MUSIC: Hip Kingston hops to Magic Springs
By The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Contact)
LITTLE ROCK — Rhythm-and-blues/hip-hop hero Sean Kingston will perform this weekend in the 2008 summer concert series at Timberwood Amphitheater at Magic Springs & Crystal Falls theme park in Hot Springs.
The artist will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday at the park, 1701 E. Grand Ave. (U.S. 70 East) in Hot Springs. Mariah Roberson, 14, of Austin, Texas, will open the show at 7:30 p.m.
Kingston, 18, whose real name is Kisean Anderson, was born in Miami but mostly raised in Kingston, Jamaica, after he moved there at age 6. He chose his stage name to honor the Jamaican capital.
In his younger years, Kingston got musical advice from reggae singer Buju Baton. In the summer of 2007, he hit No. 1 with his first single, “Beautiful Girls,” which “borrowed” the bass line from Ben E. King’s 1961hit, “Stand by Me.”
He then “borrowed” again, as his next single, “Me Love,” recalled a Led Zeppelin song, “D’yer Mak’er,” from a 1973 album, Houses of the Holy. In 2007,he also was featured on Natasha Bedingfield’s “Love Like This,” Fergie’s “Big Girls Don’t Cry (Remix)” and Baby Bash’s “What Is It.”
This year, Kingston has been featured on Bun B’s “That’s Gangsta” and Flo Rida’s “Roll.”
Kingston made guest appearances in 2007 on recordings by Lil Fizz, Eric Jay, Francisco, Questions, Clyde Carson, Triple C, Ya Boy and Lil Wayne. So far in 2008, he has made guest appearances on recordings by Mann, Hunt, Gorilla Zoe, Fabolous & Ashley Tisdale, MJ & Mambo Kingz and Young Twinn.
Admission is $45.99, $35.99 for children under 52 inches tall, and for adults age 55 and older; or $49.99 for a season pass good for all 14 concerts and unlimited admission all season. Reserved seats are an additional $5 each.
For more information, call (501) 624-0100.
This article was published Friday, July 4, 2008.
Weekend, Pages 64 on 07/04/2008
