His unyielding belief in the retention of the spiritual aspects and cultural purity of the Jamaican music product has led cultural icon Tony Rebel to further his campaign with the establishment of Flames Productions, a music production house dedicated to preserving the healthier aspects of reggae by providing an avenue for its recording and promotion. It is also the successful result of the flicker of an idea, which blazed into reality.

 

As Jamaican music continues its exciting process of evolution, music production houses have been steadily emerging and Rebel now joins  a long list of artistes who have delved into the rudiments of music recording and production, via his ownership and management of this production house, However, the cultural ambassador’s intention is not merely to promote reggae music in a commercial sphere but to ensure its reclamation from the clutches of hardcore dancehall, which threatens to eliminate its cultural properties.

 

Being as dedicated as he is to the regeneration of culture, the birth of Tony Rebel’s Flames Productions was inevitable. Its incarnate association with Rastafari has made this music production house the physical and spiritual home of many artistes including the Rebel himself and his best friend, the late Garnet Silk. Tony Rebel, who has been operating Flames Productions since 1994, notes that “ Flames was initially a place where Rastafarian artistes gathered and it was always a feeling of togetherness; we would reason, write and chant soulful lyrics”.

Over the last seven years, Flames has undergone the very tedious but worthwhile process of becoming professional both in its organizational formula and its management of artistes. In many ways, its success has accrued from this development. Flames Productions now boasts its very own Flames label, a label which has promoted recordings such as Tony Rebel's multi- award winning, “Jah By My Side”, Everton Blender's "Ghetto People Song" and President Brown's "Abundance of Water".

 

Flames continues to produce brilliant reggae music and a testimonial to this enviable accomplishment is  a contingent of talented artistes affectionately labeled, the “Flames Battalion" comprised of Queen Ifrica; Jah Mason, Honeycomb, and the duo, Sugar Black and Lehbanchuleh who have all become rising stars on Jamaica's entertainment scene.  Honeycomb stepped out into the spotlight when he entered the 1997 JCDC’s National Song Contest and became selected as one of the ten finalists.  Sugar Black and Lehbanchuleh, who originally performed as harmonizing vocalists for their producer and mentor Tony Rebel for over five years, released their first CD called “Change Gonna Come”. Meanwhile Jah Mason with his hardcore moral rap is burning a culturally fiery trail throughout the dancehalls of Jamaica, the Caribbean and beyond. 

 

Over the years, many recording artistes have been associated with Flames either as artistes produced by Tony Rebel or through the friendships they have fostered with the Flames family. Such artistes include Utan Green, Ras Shiloh, Gaddiel, Shanty Plus, Manna Panna and more recently Queen Ifrica. These associations and friendships eloquently vociferate Flames' and Tony Rebel's uncompromising commitment to cultural regeneration. 

 

Tony Rebel and the management of Flames Productions made the courageous decision to delve into the promotions industry by hosting its own musical showcase, Rebel Salute. Today, the award – winning Rebel Salute shines as a showcase that celebrates the healthier aspects of reggae music. Within his multiple roles as artiste, producer, promoter and C.E.O of Flames Productions, Rebel is confident that Flames can assist in the healing of our society.  The showcase promoted by Flames, the lyrics that are written by Tony Rebel and the songs produced and released on the Flames label must, he says, possess a social conscience and be consistently biased towards moral upliftment.

 

The accomplishments of Flames Productions so far are undisputedly distinguishable. Without doubt Flames Productions has burgeoned from a flicker into a dazzling Flame and will continue to blaze perpetually.