Famed 1970s roots music producer Bertram Brown, whose Freedom Sounds label issued some of the era’s most important roots music, died Monday, September 8, at the age of 58. Brown produced hits by Prince Alla, Earl Zero, Rod Taylor, Philip Frazer, Frankie Paul, and Pompidoo, and worked with Earl “Chinna” Smith’s Soul Syndicate session band, as well as with King Tubby. Several of Brown’s productions were reissued on the U.K.-based Blood & Fire label.

Nominees for the 13th Annual Music of Black Origin (MOBO) awards were announced. Receiving nods in the The Best New Reggae Artist category are Beenie Man, Etana, Mavado, Busy Signal, and Tarrus Riley. The winner will be announced at the MOBO ceremony on October 15 at London’’s Wembley Arena.

Will Bounty Killer and Ninja Man clash at an upcoming stage show? That’s what some news sources are claiming will happen when the two DJs share the stage Sunday, September 21 at the New Jersey Reggae Fest. Ninja commented to One876.com “[America] never really get a good stage competition yet. It is about time the dancehall people in [the U.S.] get to see somebody lyrically dead pon stage. I am coming for the one Rodney Price…”

Mavado and dancer Ding Dong will star in a new dancehall-themed movie titled What Goes Around Comes Around by director Steve “Tehut Nine” McAlpin. The movie was shot in South Florida and gets its first runs in select Caribbean communities.

Reggae singer Cocoa Tea has extended further support for U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama by creating a website where fans can buy tunes and proceeds support Obama. Cocoa Tea is offering a new Barack-themed titled “Yes We Can,” which will also available on his forthcoming Zojak label release due out–you guessed it–on U.S. election day, November 4, 2008.

Reality roots singer Gyptian releases his new album, I Can Feel Your Pain, October 21 on VP. Production duties are handled by Vertex Productions’s Ray Stephen and Kemar “Flavor” McGregor, among others.

Help ’70s roots reggae veteran Claudius Linton rebuild his house, damaged by Hurricane Gustav. There’s a donation page at U.S. label partner Sun King Records. Linton will tour the U.S. with legend Ansel Collins after repairs are finished.

Truckback Productions new Ole Axe riddim is available now on iTunes and other digital outlets. Digital music sites, including Amazon, Juno, and Dancetracks, are increasingly becoming the mediums of choice for labels releasing new riddim sets.

Veteran U.K. reggae DJ Tippa Irie, from Saxxon Sound System, drops by L.A.’s Dub Club on Wednesday, October 22, 9 p.m. at The Echoplex in Silverlake.

Out A Road Top Ten Dancehall Singles
1. Assassin’s “Dem Nuh Want Nuh Gal” (Board House)
2. Elephant Man “Nuh Linga’” (Board House)
3. Elephant Man “Gully Creeper” (Shuanizzle)
4. Serani “Stinking Rich” (Daseca)
5. Beenie Man “Gimmi Likkle” (Born So)
6. Mavado “I’m So Special” (TJ)
7. Vybz Kartel “Trailer Load of Money” (Chimney)
8. Konshens “Winner” (Nutural Bridge/Cash Flow)
9. Mavado “Inna Di Car Back” (Big Ship)
10. Mavado “Money Changer” (Juke Boxx)

Pictured: Mavado. Photo by Martei Korley.