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19.1.12
Welcome party
The Schedule!!

7pm in conversation under the Boaba tree
with Robin Walker and Jacinth


10.00pm roots reggae bar party with Asher Selecter
12.00am Ragga party vibes with DJ Hans
02:00am Jah Youth Roots Ambassador

..
20.1.12
12:00 Opening ceremony
Speakers:
Mr Joff (The Gambian Ministry of Culture)
Mr Modou Kassama
Mr Ceesay (The Gambian Ministry of Culture)

2:30pm Under the Boaba tree, workshop
Chair Derek Johnson

Gambian Music direction
Where is it going
Is there a model
Local and international artists

6:00pm Fresh Artists hour feat Bala Ranks & Exodus
Yvonne Akeba
Sambou Susso
Batukunku Nursery School cultural show
New artists from the Gambia and the UK

9:00 pm
Spit a lyric MC style with Nu Flowah, Tippa Irie, Papa Levi, Lesley Lyrics

11:00 pm
DJ Danny
12:00am
Roots Session with Sugar Dread
1:00am Asher Selector

..
21.1.12
2:30pm Under the Boaba tree, workshop
Back to Africa! It it still relevant in 2012
Chair Isaac Touray
Guests: Dr Les, Macka B, David Katz, Greg George


6:00pm Fresh man hour
Royal Messenger
Heartbreaker

6:30pm beauty contest 2nd heat

7:30pm Salsa Salsa!!

8:00pm fashion show (1.5hr)

9.00pm Naja Vibes (live)

10:00pm Macka B

11:00pm Surprise guest from Jamaica

12:00am Mad Professor Dub Show!!


..
22.1.12
Tony Williams presents Sunday afternoon Reggae on the beach!
Dub and lovers rock beach party at Batakunku Beach
2:00pm
Mad Professor @ Back A Yard Bay, Tangier, Gambia.

This is the scene of the Sunday Afternoon Dub and Lovers Rock beach party on Sunday 22nd January 2012,
Back to Africa Festival with Mad Professor Dub Show, Leroy Simmons, Sister Audrey, John Mclean, Kim Pin, DJ Hans and many more..

8:00pm Dub Session with McPullish

9:00pm Najah Vibes in Dub

10:00pm Nairobi in Dub

..
23.1.12
2:00pm Workshop under the Boaba Tree
Chair Raggy
Malaria
Waste management

6:00pm Freshmans hour
Nu Flowah
Preacherman
Blood
King Sawalo
Elijah
Émperor Amiru
King Zai

7:00pm Roots Music
with Sister Audrey
& Earl 16 & Leroy Simmons

11.00pm Modern Dub Style
From Funky house to Dub Step with Joe Ariwa and the Trixters

..
24.1.12
2:00pm Under the Boaba tree
Workshop with Mad Professor
Running a record company in this Millennium

6:00pm Freshmans' hour with Karl Melody, Joe Ariwa, Kim Pin, King Zai

9:00pm Aswad with Brinsley Forde

10:00pm Levi Roots

11:00pm The Congos feat Cedric Myton


..

25.1.12

Sambou Susso a lady and her Kora!
Batukunku Nursery School cultural show

6:30pm Beauty contest finals

8:30pm Surprise guest from Jamaica (Lee Scratch Perry)

10:00pm Closing Dub Party (African Dub)!!!

 
       

 

 
 
 

 

Lee "Scratch" Perry

Lee "Scratch" Perry was born Rainford Hugh Perry on March 20, 1936 in Kendal, Jamaica . His work as a producer and musician is considered some of the most influential in the history of ska, reggae, and dub - Jamaican music in general, in fact. He is still alive, and resides in Switzerland.

Lee "Scratch" Perry began working in the recording industry in the 1950s as a record seller for Coxsone Dodd's Sound System, which was essentially a mobile booth containing speakers and a variety of American R&B records. The DJ would play the records in the street, and the record seller would hawk them. Coxsone Dodd eventually turned to making his own records in the legendary Studio One, where Perry was his assistant.

After personality conflicts caused Perry to break with Coxsone Dodd, Perry served a short stint at Joe Gibbs' studio, and eventually began his own label, Upsetter Records. His first hit single, recorded with his band The Upsetters, was called "People Funny Boy", and made two major musical innovations: first, it was a very early use of a "sample" (a clip of a sound used for effect, common in rap ), and it was also the first recording of the rhythm that is now identified as reggae.

In 1973, Lee "Scratch" Perry built his own recording studio, known as the Black Ark. At this point, he began focusing heavily on production, and worked with such legends as Bob Marley and the Wailers, The Heptones, and Junior Marvin. It was during his collaborations with Bob Marley that he made some of his most notable innovations.

Lee "Scratch" Perry is often credited as being the inventor of dub, an off-shoot of reggae that emphasizes mixing-board remixes of instrumental songs, often with the bass and drums turned up and lots of reverb. Dub, in turn, is the predecessor of many genres of dance music , as well as hip-hop.

Eventually, Perry grew tired of the Kingston scene, particularly after Bob Marley's death. He traveled extensively, performing and recording, and eventually settled down in Switzerland. At the age of 72, he is still performing, and is known for his wild outfits and bizarre (though highly entertaining) on-stage storytelling.

 

Mad Professor

On the content of his character, and by the results of his recordings, Mad Professor (Neil Fraser) is one of the sanest record producers.The name Mad Professor was first given by friends at school, who were amazed by the experiments he carried out as a youth.

Having built a radio and telephone system at the age of 10 years, it was no surprise that his interest and subsequent career in electronics along with a love of Motown, Philadelphia International, Treasure Isle and music of all types propelled him onward.
The early Eighties, having built his own mixing desk, Mad Professor along with the Ariwa Studio/ label had launched himself from his front room in Thornton Heath. Early works include sessions with Ruts DC, Reggae Regulars, Merger, Jimmy Lindsay, Mikey Dread, Johnny Clarke and many more international artists.

DUB ME CRAZY, the first in a 12 part series of albums, was to become his beacon for the label.
With an episode being issued every year, each of the titles told a different story. With titles like “Beyond the Realms of dub”, “The African Connection”, and “Adventures of a dub sampler”, the distinct variation and surprising sound effects were unique for this time.

Dub, and the cool sound and clarity of his mixing encouraged many artists to the growing label. By the mid Eighties, the studio / label moved from its launch base of Peckham. The new location would be Whitehorse Lane, South Norwood, where it is still located.
At this time he incorporated remix projects for the Orb, 400 Blows, Beats International (Lindy Layton), Sade and Brilliant. A heavy schedule of touring Germany, Holland, France, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Spain Austria, Italy, Yugoslavia, USA, Canada and Japan, while still managing to produce the various artists' projects was an enormous workload.

The label by then had a healthy 104 albums with more in the infancy stage of planning. By the mid Nineties, Mad Professor's profile increased to legendary status after remixing Massive Attack's second album, Protection.

No Protection was instantly received by all corners of the globe, benefiting from Virgin / EMI international launch pad. Professor's personal Dub tours were increased to be a major part of his schedule, along with further remixes which include: Clementine, Tracy Spencer, The Boom, Danny Red, Depeche Mode, Jamiroqui, Rancid, KLF, Beastie Boys, Cidade Negra, Perry Farrell (Jane's Addiction) along with the Massive Attack dub extravaganza all benefiting from the Mad Professor touch.
Production work for various major labels include: Sony Music, EMI, Arista, Warner Brothers, Capitol Record, and Virgin Records.

In 1998 the Ariwa record catalogue contained over 155 titles including over 30 dub albums from Mad Professor, 3 albums from U-Roy including the classic “True Born African”, 7 albums from the Upsetter, Lee Scratch Perry and many classic Lovers Rock albums, including “Country Life” - Sandra Cross, “If I gave my heart” - John Mclean, “Black with Sugar” – Kofi.

By the end of the Nineties, Mad Professor's Ariwa label gained international notoriety in many territories throughout the world. Mainly known for its Dub, roots and Techno / drum and bass catalogue.
The turn of the century saw new releases from Lee Scratch Perry – “Techno Party”, Macka B – “Global Messenger”, Mad Professor – “Trix in the mix”. By 2004 Mad Professor worked with Sly & Robbie at Ariwa, where the Taxi gang laid down their versions of Ariwa rhythms. Over 100 rhythms were recorded.

An album titled “The Dub Revolutionary's” was released by Sanctuary Records which owns the Trojan Label. Some of those rhythms also formed the backbone for the next album from Horace Andy “From the Roots”. Also released by Trojan, this is Horace's third album for Ariwa Sounds.
Around this time Mad Prof collaborated with Mafia & Fluxy to produce Dancehall Dub, as well as 2 Sci Fi Dub albums. "From Mars with Dub" followed by "A new galaxy of Dub".

By the year 2005 the Ariwa catalogue passed the 200 figure, bumped up by new albums from Max Romeo, U-Roy and young protégée Joe Ariwa. Fresh demand for the dub show has taken the Ariwa Sound to many far flung places.

In 2003 Mad Professor was invited to play at the Greenpeace festival in Manáus, Brazil. Since then, Mad Professor has become an annual visitor to South America, playing in Argentina, Chile, and Venezuela.
He has also been a frequent visitor to Australia, New Zealand, Estonia and Portugal. In 2005 the dub show played Seoul in Korea, driving several hundreds of fans crazy to the warbler sounds. Bangkok in Thailand in 2006 and Goa in India in 2007, courtesy of the Big Chill.

The Mad Traveller also played Dakar, courtesy of the Senegalese government. Mad Professor is also involved in the Back to Africa festival, an annual celebration in the Gambia, committed to the positive movement of descendants of Africans, back to Africa.

Macka B

Macka B is a British -born reggae artist, performer and activist with a career spanning thirty years in the United Kingdom and Jamaica. According to AllMusic.com “Macka B was one of Britain's most influential dancehall toasters.”

As a practising Rastafarian , Macka B's music is based around the political and spiritual message of the religion, with an often light and humorous touch. Working with the Mad Professor , he combined dancehall and dub styles of reggae, although has avoided a more commercial crossover approach. He takes his name from the Judean rebels against the Romans, the Maccabees.

He was born Christopher MacFarlane , in Wolverhampton . As a child Macka B was first impressed by the reggae of the Lord Barley sound-system playing at a blues party next to his parents' house, but also played violin and sang in the choir at school. He went on to take a technical apprenticeship at the Ever Ready factory. When the factory closed and he was laid off, he began to devote more time to practising his toasting skills, influenced by earlier Jamaican toasters U-Roy , I-Roy , Big Youth , and especially Prince Far I.

Soon Macka B formed the Exodus sound system with friends and became a Rastafarian. His 1982 trip to Jamaica galvanised his commitment to toasting and the following year he won a DJ-ing competition. After this Macka B began to feature on the radio as well as perform with local band Pre-Wax, who had a hit with "Maggie's Letter". But it was while performing for the Wassifa sound-system that a tape of a sound-system battle between Wassifa and Saxon Studio International which ended up with Fashion Records in London. The record label gave Macka B the opportunity to record his first solo single, "Bible Reader", which was released in 1985.

Macka B's first album, Sign of the Times , was released in 1986 on the Mad Professor's Ariwa label. The album was well received and reached the top of the UK reggae album charts. His next few albums were similarly acclaimed: We've Had Enough (1987), Looks Are Deceiving (1988). In 1988 Macka B visited Jamaica, where he worked with producer Black Scorpio on the tracks "Love It in Jamaica" and "Slow Down Driver".

Buppie Culture in 1989 produced the hit "Dread a Who She Love", a duet with female singer Kofi . Likewise, "Proud of Mandela" from Natural Suntan (1990) produced another reggae singles chart topper.

Macka B won British Best Male DJ awards in 1991 and 1992. His 1993 record, Roots Ragga was a live album . Here Comes Trouble (1994) produced the international hit "Squeeze Me". "Road Rage" from the Suspicious album was popular on Australian youth radio station Triple J in 1998/9. Roots & Culture (1999) mixed Macka B's hits with previously unreleased material. In 2004 he signed to the Jet Star label (Charm) label.

He also become the first Reggae artist to tour the former Yugoslavia (Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia).He has toured and performed around the world since the 1980s alone and with other reggae stars such as Burning Spear , U-Roy , The Wailers , Lee Perry and many others.

Macka B follows the Rastafarian Ital diet, and is also a vegan.

Tippa Irie

Anthony Henry - a.k.a. "Tippa Irie" - emerged from England's Saxon Sound International - the star-studded travelling sound system that has been at the forefront of the U.K. reggae dancehall scene for the past 25 years and helped launch the careers of artists such as Maxi Priest, Papa Levi and Smiley Culture.

Tippa Irie was part of the new generation of British MC's who developed the 'Fast Talking' style chat which today can be heard in modern day rappers like Busta Rhymes.

Tippa toured extensively with his friend and long-time sparring partner, Pato Banton, throughout the Eighties including an appearance at Jamaica's Reggae Sunsplash and their US debut tours together. The UK DJ duo of Tippa Irie and Pato Banton had become one of the genres favourite combinations. As the Nineties began, the dynamic duo pursued their solo careers.

Tippa Irie has produced fifteen albums to date and has a string of number 1 hit songs to his credit including "Hey Mama" with the Black Eyed Peas, "Hello Darling", "Raggamuffin Girl" (featuring Peter Hunnigale), "Stress" (featuring Lloyd Brown), "Superwoman" (featuring Winsome), "Baby I've Been Missing You" (featuring Janet Lee Davis), "Sensi" feat the Long Beach Dub AllStars and "Shouting for the Gunners"--a song originally recorded for the Arsenal Football Team which reached the Top 30 status on the British pop charts.

To this day, Tippa Irie remains one of the most requested Reggae entertainers internationally. The surviving members of Sublime made sure their Long Beach Dub All Stars debut for Dreamworks Records had the necessary dancehall credentials by commissioning Tippa Irie to contribute "Sensi" on their 'Right Back'(1999) CD and be their special guest on their subsequent North American tour. In 2000 he was invited to support UB40 on their sold-out Labour of Love III UK tour. Later Tippa was called back in >the studio with Long Beach Dub All Stars to record "Life Goes On" featuring Half Pint and Jurassic Five's Charli2na on LBDA's 'Wonders of the World'(2001) CD for Dreamworks Records.

Impressed with Tippa's rapid-fire lyrical arsensal, Jurassic Five asked Tippa to record together and the end result was a wicked Tippa and Charli2na combination entitled "The Struggle". The rap world took notice and soon enough Tippa was once again summoned to record with some of the music industry's biggest stars. Most recently Tippa was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Rap Song category for his collaboration with Black Eyed Pea's Will-I-Am on "Hey Mama", a track featured on the international chartbusting 'Elephunk'(2004) CD on A&M/Interscope Records and also on the Black Eyed Peas LP 'Monkey Business' (2005) on the track Dum Diddley.

Earl 16

Earl Sixteen (Earl John Daley, 1958, Kingston, Jamaica) is a reggae singer whose career began in the mid-1970s.

Daley grew up in Waltham Park Road, Kingston, and, influenced by American soul and Jamaican artists such as Dennis Brown , began his singing career by entering local talent shows. He became the lead vocalist for the group The Flaming Phonics, playing live around Jamaica. Daley decided to drop out of school to pursue his music career, which prompted his mother to throw him out of the family home. Needing to make some money, the group tried out for producer Duke Reid , but left before finishing their recording for him due to his habit of firing live gunshots in the studio. They then worked with Herman Chin Loy , with Daley cutting his first solo track, "Hey baby". The group split up, with Daley concentrating on his solo career. Daley recorded "Malcolm X" for producer Joe Gibbs in 1975 - a track written by his school-friend Winston McAnuff, and which was later successfully covered by Dennis Brown . In 1977, he joined Boris Gardiner 's group, The Boris Gardiner Happening, which brought him into contact with Lee "Scratch" Perry . In the late 1970s, after a spell with Derrick Harriott , Daley recorded four tracks at Perry's Black Ark studio, including the original recording of "White Belly Rat", also meeting Earl Morgan of The Heptones , who later produced his album, Shining Star . In the early 1980s he recorded singles for a variety of producers including Linval Thompson , Augustus Pablo , Clement Dodd , Sugar Minott , Yabby You , and Derrick Harriott, and recorded his debut album with Mikey Dread . He teamed up with Roy Cousins for two albums, Julie and Special Request . Earlier material recorded for Studio One was released as 1985's Showcase album.

In 1985, after spending time in the United States , he relocated to England , fathering a child. His child's mother knew Mad Professor , who Daley began working with. He also worked with other British producers such as Stafford Douglas. One of his tracks from this era was a cover version of "Holding Back the Years", which had been a big hit for Simply Red . Returning to Jamaica, he worked briefly with King Jammy . In the 1990s he made guest appearances on tracks by Leftfield . He is one of the two vocalists for the Uk electronica/reggae band Dreadzone , who he has been with since 1995. He signed to WEA for his major label debut, 1997's Steppin' Out album.

John Mclean

John McLean was born in Hammersmith in the early sixties into a large family. John began his singing career from the very early age of 7 years in the choir of the school he attended. His voice was considered so good that he often was the soloist in choir performances. Also at this time with his interest aroused, he joined a few local bands which gave him an incentive to continue within the music business.

At the age of 16 years, he started singing with the sound called 'Black Starliner' which he was not only a active member but also owned, and still has an interest in today. During his days with the sound system, a signature tune for the sound was put together by the same name of the sound, which a little later became his debut single. 'Starliner' did very well, and a follow up single was released called 'Open my heart to you' which also got a very good response. Although John's main interest was in music he considered it in his interest to have an occupation. To this end he studied and is now a qualified train driver, a very responsible job and a great achievement for one of such young years.

During 1987, John visited Ariwa Studios with his manager Sinbad, the result of which was his debut single for the label called 'If I gave my heart to you' which when at first heard by Mad Professor, had the makings of a hit. These thoughts proved correct for the record rose to No 1 in the Reggae charts and has entered the national charts. John has since has the release of his first album "Bowled Over" which again shows his versatility and writing ability. John continues to write music and lyrics for many more songs, he plays the piano and bass guitar which helps in his music writing. When John bas a few spare moments, he enjoys playing football and rugby, but always music plays a major part in his routine and he hopes to have more success in the future.

Patrick Augustus / Pan Africanist

Author of When a Man Loves a Woman (1995), a Black romance set in South London and Babyfather , a series of books providing an observation of the modern black man influenced by his relationships with women, by way of charting the adventures of four black men. He is currently working on a children's novel. He is published by The X Press, a leading European publisher of Black interest books. Babyfather was turned into a successful series of BBC TV programmes. Following this success, Patrick Augustus set up the Babyfather Alliance linked with Barnardo's to encourage responsible parenting among black males in the UK, and in particular among those who were separated from their children.

Patrick Augustus says of his partnership with Barnardos: ‘Being a father of five myself, I was aware of the issues surrounding parenting within the black community. I set up the BFA to raise the awareness of absent fathers within the family unit by offering advice and support. Having seen the work of Barnardo's we could use our joint knowledge and experience to address one of the most serious issues within the black community.'

The Babyfather Alliance also hosts workshops that facilitate education and social mobility tutorials for disaffected young people. Patrick Augustus is also a steelpan musician. Known as ‘the Panafricanist', he tours with his band, Elements. Other musical activities include acting as host for VIBE, a new television music magazine programme soon to be broadcast on ACTV. He is also Editor of blink.org an independent web-based community interactive site for black communities.

Sandra Cross
With over 20 years of experience in the music industry, more than 12 albums and singles which were followed by headlined tours throughout Europe, America and Japan, and 7 international music awards, Sandra Cross is regarded as one of the leading forces of England's ‘lover's rock' era. She has become one of the most successful and respected singing talents coming out of the UK. Born amongst seven boys to Jamaican parents, and raised in London, England, Sandra was introduced to music from the young age of 7 when she was chosen as lead vocalist for the local church choir. Her parents were strict church-goers, so it was in the Pentecostal church her talent for playing the piano, singing and writing songs was initially discovered.

During her early school days instead of attending classes she would spend most of her day in the school's music room playing the piano and writing songs. Sandra came of age during the original outbreak of the UK's lover' rock movement during the early seventies. After spells of sneaking out at nights squeezing into the back of sound system vans, so that she could sing on dub plates in the local dances, her hunger for the music industry seemed to be reeling out of control. In 1979 she entered a school talent contest with a composition entitled ‘I Adore You'. She won the contest and accepted the prize of recording the song under the production of a local record producer. However, at the same time, because of her reluctance to attend classes at school, and her spells of running off late at nights to sing, her parents came to the conclusion that they had lost total control of their only daughter and decided to hand her over to the local authorities. Sandra was fourteen years old when she was placed into a home for truant children, and it was whilst she was there ‘I Adore You' went straight to the No.1 spot in the UK reggae charts. ‘I remember sitting in my room in the home and listening to ‘I Adore You' being played on the radio….I remember feeling all the craze and excitement going on in the outside world, but not being able to be a part of it….I couldn't understand why? How was it that I was educated and talented enough to achieve a number one record which was being played like crazy on radio stations all across England, yet I was locked up in a home for truant juveniles? '

Over the following years, 4 more No.1 hits followed, the biggest to date entitled ‘Country Living' which spent a whopping 10 weeks at the No.1 spot in the UK and European reggae charts in 1985. Twelve top 10 albums followed as she went on to accumulate popularity and fame in the reggae industry. She became one of the most admired lovers rock singers in the business and earned the title of the BBC listener's “Britain's Best Female Reggae Singer” for six consecutive years between 1986 -1991.

Her first exclusive Japanese release, an album entitled ‘Just a Dream', was produced and released by Pioneer Records executive Koichi Hanafusa in 1997. This was followed by her second Japanese release entitled ‘Dreams Come True' released in 1999.

‘Many times I have been labeled ‘The Thinker'. This indeed is a fact, however, during my times of pain and distress space is automatically made for me to ‘think and plan', because it is during this time I am able to analyze and make sense of my life and the reason for my existence….The conclusion I reach is that the special gift of music was and is the reason for my existence…reaching and touching the hearts of my fans through music is the reason for my existence…' After a long break from the business which included a lengthy ‘rest period' in Barbados, 2005, introduced another great coalition in Sandra's career when she met Florida based producer Lloyd Campbell of Joe Fraser Records, who actually travelled to Barbados to meet her! She recorded two tracks for his ‘Loving Pauper meets Hypocrite' various artists project which was released later on that year. Received with resounding accolades from reggae radio and sound system personalities worldwide, she continued the partnership and in 2008 released the smash song ‘Someone Special', her version to Taurus Riley's ‘She's Royal'. Her official comeback to the music industry was celebrated worldwide with the 2009 release of the album entitled ‘Now' , which is currently causing waves in the international music arena.

 

The Trixsters

Consisting of Joe Ariwa, KarMelody and a selection of special guest vocalists from the Ariwa label, The Trixsters are known for their unique reggae-infused dubstep beats.
Often incorporating samples and loops from the vast and instantly recognisable archives of Mad Professor's original Ariwa multi-track recordings, Joe and KarMelody infuse the sounds with a fresh new flavour.

Blurring the imaginary line between dub and dubstep with their finely-tuned production skills and distinctive use of sounds from the legendary Ariwa studios and exclusive vocalists, nobody else sounds quite like The Trixsters and we doubt anybody else ever will!

Their recent releases “Jah is my light" feat Michael Prophet & “War in the city" feat Michael Prophet are both best sellers on Ernie B's Reggae & also Dubvendor Clapham.

The Trixsters are responsible for The Grace Jones remix “Williams Blood” - Wall Of Sound. “Satisfied” remix with Ben Esser & West Coast Americas Michael Franti – East / West dub mix.

Levi Roots, is a British - Jamaican reggae musician, television personality, celebrity chef, businessman and multi-millionaire currently residing in Brixton , South London. He has performed with James Brown and Maxi Priest and was nominated for a Best Reggae Act MOBO award in 1998. He was a friend of Bob Marley when he resided in the UK and performed "Happy Birthday Mr. President" for Nelson Mandela in 1992 on his trip to Brixton .

In 2004, he resleased a single entitled 'Push George Bush' recorded and produced by Mad professor at Ariwa Studios.

He gained widespread fame after appearing on the UK television programme Dragons' Den where he gained £50,000 funding for his " Reggae Reggae Sauce ".

Reggae Reggae Sauce is a jerk barbecue sauce which Levi said was made to his grandmother's "secret recipe." This claim was later disputed as a marketing ploy. Roots and his 5 children have been selling and marketing the sauce at the annual Notting Hill Carnival since 1991. In 2006, the sauce was available for sale at the carnival, with 4,000 bottles sold.

He later took the sauce to a food trade show, where he was spotted by a BBC producer who approached him to appear on Dragons Den. He appeared in the first episode of the fourth series, and was seeking £50,000 of Investment from the Dragons in return for a 20% equity stake In Reggae Reggae Sauce. Despite his low sales, and good business demeanor, he claimed that he had an order for 2.5 million litres of the sauce. There was some confusion with some of the Dragons as to the validity of the figures of order, but the Dragons decided his business was investable and he was offered the £50,000 for a 40% stake in his business by Peter Jones and Richard Farleigh . Leading from the success of his spicy sauce, Roots released an extended version of his song "Reggae Reggae Sauce" which features one of his children (Joanne) on backing vocals. The music video features a cameo from Dragon Peter Jones. All of the money raised went to Comic Relief .

Shortly after his appearance on the programme, Sainsbury's announced that they would be stocking the sauce in 600 of their stores.

The song which formed part of his pitch on Dragons Den (and also sung by Levi himself in an appearance on Harry Hill 's TV Burp ) was also released as a download single. "Proper Tings (The Reggae Reggae Sauce Song)" received its first play on Allan Lake 's breakfast show on Core (radio station) .

He spoke at the SWRDA 's enterprise conference on the 24 November 2008. Levi has spoken to the Isle of Man Junior Chamber of Commerce. He is keen admirer of children's enterprise as shown when he did a tour of Plymouth School talking about how he became a successful musician and businessman.

The Positive Airline Sound

ASHER Selector & Naja Vibes

 

RootsMan Productions is a Rastaman Company which promotes lives shows and it has its own Sound System. The company produces Jah Muzik with the label label: RootsMan. Since 1975-1976, Asher collects and plays Reggae Muzik for the people.

From 1981 to 1989, Asher Selector had travelled and played muzik throughout the world (Africa, South America, Central and North America , Jamaica and the Caribbean Islands etc…) Asher Selector from RootsMan had put together and started his own Sound System in the Summer of 1989.Since that time Asher Selector and his Sound plays regularly all over the country. He is well-known for his massive collection of Rockers, Roots, Dub, Ska and fresh selections.

Asher plays strictly conscious muzik to educate people with the power of God. Asher has an exceptional talent that's means when he plays the muzik, he plays it on the right track and at the right moment. Asher makes the crowd feel the vibrations from the beginning to the end.

From 1991 to 1999 : The Sound also had performed with his full family of entertainers : mixer from Birmingham in England, like the producer and drummer Steve Clarke, the well-known DJ pon the mic Rasta Muffin style Juki Ranx from England, the singer from Jamaica Jacko Lion, Ragga DJ from Egypt Jah Couscous also pon the sampler, singjay from Geneva Dennis the Chemist, Rebel and more. Brother Braxton pon the drive (big up to the max ).

Over the years, the Sound had welcomed some international artists like : Crucial Robbie , Mickey Tuff, Thriller Jenna, Mad Professor pon the mix, Daniel Ray from the Original Jah Love Sound inna Jamaica, Ossie Gad, Teddy Dan, Bernard Collins from the Abyssinians, Winston Jarrett, Jah Woosh, and many many more…

The Sound had played internationally in Zimbabwe, England, Germany, Netherlands, and France and also he performed in Milan, Italy Tribute to Garnett Silk.


The Positive Airline Sound, Asher Selector played since 1998 until 2001at the Montreux Jazz Café. Asher performed on the opening night at the Montreux Jazz Festival. The evening started with Earl Sixteen , Mafia and Fluxy, Prezident Brown who play with Panache Culture, Anthony B, the Star Trail Band and The Morgan Heritage Family, all those artists played at the Miles Davis Hall. 

The 2000 edition of the Reggae Night at the Montreux Jazz Festival had welcomed Asher Selector to teach & preach the people with his muzik. He played before, between and after the lives performances of the Sister in Reggae , the Abyssinians, Teddy Dan and Horace Andy. 

The 2001 edition of the Reggae Night at the Montreux Jazz Festival was a phenomenal evening for the Reggae Muzik. Asher Selector, Levi Roots, Prince Alla, Johnny Clarke, Turbulence, Sizzla and Burning Spear were part of this great festival. Asher Selector played and selected with the Klass International Sound of Harbor View in Kingston Jamaica . He travelled to Jamaica several times a year.

The year 2000 and 2001, Asher Selector had been booked every week-end to play around Europe and all over Switzerland . In March of 2001, Asher Selector and Jah Shaka had shared the stage for the third time in Geneva. In August 2001, Asher Selector went to Ivory Coast , Africa which he performed with Kajeem and Prince Alla. They spend 10 days doing sound system, radio shows and interviews.
In December 2002, Asher Selector and David Rodigan shared the stage. Their show was sold out. Asher Selector was invited by David Rodigan Radio in February 2003.

In the same year Asher Selector had performed over 50 important shows all over Europe from Sweden to Portugal . He had played in major European Festival through out the summer of 2003.

In 2004, the album Positive Airline Sound Prince Alla “Live Inna Milano” was released.

Asher Selector was invited by the biggest Turkish Festival in August 2004 in Istanbul . There were other acts as 50 Cents, Sly & Robbie, Deus, Zion Train, Twilight Circus and many more……

In 2005 Asher Selector has recorded the Black Eyed Peas (Fergie, Will. I. Am., Tippa Irie) on Dub plate.

The radio of Asher Selector: http://www.live365.com/stations/raspectradio has won the Grammy as Best of Live365 Awards in San Francisco the 1 May 2005.

Every Summer Asher Selector been requested to play the major Festival as Montreux Jazz Festival, Eurockeennes Festival, Soca Festival in Slovenia, Rototom Festival etc.

He has introduced a new Artist “RaldoAsher” from Switzerland all over Europe for the last 2 years.

March / April 2008 Asher Selector has been invited to Santiago de Chile to perform 7 shows around Chile. October 2008: Asher Selector played at the Dub Club in Los Angeles and he was booked in Memphis for the second time.

The year 2009: Asher Selector has tour a 2 weeks tour in South America – Chile and was invited by CHEZIDEK to perform at his annual Rising Sun Festival in St. Ann Jamaica.

Asher Selector has been busy in Studio producing NajaVibes upcoming album, studio in Switzerland, Chile, Los Angeles, London. Asher Selector will be touring in the USA in October 2009 and will be producing and remixing some of the tracks in Los Angeles on the upcoming album of NajaVibes.

Asher Selector his known to entertain the people from the beginning till the end of his set, he will play the major roots foundation songs as well of the last remix hip-hop ragga tune, always in a cultural way and only with Lyrics who uplift the people of the night.

Since 2000 Di Positive Airline Sound decided to step up "High Grade" with some Positive "Specials" and "Dubplates" played fresh fi di people & I'n'I collected some conscious muzik with artists like: Abbyssinians, Max Romeo , Prezident Brown, Prince Alla, Congos, Burro Banton and Chronicle, Everton Blender, Mykal Roze,Frankie Paul,Bushman,Bounty Killer,Junior Reid,Capleton,Sizzla,Beres Hammond,Ziggy Marley,Luciano, Tony Rebel and many many more.....Stay connected with Di POSITIVE AIRLINE SOUND

Love to Di Max....Asher Selector
Asher Selector says:

"Let the right Muzik live and kick out the Slackness and all the Muzik who say nothing".

 

Papa Levi

Born in England, but of Jamaican parentage, Papa Levi first worked with the Jah Man and Prophecy Sound Systems as a DJ.

Papa Levi was the first artist to emerge on Saxon then came Maxi Priest Followed by Smiley Culture, all of whom had No:1 hit records and were all signed to Major record labels. In 1984 Saxon sound was given a record label by Greensleeve's Chris Blackwell to use to promote the Saxon Singers and DJ's this label was called The 'UK Bubblers' Signed to this label were Saxon's Tippa Irie, Daddy Colonel, Daddy Sandy and Daddy Rusty. In November of that year they recorded their first live LP called 'Coughing Up Fire' which turned out to be a great success for the sound system and their DJ's. By This time DJ Papa Levi had already reached the Number 1 Spot in the English and Jamaican Reggae charts, with his record 'Mi God Mi King' and still to this day he is the only UK artist to have reached poll Position in Jamaica, and the first UK act to perform on Reggae Sunsplash.

Levi later hooked up with Mad Professor's Ariwa label to release his debut album “Code Of Practise” followed by “Back to Basics” & his most recent album “Lyrics, Tricks & Politics”.
He has performed in Europe, America, Grenada and Jamaica on a number of occasions. He has recorded for both King Jammys and Junior Reid in Jamaica and has been working with British Labels like Greensleeves, Music Of Life, Ariwa and MCS for the past few years. Leslie also had his own Label, Ghetto-tone, which was formed in collaboration with his then Manager Othman Mukhlis and his cousin and Long-time producer Tony Henry.
Leslie describes himself as a serious Afri-centric culture DJ who refuses to be dictated to by anyone, and thus says what he feels from the heart without fear of reprisal or sanction.
He refuses to chat anything that he cannot play to his children or his mother as he firmly believes that we should all be accountable for our actions. He places great emphasis on diction and clarity in his vocal delivery and he has been described by John Masouri of Echoes Magazine "the most radical British DJ bar none" and Britain's answer to KRS1.

Leslie is a renowned Black activist and poet who writes, publishes and lectures on Black history and Black identity. He has researched the cultural significance of Reggae Music as a voice for the African oppressed in the Diaspora for his Ph.D. in Sociology at Goldsmiths College, University of London.

His has written two books: "What The Deejay Said" and "Whiteness Made Simple" both published by Nubeyond.
     
 

 

 

Sister Audrey

The Robotiks

Dego Ranks

Royal Messenger

Emperor Amiru

King Zai

Sisassy AKA Preacher Man

Moonlighting Dub (from Costa Rica)

Nairobi (from Argentina)

Professor Skank (From Crete)

And many more…..

 

       

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