The
Rastafarians

While most reggae artists have
started their journey in music
in Jamaica before moving on to
‘greener pastures’, the
super group known as “The
Rastafarians” are one of the
few bands that were composed
of Jamaicans natives living in
California.

When the band was formed in
1980, the following year saw
the release of ‘Orthodox’,
and which is considered as a
breakthrough in musicianship
and for the religious message
that it conveyed. What was
rather distinct about this
album is that it was radically
different from the music of
the dancehalls in Jamaica.

However, soon after that, the
band broke up and the
executive producer (known as
Brother Keith) vanished with
the master tapes due to tax
issues. The other members of
the group also took their own
copies and sunk into oblivion
until Shaka Man (the drummer
of the band) re-released the
album on Jubilee Palace in the
year of 2005.

As tragic as these events
were, the talent of this band
was obvious as some of the
members of the band had worked
with Rita and Bob Marley as
well as Spearhead before
joining the lineup for this
critically-acclaimed album.

In 2008, their bassist Haile
Maskel put out the album/
compilation known as Fire &
Rain through the same record
label (Makasound) that had
released their groundbreaking
album almost two decades ago.

Videos In The Playlist:

1. The Rastafarians - Pray, Pray, Pray
2. The Rastafarians 'Swing low' Ashkenaz Berkeley November 19, 2010
3. The Rastafarians - Jah's Greatest Blessing [By Samroots1980]
4. The Rastafarians-Hold on Jah Jah Children (live)@Ashkenaz 2010
5. The Rastafarians - Keep De Boogie Going (Extended)
6. Rastafarians - occupation
7. Rastafarians - Seek HIM (1981)
8. Madventures II - Rastafarians
9. Rastafari - Sizzla