Burlington County Times
In a little town named Parottee, Jamaica West Indies, a 13 lb. miracle was given to Victoria and James Green. James Mortimer Green, Jr. (Hasting) was born on April 27, 1958. James was the second son of six brothers and sisters. He met an untimely death on May 16, 2003.
James moved to the United States as a teenager, continued his education, and received his B.S. in Accounting. He met his wife Joyce Hill while working at a bank as a Loan Analyst. They were married on Valentines Day in 1989. The marriage was blessed with three children-James, Autumn and Heaven.
Driven by his love of music, James founded 5 Star Production in 1990. Later, he and older brother Milton, opened Hilltop Recording Studio in the heart of Brooklyn's Bed-Sty. James "Country", CEO of CM Records, enlisted the talents of recording engineer David Downie, brother of Bob Marley and the Wailers keyboard player. Vice-President Jarrett "Supreme" Benjamin oversaw artist production. Together, they were the stepping-stones for many of New York's R&B/Rap artists.
James was a role model in Brooklyn, as well as in his hometown in Willingboro, NJ. He enjoyed giving back to the community and sharing his knowledge with the young the people he so often dealt with. James always stressed the importance of education to the kids, and worked to keep them "busy". James enjoyed interacting in basketball leagues, football and wrestling, where he assisted in coaching his son to becoming New Jersey's 70lb. wrestling champion. To his mother, he was "Gods glue" that held the family together.
James is remembered by his beloved wife, Joyce/"Joycie", and their three children James III, Autumn, Heaven; his parents Victoria and James, Sr.; his grandmother Violet/"Magzie"; his brothers Milton (Sandra), Clyde (Cheryl), Junior; his sisters Kathlyn/"Vyris", Rose, Tee (Mike). He is also remembered by his 11 nieces, seven nephews, five grand-nieces, two uncles, two aunts, many other relatives and a host of friends.
Services will be held on Saturday, May 24, 2003, 9am-11am-Public Viewing; 11am-Memorial Service, J. FOSTER PHILLIPS FUNERAL HOME, INC., 179-24 Linden Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11434.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a tax deductible donation to: American Jamaican Link Charitable Foundation, Inc., 114 Ragan Dr., Gray, GA 31032.
May 23, 2003 12:00 AM
By DAVID LEVINSKY
Burlington County Times
New York City police are searching for a Brooklyn rap artist wanted in connection with the shooting death of a record producer who lived in Willingboro, police said.
Willingboro resident James "Country" Green Jr., 45, was found dead from a gunshot wound to the stomach at about 7:30 p.m. May 16 in the basement recording studio he operated in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, police said.
Funeral services were yesterday in New York.
Lt. Tom Joyce, of New York's 79th precinct, said investigators have linked the killing to the rap artist Tracey Boyce, 30, also called Sha Danger, who recorded at the studio and lived in an apartment in the building for approximately two years.
"They had a dispute over money, specifically studio time and rent," Joyce said. He would not divulge any other details of the investigation, noting Boyce is still at large.
A source close to the investigation, however, said Boyce threatened Green two days prior to the slaying and pointed a small-caliber handgun at him. He then fired a shotgun blast into a refrigerator in the studio.
Green was founder of CM Music and 5 Star Productions, a recording studio that specialized in producing records by undiscovered but up-and-coming rhythm-and-blues and rap musicians, said his brother, Milton Green.
Green's widow, Joyce Green, said her husband opened the studio with his brother in 1991, in part to help aspiring musicians like Boyce get discovered.
A native of Jamaica who moved to the United States as a teenager, he befriended David Downie - brother of reggae legend Bob Marley and keyboard player with the Marley's band, The Wailers - who worked as a recording engineer at the studio.
"He grew up in the church and just loved music," Green said. "Opening the studio was his dream."
Another dream, she said, was seeing his three children grow up in a less-crowded, safe country community. She said that desire prompted the family to move from New York to Willingboro seven years ago.
"It was nice community, not too many people," Green said.
Her husband volunteered with local youth-sports programs in the township. "He loved being involved in the kids activities'," Green said. "He felt they needed something to do, and that he should be a part of it."
She knew little about Boyce or his motives.
"I don't know how they met. I just know he was down on his luck and my husband offered him a place to stay and then started working with him," Green said. "I guess he was beyond help.
"I didn't know about the threats, but I do remember him saying he had had enough and that he was going to tell (Boyce) to leave."
Email: dlevinsky@phillyBurbs.com
May 25, 2003 8:27 AM
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