J.R. BLESSINGTON STR8 FIYAH
J.R. hails from Silent Hill, Christiana in Manchester, Jamaica. He migrated to Kingston in his early teens where he resided in the Portmore & Spanish Town areas. A gifted footballer coming to the United States in his 20’s, Blessington has made a musical name for himself in Cleveland, Ohio.
A prolific singer/songwriter since youth with his own ‘Conscious Ragga’ chanting style, J.R. is a natural-born teacher and observer of human nature which comes across effortlessly throughout his writing. His versatility within the Reggae genre sets him apart from any other artist with almost innumerable style variations and combinations – ranging in heavy influence from Roots Reggae, Dancehall Riddims and Soca flavors to R&B and Rock elements.
Blessington’s debut album, Son of the Soil, has been making international waves since 2014. More recently, he has been featured on Smartkid Records’ Majestic Riddim with "Jamming to Africa". It showcases artists such as Lutan Fyah, Zamunda, and JoJo Mac, and has been released worldwide.
He has assembled a project called Str8 Fiyah which launched its debut album, HOPE, in 2017. While finishing the album, he and Str8 Fiyah worked with the River Nile Band which featured both J.R. and singer/songwriter Milton Blake. Their collaboration fueled the release of the single "Serious Place".
The singjay's versatility has led to opening opportunities for Capleton, Elephant Man, Romain Virgo, Baby Cham, Mad Cobra, Little John, and Luciano. Blessington continues to work with local and international artists. Recently, he completed the "Culture Ignite" tour (Eastern US) with veteran hit-makers Little John and Milton Blake. The tour showcases dancehall music with conscious lyrics. J.R.'s powerful, upful messages always offer an electric performance!
Formed in 2015, Str8 Fiyah has been working on their all-original debut album with J.R. at the helm. Joining the team were veteran drummer Marlon "Rasta Foot" and Angie "Fiyah" on keys. The three have tirelessly poured their hearts into HOPE, set for August 10, 2017 release.
In just a short amount of time, Str8 Fiyah has also been a part of the River Nile family, which features Milton Blake on lead vocals. They have opened for the likes of Baby Cham, headlined The Wild Hare in Chicago, IL, and performed as Luciano's backing band in 2016.
Versatile and experienced, the group continually evolves employing new writing and arrangement styles "outside the box". Roots reggae is the foundation, but be prepared to hear a variety of Jamaican, African, and even U.S. cultural influences.
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