Ras Michael
Ras Michael | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Michael George Henry |
| Born | 1943 (age 80–81) St. Mary,Jamaica |
| Genres | Reggae |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals,repeater |
| Labels | Trojan,Dynamic Sounds,ROIR,VP |
Michael George HenryOD(born 1943), better known asRas Michael,is a Jamaicanreggaesinger andNyabinghispecialist. He also performs under the name ofDadawah.
Biography[edit]
Henry was born inSaint Mary Parish, Jamaica,where he was raised in aRastafaricommunity.[1]As a teenager he moved toKingston's Waterhouse district where he played with local Rastafari musicians.[1]He set up the Zion Disc label in the mid-1960s, and also worked atCoxsone Dodd's legendary Studio One as a session musician and released a number of singles. He was the first member of the Rastafari movement to have a reggae radio program in Jamaica (The Lion of Judah Timeprogram first aired in 1967 on theJBC). His band is calledThe Sons of Negusand are known for their traditional Nyabinghi drumming and chanting.[2]
Tommy Cowansaw Ras Michael's group in 1974, and released an album of their music later that year asNyahbinghi.[3]The album didn't sell well, so Cowan produced a second album,Rastafari(1975), with the group augmented by top studio musicians including bassistRobbie Shakespeare,guitaristEarl "Chinna" Smith,keyboard playerRobbie Lyn,and additional guitar fromPeter Tosh;Rastafari,which featured a painting of a youngHaile SelassiebyNeville Garrickon the cover, was more commercially successful, and was followed in 1977 byKibir Am Lak,which increased the popularity of the group in Europe and the United States.[3]
Ras Michael contributed to recording sessions atLee "Scratch" Perry'sBlack Arkstudio (including sessions withBob Marley), and he performed with Marley at theOne Love Peace Concertin Jamaica in 1978.[2]With the Sons of Negus he recorded an album (Love Thy Neighbor) with Perry at the Black Ark.[1]He recorded 'Give Love' withSuns of Arqain 1984 for their albumIndia?.In all, he has recorded over 25 albums.[2]
In addition to acting as an evangelist, ambassador and diplomat for the Ethiopian Orthodox Tawahido Church internationally, Ras Michael is one of the founders and president of the Rastafarian International/Marcus GarveyCulture Center inLos Angeles,and the Fly Away Culture Center inKingston, Jamaica.Currently he lives inLos Angeles.[3]
In August 2015 it was announced that he would be awarded theOrder of Distinctionby the Jamaican government in recognition of his contribution to the development of the country's music.[4]
Discography[edit]
- Nyahbinghi(1974), Starapple/Trojan
- Dadawah – Peace & Love(1974), Wildflower
- Freedom Sounds(1974), Dynamic Sounds
- Rastafari(1975), Grounation
- Tribute to the Emperor(1976), Trojan
- Irations of Ras Michael & Sons of Negus Volume One(1977), Top Ranking
- Kibir Am Lak(1977), Top Ranking
- Movements(1978), Dynamic Sounds
- Love Thy Neighbour(1979), Jah Life
- Promised Land Sounds(1980), Lion's Gate
- Disarmament(1981), Trojan
- Revelation(1982), Trojan
- Rally Round(1985),Shanachie
- Zion Train(1988),SST
- Know Now(1989), Shanachie
- Rastafari Dub(1989),ROIR
- Mediator(1992), High Times
- Spiritual Roots(1999),VP
- Lion Country(1999), Roots & Culture
- A Weh Dem a Go Do Wid It(2003),ROIR
- Try Love(2006), Vista Ave Entertainment
- Live Ina Babylon(2009), Sankofa
- None A Jah Jah Children (2018), VP
- Live by the Spirit(2020), Hen House Studios
- Jah Love(2022), Zion Disc
- Compilations
- New Name(1994),Culture Press
- Anthology(2001), Culture Press
- Merry Peasant(2003), 2b1
- Reggae Best(2004), Culture Press
- Reggae Masters(2009), Creon
References[edit]
- ^abcKatz, David (2006)People Funny Boy: The Genius of Lee "Scratch" Perry,Omnibus Press,ISBN9781846094439,p. 305
- ^abcCooke, Mel (23 January 2013)."Ras Michael focused on togetherness – Two-hour set to be witnessed at Redbones Blues Cafe".Jamaica Gleaner.Retrieved24 January2013.
- ^abcCampbell, Howard (2018) "A Second Serving of Ras Michael",Jamaica Observer,28 January 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018
- ^Campbell, Howard (2015) "Drummer of distinction",Jamaica Observer,12 August 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015
External links[edit]
- Ras Michael Discography at Roots Archive
- Audio Interview with Ras Michael at ireggae7 April 2002. Duration: 57 minutes. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
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