Al Third

THOUGH he remains a committed member of vocal group OneThird, singer Alpheus ‘Al Third’ Johnson and his colleagues find time for solo projects. For Tonight is his latest song.

Produced by NuBeat Entertainment, it was released in late January.

According to Al Third, while there are similarities with For Tonight and songs he has done with One Third, he put his seal on the track.

“It is different from music I have done with One Third in the sense of lyrics and style of writing, but the harmony structure is the same principle One Third uses daily both on shows and recordings,” he told Splash.For Tonight was released one year after Al Third got the rhythm track from Victor Simpson of NuBeat Entertainment, known for their roots singer Yvad.
“I deliberately went for the balladeer feel as my style and strengths are ballads. Ballads will come out in more songs; I have to come in the reggae and alternative form,” he said.

Along with Miguel Walters, Alpheus Johnson formed One Third in 2004.

They became a trio the following year when Adrian Campbell joined just before they entered and won the Digicel Rising Stars contest.

The group, known for songs like One A Way, is still together.

“One Third is working on finding that one song to break in the mainstream and also building a OneThird catalogue,” said Al Third. - Jamaica Observer

Because at this time of the year, the lingering sun keeps pushing dusk further and further away from the official six o'clock start of evening, Sunday's Jazz in the Gardens concert at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel could begin and continue for nearly an hour in daylight.

The brightness was reflected in many of the performances, including that of Desi Jones and Friends. That band not only opened the nearly three-hour-long show with a well-received set of jazzy tunes, but went on to back the singers and instrumentalists who followed.

Reggae was added to the menu by the first singer, the dreadlocked Asante Amen who, looking 'natty' in another way in his cream suit, treated the audience to half a dozen songs. Some were his own compositions, like Are you Getting Enough and Miss Chocolate Brown Skin; others were covers, like I'm Still in Love With You and Ribbons in the Sky.

Though competent, his set lacked the magic that was brought to the stage by the next singer, Al Third, a member of the singing group One Third - the 2006 winners of Digicel's popular Rising Stars competition. Interestingly, he used another Rising Star winner, Sherona Jonas, who triumphed in 2012, as a temporary backup singer.

She sang with Third his own composition For Tonight, while he accompanied himself on his guitar as he delivered the popular Gimme the Beat, Let me Free My Soul. With his melodious, textured tones, Al Third also charmed the audience singing, How Can You Mend This Broken Heart and I Still Love You Anyway. He called the latter his "all-time favourite". - Jamaica Gleaner

A group of mothers whose children have special needs were treated to a special spa day and celebration by Digicel, as a reward for their hard work, sacrifices, and dedication.

The mothers received manicures and pedicures, facials and mini-makeovers, and enjoyed an entertaining programme which included Rising Stars super-group, One Third. The mothers also got the chance to share their experiences and learn from each other, with a special sharing session hosted by Digicel's General Manager for Consumer Mobile, Wenise Davis.

Davis said: "Through the Digicel Foundation's extensive work with the special-needs community in Jamaica, we've found that some of the most unsung heroes among them are the moms. They are the ones who make the sacrifices and go above and beyond to ensure that their child gets everything they need to not only survive, but enjoy the best quality of life possible. Parenting itself is hard enough so just imagine the kind of work these moms have to put in to manage their special children! They're so deserving of these rewards and more".

"I don't want this day to end," shared Cassandra Maxwell, one of the mothers at the event. "It's so nice to get a break and be treated, and I've really enjoyed every moment of it." - Jamaica Star

Singer Al Third of the group One Third releases his debut EP, Endless Possibilities , in January. Some of his solo songs are For Tonight, I Fret and a cover of British singer Sam Smith’s I’m Not The Only One .


Formed a year before, the trio One Third were the 2006 winners of the Digicel Rising Stars talent competition - Kevin Jackson