Dancehall Group Voicemail - From Nuttin to Something

Voicemail originally consisted of 3 members: O'Neil Edwards, Craig Jackson and Kevin Blaire. The group originally started out with 5 members that became acquainted with each other in 1999 at a talent competition. In 2003 the group “Voicemail” was formed new and 2 Members left.

Oneil the son of Rupee Edwards - a well known Jamaican artist and producer. Before Kevin became a singer he use to work as a model. In turn Craig was motivated to developing an identity in music by his older brother who was a member of the “Scare dem crew.” Voicemail..s first big hit in Jamaica was entitled “Weh di Time”. After a collaboration with the dancer Bugle and the artist Delly Ranks Voicemail became more famous internationally and their music video for the song “Do What You Feel Like” was played by several TV stations in America. It quickly became obvious, that Voicemail..s unique dancing-style, draws attention internationally.

They first and foremost produced dance music for clubs, which combines their own creative ideas with moves from the dance “Salsa”. This concept is reaching a high lifestyle which is attracting teenagers and young adults that love to dance, extending across the boarders of Jamaica. Through including R n' B influences they set themselves apart and create attention not only in the USA but also in Japan.

Voicemail sold in 2007 their debut album “Hey” over 100,000 times in Japan alone and received a double platinum plague. 2008 they continued the success with their Let's Go Album. The record was sold over 80.000 until today. In this year, Voice Mail was featured by Japanese reggae singer Lecca in her 4th album City Caravan.

After six years of intensive touring the world including live shows in front of 40,000 people in Yokohama and publishing already three albums, they are now ready to target the European music market. Voicemail present themselves on the internet at: www.myspace.com/voicemailgroup. The group scored their first number one in over two years on the Jamaican dancehall charts with their reggae fusion hit single, "Dance the Night Away" featuring Busy Signal, which reached it's peak in February of 2010.

On the morning of May 10, 2010, group member O'Neil Edwards, was robbed and shot several times by gunmen, at his home in Duhaney Park. He underwent surgery hours later. The main suspect in his shooting was found dead on May 12 and another captured in Manchester. Many artistes and friends came out to the hospital to support O'Neil, including Mr. Vegas and Macka Diamond. The group released a song titled "One Life to Live" which was recorded six months earlier, as a tribute to the critically ill group member. 

 

On the afternoon of May 26, 2010, O'Neil passed away after battling for life in hospital for a little over two weeks. He was on life support since the surgery and apparently died due to the severe damage to his brain in which a bullet was lodged.

Edwards leaves behind a two-month-old daughter.

Source: Wikipedia