kassiano

Born Roger Kassiano Smith in hanover jamaica, kassiano a taurean started singing and performing at the age of six.

Three years later , he won his first gold medal in the national performing arts festival. This was the genesis of a prolific career as a recording artist, writer and musician, as in the years to follow, he performed at varios theatres across the island and received several gold,silver and bronze medals due to his successful participation in the national festival awards and later two films , “going to extremes”, with christopher walken and “scam” with maxi priest.

During this time kassiano studied painting at cornwall college, voice with pat gooden and curtis watson and later went on to the university of the west indies where he graduated with a honours degree in management.

While at the university kassiano continued to make waves on the entertainment scene and opened for artists like shabba ranks and gregory isaacs. His performances , punctuated with spontanaety and a stage presence that commanded the full attention of his audiences, won him the “best new cabaret artist award” for 1990.

In 1992 kassiano moved to mexico, learnt spanish, and would later land a succussful four year three album deal with emi –music records.

His album kukukaramakara, including ten original songs and four covers, produced by midi ortega (grupo moeña) and the talent of hector martinez (la academia) was released in 1996 and his song “ay cosita linda” became a hit, not only in mexico but also in chile and colombia bringing sales to 70,000 copies.

Kassiano would later perform in international events like the miss mexico world beauty pageant, the octoberfest, the acapulco 96 and 97 festivals, the merida carnival, coca cola tour ,veracruz carnaval, hard rock live, and the annual teleton a benefit concert for disabled children.

He is considered as the first jamaican recording artist to ever cross the language barrier and successfully bring dance hall in spanish to a latin market.

He has been featured in the same concerts as the , spice girls, Juan Gabriel ,Paul Anka and Julio Iglesias , and has been seen through televisas international broadcasting network in over 150 countries worldwide.

Kassiano has now joined forces with sergio garcia and award winning Andres Mijangos producer of the remixes of Enrique Iglesias “ bailamos” and diana ross´ , to produce some of the hottest reggae dance hall latin tracks ever.

The album recorded in san diego california includes some of the most talented musicians and its diverse rhythms and three languages makes it hot and ready for a world beat market.

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