton and dancehall dynamite Stacious, respectively.