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ARCHIVED PAGES Volume 1 - July 2004 H.I.M. Haile Selassie I Earth Day Celebrations |
BOB
MARLEY DAY CONCERT CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY OF THIS LEGENDARY
SINGER/SONGWRITER WITH A HOST OF FOR ALL AGES DANCE CONCERT
This venue is located at 99 Grove Street in San Francisco and is open to all ages so bring the entire family. An international marketplace with arts and crafts from around the world complete the festival atmosphere. Every February around the world, people celebrate the birth of pop icon and prophet, singer/songwriter, guitarist Bob Marley. Although he has been gone for over 20 years, his records continue to sell more than ever and he continuously receives posthumous honors. As a member of the Wailers, a reggae band that included Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh, and later on his own, Marley propelled reggae to worldwide popularity. His commitment to nonviolence and the Rastafarian religion are transparent in his music, and his smoky tenor and loping reggae beat combine to enhance the appeal of his political message. This one-day festival has been spread over a weekend in past years, but for the sake of a bigger impact, better music and an affordable ticket price, the event is now one day. Tickets can be purchased through all Ticketmaster locations including Tower Records, Wherehouse Music Stores, and Ritmo Latino locations. Tickets may also be purchased at www.Ticketmaster.com Or charge by phone: (415) 421-TIXS, (510) 625-TIXS, (408) 998-TIXS or (707)528-TIXS. For more information call the Another Planet Entertainment at (510) 548-3010. For Vendor information call (310) 515-3355. The main number at the Bill Graham Civic is (415) 974-4060. Band Bios: Steel Pulse
Several Steel Pulse members are strict observers of Rastafarian spiritual beliefs, and the group's message of universal love has remained steadfast throughout recent world political climate. "We deal with positive spirits. That means putting aside guns, the drugs, and all the things that are ailments of society. The change we have noticed is in our audiences - they're becoming even more receptive to everything we've said, especially when we introduce 'Build A Nation' and 'Global Warming'," Hinds notes, referring to two new songs on the group's new album African Holocaust. Steel Pulse tours worldwide with an eight-piece ensemble including co-founder Selwyn Brown on vocals and keyboards, Clifford "Moonie" Pusey on lead guitar, Alvin Ewen on bass, Sidney Mills on keyboards, and Conrad Kelly on drums and percussion. Jimmy Cliff
1969 was the year that Cliff enjoyed the international success of "Wonderful World, Beautiful People". His second single, the anti-war "Vietnam", was described by Bob Dylan as the best protest song he'd ever heard; praise indeed from the best ever protest singer. The 1970 album Wonderful World built on those successes, and his cover of Cat Steven's "Wild World" saw him back in the UK top ten in August of that year, sharing chart space with Desmond Dekker's version of Cliff's own "You Can Get It If You Really Want". Alpha Blondy
www.alphablondy.info www.shanachie.com Tanya Stephens As dancehall continues to take over mainstream record charts, the world is coming to know its rhythmic reflection of the young, male mind. Reggae is a man's world. Singer/deejay (reggae rapper) Tanya Stephens is that out of the ordinary girl who has proved to the dancehall frat that she's meant for more than ecorating men's rhymes with smooth background harmonies. Gangsta Blues, Tanya's fifth CD is raw, rebellious, and authentic, confirming her position at the top of the dancehall game with a vivid display of her wide-ranging musical imagination and keen word play. Whether spouting hardcore racy rhymes, insightful political statements, or crooning heart-tugging romantic fables, only gutsy power bolts come from the throat of the giant talent. On Gangsta Blues she tells tales of empowered women. She intelligently crafts lyrics to fit her idea of the world - the world through Tanya Stephens' eyes. She burns down inequality. She laughs at the judgments that people ascribe to others. In her strong, yet vulnerable and humorous way, she captures her audience's attention. Israel Vibration Mention the name Israel Vibration in reggae music circles and watch the warmth of recognition and appreciation of anyone who has seen or heard this very special group of singers. The positive vibrations emanating from the music of Israel Vibration have been spellbinding audiences, critics and DJs for over two decades. This group of singers casts a harmonious musical spell, weaving traditional roots reggae with a mesmerizing sound and deeply spiritual message. Israel Vibration members Cecil Spence (Skelly) and Lascelle Bulgin (Wiss) were born in Jamaica, West Indies. Each is a victim of Poliomyelitis (Polio). They met as children in the Mona Rehabilitation Center, into which they were placed because of their families' limited resources and their needs for specialized medical care. They learned early on the necessity for developing survival skills, and although polio is an undeniably crippling and debilitating disease, the youths never let their physically challenging situation supercede their willpower and their creative abilities. They found strength in the faith of Rastafari through the guidance of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia, and began composing and singing songs that expressed their spiritual beliefs. Their spirituality and stance on issues relating to their residency at the Mona Rehabilitation Center caused them to be expelled from that institution. Undaunted, they found solace, comfort, and sustenance in their music, which won them the support of their local community and provided them with encouragement to pursue their music careers. They began recording in 1976, enjoying a hit with the poignant Same Song, which was licensed to EMI and brought the group international attention. After breaking up, getting back together and signing to RAS Records in 1988, they released Strength of My Life, Praises, Forever, Vibes Alive, IV, On The Rock, Free to Move, Pay The Piper, Jericho and several dub albums. Skelly and Wiss fully commit to each honest lyric and sing from the heart with the true spirit of universality. Israel Vibration redefines the term "Roots Reggae" for the new millennium. Barrington Levy Barrington Levy has been well recognized in reggae circles since his early recordings with Jah Life, Junjo Lawes, and Jah Screw. Always a solid voice and an expressive vocalist, Barrington has been able to stay consistently poised in the dancehall as one of reggae's most requested vocalist. In the late 1980's, Barrington began working with producer Jah Screw, and together they created some of reggae's most memorable recordings. There was the classic album of Barrington's greatest hits dubbed Broader Than Broadway, which is one of the best reggae collections ever created. This was released on the pioneering hip-hop label Profile, which helped Barrington to be more recognizable in the crossover market. After a stunning performance on the 1993 Sunsplash, Barrington was signed to MCA Records and released a less than successful album. He quickly parted ways with the label and began working with Jah Screw to make the Duets album, where Levy teamed with all the hottest DJs from Beenie Man to Lady Saw. He came back larger than life with Bounti Killer on the song "Living Dangerously". This was the undisputed biggest reggae song in Jamaica and the United States of the 1996 and for months sat at the #1 spot on the dancehall charts worldwide. Barrington was lifted to the top of the charts, his career in full swing again Interesting enough, Barrington spends much time farming and raising animals at his large farm in Claredon. I am sure there will be a whole lot of wind left in his sails in the future. His vocals are still powerful, and we look forward to what is still to come from this prolific singer. Easy Star All-Stars The Easy Star All-Stars - named the 13th best selling reggae act of 2003 by Billboard - are a collective family of some of the finest reggae musicians in the New York area. The band features a rotating cast drawn from a talented pool of players, meaning that every show has its own nuances and its own life. The masterminds behind the All-Stars are Easy Star musical director Michael Goldwasser (a.k.a. Michael G), his production partner Victor Axelrod (a.k.a. Ticklah), and his two Easy Star label partners Eric Smith and Lem Oppenheimer. These four were the team behind the album Dub Side of the Moon (2003), which was a complete reggae revisioning of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. That record has sold over 65,000 copies to date, making it one of the most successful reggae albums of the 21st century. It continues to sell, having just completed its 94th week on Billboard's Top Reggae Chart. The current touring version of the Easy Star All-Stars feature a truly stellar line-up of musicians who have toured and recorded with Gil Scott-Heron, Burning Spear, Toots and the Maytals, The Toasters, The Meditations, Bernie Worrell, DJ Logic, MC Solaar, Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, The Scofflaws, Diana King, Dennis Brown, Monty Alexander, Sister Carol, and many others.
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Another
Planet and Moss Jacobs Presents are proud to present the Bob
Marley
Day Concert at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on Saturday, February
26 at
4pm. Seven of the world's best reggae bands come together for one
big day of
celebration in honor of the late, great Bob Marley's birthday:
Jimmy Cliff,
Steel Pulse, Alpha Blondy, Tanya Stephens, Israel Vibration, Barrington
Levy
and Easy Star All Stars.
Steel
Pulse has been perfecting their original and distinctly high-energy
style of reggae music for a quarter of a century. As the only British
reggae
group to win a Grammy Award (for Babylon the Bandit in 1985), their
international success continues to inspire audiences of both new
and
long-dedicated fans. It has also earned them subsequent Grammy
nominations
for Victims, Rastafari Centennial, Rage & Fury and, most recently,
for
Living Legacy, in 2000. Their music is an extension of their roots.
Always
rebels with a cause, the vanguard tends to be where they are. Spike
Lee met
the group at a fundraising function and soon selected "Can't Stand
The
Heat," written by Steel Pulse founder and lead vocalist David Hinds,
for his
film Do The Right Thing. The reggae super-group has performed live
with
Sting, Inxs, Santana, Robert Palmer, Herbie Hancock, Bob Dylan,
and the
band's own idols, Bob Marley & the Wailers - among many others.
Cameo
appearances by the likes of Jay Leno, Branford Marsalis and Robert
Townsend
have graced their videos.
With
over 20 albums to date, Jimmy Cliff has always been one of the
brightest stars of Jamaica's thriving musical culture and was among
the
first to bring reggae to a worldwide audience. His achievements
include
starring in the 1972 film The Harder They Come, the first internationally
successful Jamaican film, a Grammy nomination for the album The
Power and
the Glory, collaborating with Kool & The Gang, and a Grammy
win for the
album Cliff Hanger. Jimmy Cliff has had major successes with his
recordings.
His first big success outside of Jamaica was winning the International
Song
Festival in Brazil with 'Waterfall', a song taken from his 1968
debut album
Hard Road To Travel.
His cover of Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now", was featured
on the
soundtrack to the 1993 Jamaican bobsleigh comedy Cool Runnings,
and his
vocals were also featured with Elton John's in Disney's enormously
successful The Lion King. 30 years on from The Harder They Come,
Jimmy's
music is still as relevant as ever. It's not only reggae that bears
his
influence: Cliff has worked with an incredibly diverse range of
artists from
Erykah Badu and Elvis Costello to Annie Lennox and Wyclef Jean.
August 2004
saw the release of Black Magic, produced by Dave Stewart. Featuring
many
legendary and contemporary stars, Black Magic sees appearances
from Annie
Lennox, Sting, Jools Holland, Kool & The Gang, tennis player
Yannick Noah,
Wyclef Jean and one of the last ever recordings from Joe Strummer.
Some artists raise political and social issues in their songs,
but Alpha
Blondy confronts them in real life as well as his music. With his
beloved
homeland, The Ivory Coast, shattered by civil war and facing potential
disintegration, Alpha has attempted to act as an honest broker
between
various factions in the country. It's dangerous work, but Alpha
is driven to
see peace and justice prevail. Alpha Blondy was born Sedou Kone
in
Dimbokoro, Cote d'Ivoire, in 1953. Heavily influenced by the music
of Bob
Marley, Alpha considered himself a Rasta at an early age. So early,
in fact,
that he recorded six reggae tunes while still in his teens. Early
in 1970
reggae began to be popular in West Africa and Alpha's popularity
grew to the
point where, in the early '80s he recorded his first single, Brigidier
Sabari. In 1983, he followed with his first album, Jah Glory and
began
touring all over Africa. He formed the Solar System Band and recorded
his
anthemic album Cocody Rock!!! in 1984. Then Alpha made a pilgrimage
to
Jamaica to record with the Wailers at Tuff Gong Studios. The result
of his
efforts was the monumental Jerusalem album. The title track features
lyrics
in English, Hebrew, and Arabic, reflecting his pan-cultural perspective.
Widespread touring established Blondy as a truly global star. His
1992 album
Masada was released in 50 countries. Alpha celebrated his 20th
Anniversary
as a recording artist with the release of the sublime Merci in
2002. The
issues that plague the Ivory Coast and other African nations are
prominent
in Alpha Blondy's newest recording Elohim, a sparkling, wide-ranging
set of
classic Marley-esque reggae that solidifies Alpha's status as the
premiere
African Reggae star. The album was just released on January 25,
2005.
