[Zion Gates]

Long Beach Dub Allstars
With the end of Sublime after death of Bradley Nowell, the remaining members, Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson, teamed up with Sublime associates and friends to create the Long Beach Dub Allstars. This band kept the Sublime spirit and the love for Jamaican music in the Californian punk, skate and surf scenes alive. Though not playing classic Jamaican roots or dub, their reggae music was respectable.
By Sweboy

Max Romeo
A Kingston native, Max Romeo was one of the first reggae artists to create deeply spiritual lyrics. His first hit was “Wet Dreams” which was soon banned on most radio stations due to the suggestive lyrics. Once the 70’s arrived, he collaborated with Lee “Scratch” Perry and began his spiritual conversion. With that he recorded his first album with Scratch called “War Ina Babylon” which became a huge success. Max Romeo was a large success with rebellious skinhead in Britain and to many other reggae artists.

The Meditations
Ansel Cridland, Danny Clarke and Winston Watson made up one the most amazing reggae trios to ever be blasted in the ghettos of Jamaica. Ansel, from Westmoreland, Danny from Trench town, and Winston from Trench town, formed The Meditations in 1974. The three friends had been in the music business for a few years now, singing back up vocals for many reggae artists around Jam-down. In the early 70’s, they made their rounds auditioning for producers, singing backup vocals for each other and amazing everyone that was lucky enough to see them in their prime. One of the first songs they recorded was “Woman Like A Shadow” at Lee “Scratch” Perry’s Studio One, which, although, was recorded in 1974, wasn’t released until ’76. They released their first full-length record in 1977 called “Message From The Meditations” which quickly became a must buy for reggae lovers around the world. Their music spread as quickly as a forest fire, putting everyone into flames. Even the famous Bob Marley was amazed, and invited the trio to sing back up on songs such as “Punky Reggae Party” and “Blackman Redemption” and asked them to open for him at the One Peace concert in ’78. The trio continued to slowly put out record after record releasing a total of eleven albums, each one filled with positive vibrations and that cool roots reggae music of Jamaica.

Melody Makers
Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers are a band consisting of Ziggy Marley, Stephen Marley, Cedella Marley, and Sharon Marley. Following the steps of their father they wanted to be recognized by the public for being "different". The band didn't have the same "rasta ideals" like most reggae bands, they just wanted to have their own, unique sound.

Michael Rose
Michael Rose was born in the Western Kingston ghetto of Water-house, Jamaica on July 11, 1957. There his was introduced to reggae at an early age. After finding a band and touring the north coast hotels of Jamaica returned to Kingston in 1975, when he was asked to replace Don Carlos in the band Black Uhuru. After staying with them for ten years, he left to band to pursue a solo career. Until today he has been working hard with his solo career; making albums and touring (with Sly and Robbie) . Just recently he has put out a best of album which includes original Black Uhuru songs, and a lot of his solo stuff (which has more of a dance-hall feel to them)

Peter Tosh
Peter Tosh, originally Winston McIntosh, was one of the founding members of legendary reggae group The Wailers, along with Bunny Wailer and Bob Marley. Originally called The Wailing Wailers and playing ska, they became a well known band on Jamaica and had several hit songs. Eventually they began playing roots reggae, and soon became more well known outside of Jamaica as well. However, for various reasons, Tosh and Bunny left the band in 1974 to focus on their solo careers. In 1976, Peter Tosh released his debut solo album "Legalize It". He grew to become one the biggest reggae artists of all time, as well as a political and social activist preaching for human rights and justice. Though faced with radio bans, condemning news paper articles and fights (physical as well) with Jamaican authorities, he continued to spread his message. He also became a leading profile for the ganja movement and was a religious man, deeply involved in Rastafari. Peter Tosh was shot in his home during a robbery in 1987.
By Sweboy

Prince Far I
One of the most famous toasters to ever come out of Jamaica, Michael James Williams was born in Spanish Town in 1945. He is best noted for his deep voice and his strong Rastafarian beliefs. He began his career under the name King Cry Cry toasting for many famous DJs around Jamaica. He is well known for doing collaborating with The Arabs, and recording with King Tubby as well as being an inspiration on the youth of Jamaica.

Prince Jammy
Born in 1947 in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Lloyd James eventually moved to Kingston, the subsequent epicenter of reggae. He first began his career under the belt of dub master, King Tubby. Together they made amazing dub music and won many sound system battles. Once Prince Jammy began getting more and more experienced, he began collaborating with other artists such as Bunny Wailer and Black Uhuru, creating dub tracks for both artists.

Prince Jazzbo
Born Linval Carter in Clarendon, Jamaica, 1951 Prince Jazzbo became on the the most well known DJs / toasters to ever come out of Jamaica. Prince Jazzbo started at Coxsone, where he put out many single (many played on Coxsone's sound system) He also put out many albums with the famous producer Lee "Scratch" Perry. Although his music is extremely hard to find, he put out some amazing songs giving his audience a glimpse of his rasta ideals and later on influencing people to start up rap.

Ras Michael And The Sons Of Negus
Born Michael George Henry in Kingston, Jamaica 1943, and growing up in St. Mary (a rastafarian community), Ras Michael was taught drumming at a very young age and was soon the best drummer in town. Ras Michael then became very interested in Nyabinghi (a combination of chanting and playing at-least three hand drums played at Rastafarian Groundations) Ras Michael then got a group together mixing Nyabinghi with everyday reggae, being a big success and making many records.

Scientist
Overton Brown, Jamaica, West Indies Scientist burst onto the reggae scene in the early 70's with a reckless mixing style that seemed to outdo even King Tubby's wildest extravaganzas. He began his career with King Tubby, but had a very unique style with his tracks. He soon began to receive lots of success and found singer Barrington Levy and began to produce his songs; combined together they received great success from listeners.

Sly and Robbie
Robbie Shakespeare and Sly Dunbar are the most talented bassist and drummer in the reggae business. Sly and Robbie first met in the mid seventies. Sly was already a successful drummer when he met Aston Barrett’s (the wailers) youthful protégé bass player Robbie. They have played with everyone from Bob Dylan to Black Uhuru, each album reaching above the listeners expectations.

Soul Syndicate
Donovan Careless was the front-man singer for the famous band Soul Syndicate, which some members went on to back the international reggae star, Peter Tosh. Soul Syndicate consisted of; Earl "Chinna" Smith, Tony Chin, George "Fully" Fullwood, Enroy "Tenor" Grant, Earl "Wire" Lindo(legendary keyboardist of Bob Marley and the Wailers). Soul Syndicate have backed up many famous artists (once Donovan Careless left the band), and making great dub albums with King Tubby. All the members are very talented and should not be looked over when talking about dub.

Steel Pulse
Probably one of the most famous reggae bands to ever come out, Steel Pulse started in 1975 in England. Members David Hinds (lead vocals, guitar), Basil Gabbidon (lead guitar, vocals) and Ronnie McQueen (bass) formed the band in Handsworth. Steel Pulse started touring with punk bands such as The Stranglers but soon found their place touring with Burning Spear. Bob Marley was a very big fan of Steel Pulse's music. The peak of their success was during the time of their first five albums. After that period, the changed their song to become more mainstream, it didn't work and resulted in ultimately bad releases and bad sales. They gained more respect with their newest album African Holocaust. Steel Pulse are one of the best bands to come out of the reggae scene.

Sublime
The punk band Sublime was formed in Long Beach in the late 80's. What makes Sublime different from other punk bands is that they mixed the punk rock with numerous other styles. They combined punk, rock, ska, reggae, rap, surf and pop music to create a really unique style. Though their ska and reggae differed a lot in sound from the sound of classic Jamaican roots reggae, it is not to be looked down on as a unsuccessful attempt to copy the greats of the genre. They played it with skill and feeling, always with their own style, and constantly payed tribute to the big Jamaican artists that inspired them. Their success spawned a wave of similiar bands coming our from the Long Beach area. They gained a little mainstream success with their last album, though guitarist, singer and songwriter Bradley Nowell's death in a heroin overdose in 1996 put a tragic end to the band before they reached higher levels.
By Sweboy