The official “brand name” of All Arc Productions was founded in 2002 by primary producer Kenroy “YahBreeze” Archibald. “We want everybody to know where the music is coming from spiritually, historically, and actually. Just like when you see the 876 area code you know the call is coming from Jamaica. No matter where I am, I never leave my roots.”
Born and raised in Manchester Jamaica, YahBreeze started out as a recording artist and has written and performed a list of popular songs (under his stage name “Cool Breeze”) including “Red Eye”, “Jezebel”, “No Night”, and “Rasta-For-I”. He recorded the bulk of those records for the legendary Tuff Gong label in Kingston where he met his wife and partner, Myshjua Archibald, Tuff Gong’s A & R Manager and daughter of American expatriate Dhaima Matthews (A singer best known as a member of 60’s girl group, the Buttons, and for her work with Joe Gibbs in the late 70’s). Out of their common love for the music of Jamaica, the two founded All Arc Enterprises in 1996. “Our mission is to develop talent and create projects rooted in a mutual respect and love for the music of our childhood- reggae, soul, hip-hop, country- all of it”, says Myshjua. “Jamaica has influenced many genres of music, from country to hip hop. Reggae is just the tip of the iceberg.”
In 2004 the label achieved its first Top 20 hit on New York’s Reggae Singles Chart (Pam Hall’s Brokenhearted Melody which peaked at #2) and first Top 10 cd on South Florida’s Reggae Albums Chart (the various artists’ compilation RETRORESPECK). Debut releases from in-house rising stars, Fyah Blaze, Evette, and Chrisinti spawned the hit singles “Can’t Live Without You”, “Baby Mama”, and “Oh Sheila” (#2/ South Florida Reggae Charts, #3/ New York Reggae Charts, #5/ Jamaica’s Weekly Top 30). Evette’s dancehall rendition of “Baby Mama” was voted #4 on New Mexico’s Top Dancehall Singles of 2005 and the young singer was chosen as that state’s Top Female Reggae Artist for 2005. The Eight76 All Stars also hit the road with stellar live shows from Jamaica to California. In 2006 the Eight76 producers teamed up with teen queen turned full-blown diva Nadine Sutherland for her return to the top of the reggae charts with “Keep Me Safe” and “Can’t Tek It”. Both songs reached the Top Five of the South Florida Reggae Singles Chart (“Keep Me Safe” peaked at #2 and “Can’t Tek It” went as high as #5) and are still picking up steam as part of the compilation Reggae Highlites 2006.
Call My Name, Nadine Sutherland’s first album in almost a decade, debuted at #14 on the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart. The album’s lead single Big Tingz rose to the #2 spot on both the New York and South Florida reggae charts and continues to be a party favorite. Reaching for higher heights while remaining true to their roots- Eight76 is part of the movement to carry independent music into the next millenium!