Jah Cure

Jah Cure
Background information
Birth name Siccature Alcock
Born 11 October 1978
Hanover Parish, Jamaica
Origin Kingston, Jamaica
Genres Reggae, Lovers rock, Roots reggae
Years active 1997–present
Labels Iyah Cure Music Ltd.
Website Jah Cure's Website RealJahCure.com

Jah Cure, or Iyah Cure (born Siccature Alcock on 11 October 1978 in Hanover, Jamaica) is a Jamaican reggae musician, who was raised in Kingston. He was given the name Jah Cure by Capleton whom he met while growing up in Kingston. Jah Cure is also known as the King of Lovers Rock and Roots Reggae.

Biography

Born in Hanover, Jamaica, Siccaturie used to sneak out his bedroom window at night to visit local dancehalls and stage shows where he saw some of the great reggae icons perform: Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Burning Spear, Beres Hammond, Marcia Griffith, Garnett Silk, Jacob Miller and Black Uhuru. Early on he made the decision to become part of that elite group and dedicated his early years to making this his dream and sole mission.

Capleton was the one to bestow on Siccaturie the name Jah Cure. The symbolism was obvious - the singer looked young and healthy, well preserved as in “cured,” using the plants of the land for medicinal purposes. It was during this time that Cure became spiritually enlightened, learning the teachings of Rastafari and becoming a proponent of natural living.

Beres Hammond subsequently took Cure under his wing and began mentoring him and producing him in the studio. However, Cure’s studio education and musical journey would be suddenly and unexpectedly interrupted. His growing success took a radical turn when he was stopped and arrested late one night in Montego Bay. Cure was charged with four crimes, all of which he vehemently denied. He maintained his innocence throughout his arrest and subsequent incarceration. A non-jury trial convicted him based on one victim’s claim that although she could not visually identify him, he sounded like one of the perpetrators and on that basis he was sentenced to prison.

While in jail, Cure recorded and released several records which became # 1 singles, “Jamaica,” produced by DZ Productions and “Longing For,” produced by Don Corleon. Cure’s first album, FREE JAH’S CURE, was recorded and released approximately one year after he began his incarceration. It is a project that has been lyrically compared to Bob Marley’s EXODUS. On that album, Cure gives thanks for life, spreading love and forgiveness through his music. He believes his incarceration was Jah’s way of teaching him humility and love for his fellow man. He has since forgiven all those who judged him unjustly. While he was still in jail, Beres Hammond produced Cure’s second album, GHETTO LIFE, which featured the single “Divide and Rule”, a duet with Sizzla which was voted the best song of the year. VP Records compiled songs recorded during this period to release his third album, FREEDOM BLUES, which featured “King in This Jungle’, another collaboration with Sizzla and the heartfelt “Songs of Freedom”.

As Jah Cure’s recordings overtook the global airwaves, many took up the call for his release. After numerous international appeals to the Jamaican government, Cure once again became a free man on July 28, 2007. On the day of his release and his first day of freedom, Cure stated that his only remaining goal for the rest of his life was to spread love and to promote peace and healing through his music. Says Cure, “My struggles made me who I am today. That’s why I sing with feelings, it comes from my heart ‘cause I feel the pain. Who feels it knows it.” He is now happily married and the proud father of a beautiful little princess.

Since then Jah Cure has topped the music charts numerous times, starting with “Longing For” and “To Your Arms of Love” from his fourth album True Reflections...A New Beginning; “Call on Me” and “Luv on a 2 Way Street” from The Universal Cure album as well as countless singles recorded for major independent producers. His sixth album, WORLD CRY, suffered from numerous re-schedulings of its release but still produced “Unconditional Love,” which shot to the top of the charts, becoming a # 1 Reggae single worldwide. It also contained collaborations with Mavado, Rick Ross, Phyllisia and Jazmine Sullivan, crossing into hip-hop, Latin, Pop and R&B genres.

Hit singles too numerous to mention followed, including the first release on his own Iyah Cure Productions label, “That Girl” and most recently the dancehall anthem “Life We Live”, which have served to cement his reputation as an artist and producer to be taken seriously. He is currently finishing up production on his seventh studio album, THE CURE, and will be touring the world. Europe and South America in anticipation of its release in early 2015.

Career

His first big break came in March 1997 when he released the single "King in this Jungle" which was a duet with Sizzla. The single was produced by Beres Hammond who went on to become his mentor. He then released a steady stream of singles that won him critical and popular acclaim. Beres Hammond eventually took Cure under his tutelage and began mentoring him and producing his music in the studio. In 1998, Cure performed on a European tour and visited several Caribbean Islands with Beres Hammond and the Harmony House Family.

In November 1998, while driving around Montego Bay, Cure was pulled over by the police and arrested on charges of gun possession, robbery and rape. He was prosecuted before the Gun Court[1] in April 1999, found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison.[2] Cure was transferred from the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre to the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre, which had a digital recording studio the inmates could use. It was there that Cure released three albums and a number of singles, some of which have topped the Jamaican chart.[2] His first album Free Jah's Cure The Album the Truth was released in 2000, it was followed by Ghetto Life in 2003 and Freedom Blues in 2005. More recently Cure has released the songs "Love Is", "Longing For" and "True Reflections", showing his unique voice and lyrical ability.

He was released from jail on parole on 28 July 2007, after serving 8 years of the sentence. Three days later, his fourth album, True Reflections...A New Beginning was released.

His first concert after he was released took place at the Reggae Sumfest in August 2007. He was the last and headlining act.[3]

He is now signed to Iyah Cure Productions and his Internet Marketing is performed by Sabalie.

In 2008, Jah Cure released "Hot Long Time" feat. Junior Reid. "Universal Cure", Jah Cure's 5th studio album, was to be released on 25 November 2008, but was postponed to a "mid 2009" release.

"The Universal Cure" was released in the US on 14 April 2009. The album features "Hot Long Time" (featuring Junior Reid, Flo Rida, and Mavado.), as well as "Mr. Jailer" and "Journey". The album was the first recorded album since his release from prison.

At the end of 2010, following the success of Jah Cure's single "Unconditional Love" featuring Phyllisia, SoBe Entertainment released the second single off Jah Cure's upcoming "World Cry" album, titled "Like I See It" featuring Rick Ross and Mavado.

Jah Cure married TV Host/Producer Kamila Mcdonald on 7 August 2011 in Sandy Bay Hanover. On 20 February 2012 the couple welcomed a baby girl named Kailani Belle. Their daughters name means "Beautiful Chief from the heavens".

On 11 December 2012, SoBe Entertainment released Jah Cure's 6th studio album, "World Cry," digitally to the world. The physical release is scheduled for 29 January 2013.

His self-titled studio album is due to be released in early 2015.[4]

Discography

References

  1. ↑ Dreisinger, Baz (30 September 2007). "His long-awaited release". Los Angeles Times. p. F-13. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Singing the jailhouse rock", Jamaica Observer, 25 November 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2012
  3. ↑ Stelfox, Dave. "Pitchfork: The Month In Reggae/Dancehall". Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  4. ↑ "September date for Cure's album", Jamaica Observer, 17 July 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014

External links