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Jamaican Grammy award-winning artiste Buju Banton is on upward trajectory months into the coronavirus pandemic. This is according to his long-time co-manager and music producer Donovan Germain. In an interview with The Gleaner, Germain said that the 46-year-old singer, real name Mark Anthony Myrie, is on high demand courtesy of his recently released album Upside Down 2020 and is making a killing from live-streaming platforms.
According to Germain, while the pandemic has torpedoed live performances across the world especially in countries that would have otherwise opened doors to the singer, the American market is proving as a catalyst for his rise. A bitter-sweet nod for the Steppaz Riddim star who spent seven years at a jail in Miami, Florida after he was found guilty in 2011 of “illegal possession of a firearm and conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute”. He was released in 2018 from McRae Correctional Institution after serving seven years of a ten-year sentence.
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Germain pointed out that Buju Banton has made due with virtual performances that have seen him recently feature on BET’s virtual Covid-19 relief concert, make a debut appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, among others.
“Out of adverse conditions come great opportunities, and I’m sure Buju and other artistes who are in a similar position as him who have had certain restrictions placed on them are happy they are able to make it onto mainstream TV in America. They may be unable to take a plane and go to these countries physically but with these virtual performances, they can still make appearances on these international platforms and the world gets a unique opportunity to see them. That’s really is something to be proud of,” said Germain.
He added that aside from his return to The Tonight Show, the singer is scheduled to make several international appearances in the coming months including the highly anticipated Billboard Live. "They were so impressed with his performance on The Tonight Show that they have agreed to show it again on the 26th of this month. We negotiated for one slot and we ended up with two because they’re going to replay his performance, which is great. He is a happy man,” disclosed the manager.
Read Also: Jamaican star Buju Banton set to release highly-anticipated album
He added: “We are doing Billboard Live coming up, we have a show with Amazon coming up, and so there are a lot of doors opening up for him out of this whole online thing. We have to find a way to maintain relevance with every audience, and this is the new norm for the time being, and so we just have to accept it and appreciate the opportunities it brings.”
