For Hartwick Musician, a Sizzling Summer

A Hawks in Flight Feature

Getting a beef patty at Tastee’s in Kingston, Jamaica, Markhus Dammar ’23 saw someone on TV who looked familiar.

“It’s an ad for the Meadowbrook SizzLfest stage show,” he says. “And there’s my face!”

Dammar – a Hartwick Computer Science major and Music Business Minor who performs his psychedelic pop under the name “Love Lagoon” – took the stage at the Jamaican Independence Day celebration in the island’s capital on Saturday, July 30.

He performed four songs, “Love The Fame,” “Don’t Think,” a cover of The Beatles, “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” and the Jamaican National Anthem. He shared the stage with a host of reggae and R&B greats, including Kevin “Ray” Owens, Gem Meyers and Ritchie Stevens.

The concert was sponsored by Meadowbrook High School Past Students Association, where his father, attorney Merrick Dammar, attended. Merrick MC’d SizzLfest, which included introducing his son, something he had plenty of practice doing at the family’s annual Emandee Summerfest Jam at their family home in Walden, NY, which has included performances by reggae superstars Ernie Smith, Marcia Griffiths, Jimmy Cliff — Marcus’s godfather — and Pluto Shervington.

Dammar, along with Hartwick rapper Paul “King” Konye ‘23, performed at this year’s Jam, which was attended by his mentor, Hartwick educator and artist-in-residence, Evan Jagels.

“I know firsthand the enormous amount of planning and logistics that go into producing, promoting, and executing an event with so many moving parts,” says Jagels. “It was so great to finally see and experience the annual Jam after hearing so much about it!”

Dammar is a frequent fixture at Hartwick concerts, including Wick Week, the Fall Festival, and Wickstock, which he helped bring to the Hill.

“There are so many Hartwick students who aren’t just music majors, but have these talents,” Dammar says. “By having these events, we can keep that culture going.”