Jay Douglas & The All Stars Ft. Nana McLean

Based in Toronto, Ontario, the band performs often in the greater Toronto area. They are booked annually for numerous festivals, corporate and private events and head out on the road for appearances across Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.  

They’ve performed with many of the “first names” in reggae music, including Toots and the Maytals, Ziggy Marley, Derrick Morgan, Ernie Smith, Ken Boothe, Skatellites, Lord Tanamo, The Slackers, The Toasters, War, Bounty Killer and many more. 

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Jay Douglas first appeared on stage in Montego Bay, Jamaica, when he was a youth. In over 45 years of entertainment, he has developed a wide-ranging repertoire of American blues, West Indian rhythms and jazz standards combined with fancy footwork and incredible on-stage charisma. In the early ’60s, Douglas fronted the R&B group The Cougars, who, with their skill and stamina, lit up the city of Montreal and Toronto’s Yonge Street nightclubs in the late ’70s with soul-funk and reggae. Over the past ten years, he has performed worldwide and at annual Toronto events such as the Beaches Jazz Festival, Jerk Fest, Canadian National Exhibition, Yonge and Dundas Square and a Taste of Lawrence.  

Douglas was proclaimed winner of NOW Magazine’s Toronto’s Best R&B Act in 2006, and Male Reggae Vocalist of the Year at the Annual Toronto Reggae Awards in 2007. During this time, the promotions company, Light in the Attic, made Douglas their band leader for the From Jamaica to Toronto concert launch at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto in July 2006. This show was successfully led by Douglas in both Vancouver and Montreal. He was nominated for Reggae Recording of the Year at the 2012 JUNO Awards and was the recipient of the G98.7 FM Entertainment Award at the Harry Jarome awards that same year.

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Nana McLean began singing in her childhood and won various local carnival contests. A notable success came at the Donkey Carnival in Linstead Market, where her performance led to her singing for the Soul Defenders, and she made her debut recording sessions at Studio One in 1977. Coxsone Dodd released her interpretation of “Til I Kissed You,” which announced McLean’s arrival and highlighted her characteristic style. She maintained a high profile within the industry when she was commissioned to record Dream of Life, released through A&M Records. As with many major label signings, the relationship was brief, and she returned to an independent recording career. In 1987, she recorded with King Jammy (‘Single Girl’) and for the Youth & Youth co-operative (‘Take Me Higher’). By the early ’90s, she had gained prominence for her work with Donovan Germain and Dave’ Rude Boy’ Kelly. Take Me I’m Yours was followed by the retrospective Nana’s Medley, which featured ’50s doo-wop over the popular “A Love I Can Feel” rhythm. A popular medley including versions of “Daddy’s Home,” “Eddie My Love” and “Sincerely” led to a series of hits, such as “Let Me Cover You” and ‘” Will Follow You,” which cemented her association with the duo. Although McLean relocated to Canada, she remained loyal to the Germain’s Penthouse organization, and in 1997 she earned a JUNO win for her release Collectors Series. 

Phillip Levy, a.k.a. Papa Levy, started singing in church at a very young age, and he continued to perform in school concerts and talent shows. Levy’s first official performance was at a Kingston, Jamaica nightclub. He then went on to serve in the dancehall music scene using various sound systems like Arrows Intl, Afrique, Gemini, Metro Media and Soul to Soul. Levy immigrated to Toronto, Canada, in the early ’90s and performed at nightclubs throughout the city along with several bands like The Blackburn, Satellites, Sugar and many others. He has performed at Jambana, Irie Fest and Afro Fest. Inspired by the great Dennis Brown, Prince Everald and Al Campbell, Levy is known for his smoky, honey-tinged voice and irresistible stage presence. His album Stimulus Show is gaining worldwide attention with radio play on four of his most popular tracks, Praise Without Raise, Stimulus Package, Things in Life and Mr. Money Man. Currently, you can find Levy in the studio working on new music.