Reggae legend I Kong has been through more than his share of life’s experiences over the last few decades, and the new Tropical Records release of the extended 19 song Forgotten Man CD will prove to be one of the best opportunities for Kong’s positive messages of true love, world peace, and total unity amongst humans to the world.

The I Kong vibe and energy is unmistakable on this extended CD album entitled, The Forgotten Man (Release date: July 14, 2009), this is the latest release by I Kong in what is a lengthy and prolific career that began decades ago and today, I Kong has now reached a place being a part of reggae history. And, personally, Kong is at total peace with everything which is evident in the songs on the new CD.

I Kong’s musical journey began in Jamaica, where he first heard legend Bob Marley music which gave the inspiration to be able to convey his own message in his own music and then to the music world.“Kong is legend. His music is amazing and his new material is the best music he has done to date,” says Don Lichterman, the head of Tropical / Sunset Records. “The most incredible part of me hearing the final work on this new CD is that our first single is actually the 19th and final song on the CD. That is not only a great testament to putting together a great full length album, this is also a great roots reggae CD that every world music fan will have as part of their collection. And, Kong is a legendary artist that will be around forever in the history of music.”

Lichterman (Don) goes onto say that he picked up the Forgotten Man CD and then added four (4) brand new songs recorded by the legendary reggae artist. I Kong also originally released The Way It Is in 1978, which is the only album recorded by Errol Kong, the nephew of the famous Jamaican producer Leslie Kong. Now, almost 30 years after that album release, these nineteen tracks (expanded for this reissue) are being worked as a new album by the upstart Tropical Records. The album's lead track and first single is a brand new song by I Kong entitled, "Are You Lonely For Me Baby," is a quintessential reggae song that is sure to be a standard.

After years of making music and playing endless amounts of live shows being on the road, let alone multiple successful albums in the reggae music scene, and his endless durable work ethic, Kong spent a lot of time writing his music back on the Jamaican island. And, after working with his old record labels and distribution companies in the music industry along with his management and booking agents, he finally found his home at the Tropical Record label (a main subsidiary of Sunset). And no matter how legendary and how strong Kong’s songs are in his career, let alone his ongoing growing popularity every year, getting paid for that work seemed to be a problem for this artist. Lichterman says, “the one thing he will get at Tropical is paid for his work and the way we structured this deal is that he will get paid day one (so to speak) for that work.” Lichterman then goes onto to say that “sales today, mean nothing to me” because he “expects” that eventually, “every artist at Sunset will be multi platinum status and the last couple years have been a complete set up for the rest of our lives.”

Prior to this deal last month, Kong started his own company to handle his own business affairs. He created and founded the Kong Music label with Gee Cee Management founder, George Campbell. And, Lichterman embraced the model for the independent reggae musician. And, the label head proceeded to sign a few artists (Original Black Pantah) through the new label deal. “Considering the landscape of distribution today and considering the reach of the internet for music artists and us Indy labels, Kong is one of those artists that need to be out and available to everyone in the world.”

The label has the CD set up at major retail stores and is getting ready to begin work on radio play this week. I Kong is featured in the newsletter given out to over 80,000 people at the Bonnaroo Music Festival next week (Bonnaroo Beacon Newsletter). The CD is set to hit stores on July 14th. The downloads and ringtones will also be available wherever they are sold online.

And, Kong’s obvious messages on the Forgotten Man nineteen (19) song extended CD is of total self-confidence, financial independence, and his great self-confidence that has gradually taken on new meaning for Kong. And, as Kong’s career continues to grow and blossom even to this day, he will reap of release a solid reggae CD to the world.

The House On The Hill brings some incendiary performances that should really catapult the band to international attention.

Sunset Records recording artist, House On The Hill remain as one of the “best kept secrets” in pop rock music today.

The House On The Hill debut album illustrates their down home funk style coupled with a pop mainstream appeal, making up a solid full length album with “Punk Ass.” House On The Hill's music shows off its worldwide accessible appeal without any blurred lines between spiritual devotion, lack of asceticism, and any influences in rock music history. Nevertheless, underneath the pathos and great irony in the songs off Punk Ass, they are excellent lyricists, and their songs draw the line between dance and down home rock. It's very easy to see how the “Punk Ass” CD can become a widely-loved album of great rock music across the nation and around the world, which given the final product of this debut House On The Hill CD, they could very well hit big over the next few years at Sunset.

After a couple of years, House On The Hill is banking on getting a lot of recognition with Don Lichterman and Sunset Records (Digital Distribution with Interscope/A&M) working their debut album, Punk Ass. The initial single being worked to radio, 'Home Away From Home', is just one of the songs being worked to radio over the next few months. “There are at least five (5) songs that I want worked to radio by this band,” says Don Lichterman, the Head of Sunset Records.

This London and Israeli exponents make up the strong sounding production throughout the entire CD—(Don) Lichterman goes onto to say that “they (House On The Hill) were in the studio for most of this year (2009) and I am very anxious to get this set up at retail and at college radio as soon as possible this year let alone by next year (2010).” In fact, “Punk Ass” sounds like Lenny Kravitz at times and even has that Alabama 3 (The Sopranos Theme Song) vibe to its down home music. House On The Hill does prove their sincerity to American roots styled music with an entire album filled with great rock songs great to dance to at any time. With songs like "She’s Not A Woman," “Annie,” and the song that dawns the same album title name, “Punk Ass,” the rest of the disc is a solid sounding ten (10) song album.

Sunset is surely off to a great start in 2010 with the release of the Punk Ass CD by House On The Hill set up for January 26th, this is first new CD being distributed through the Interscope/A&M/Geffen digital distribution channel.

04/2010

Murphy described the album as "a mixture of stuff, almost like operas for the dispossessed" and "romantic and very deep and emotional, quite symphonic in places."