Ras Michael
b. Michael George Henry - 1943 - Kingston, Jamaica
b. Michael George Henry, c.1943, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. Henry grew up in a Rastafarian community at St. Mary where he learned hand-drumming, eventually becoming a master-drummer. In the early 60s, he formed the Sons Of Negus, a Rastafarian group of drummers and singers. In the mid-60s he founded his own Zion Disc label, and started to release a series of singles including "Lion Of Judah", "Ethiopian National Anthem" and "Salvation'. These recordings, on which the group is usually augmented by guitar and bass, show a remarkable degree of invention and subtlety.
Around 1966, he recorded at Studio One as a percussionist, playing with Jackie Mittoo And The Soul Vendors in exchange for studio time. In the early 70s he recorded Dadawah Peace And Love, on which his group was augmented by studio musicians, a blend of Rastafarian chant, reggae, Southern soul and psychedelia greatly enhanced by its imaginative arrangements. Nyahbinghi was a collection of chants and hymns in the style of his Zion disc singles. In 1975, he recorded Rastafari, on which his group was augmented by several well-known reggae musicians. The album's tight arrangements and excellent songs brought him into the reggae mainstream, but the momentum was lost with 1976's Tribute To The Emperor with Jazzboe Abubaka and Freedom Sounds. He augmented his group again for 1978"s Kabir Am Lak (Glory To God) and Movements, both of which are strong albums.
In 1979, Rastafari In Dub was issued, an excellent collection of material culled from Rastafari and Kibir Am Lak. Further releases included Promised Land Sounds Live (1980), Disarmament and Revelation (1982). His last outstanding album was Love Thy Neighbour, whose imaginative production is the work of Lee Perry. During the late 80s Michael spent a great deal of time teaching drumming. He returned to recording with Zion Train (1988), a mediocre album made without the Sons Of Negus, followed by Know How (1990), a disappointing set which tried to incorporate world music elements.
Ras has over 14 albums to date. He was fortunate to have recorded a single entitled, "Children of the Universe", with back up sounds of the original "Wailers". This musical master has done work with the greatest in the Reggae music industry. While touring in Paris the legendary Rastafarian Bob Marley; Bob was asked to comment on the talent of Ras Michael as a performer and he replied, "Ras Michael is a roots master and a Niyabinghi specialist. He tells you like it is".
He is also featured in the British Guiness Book of World Records on Reggae music coming out of Jamaica. Ras Michael has toured the U.S. and is known worldwide, likewise is his music which is the heart of the African Rasta Roots music world.
Some other credentials:
- Hosted the first Rastafari-oriented radio program on the Jamaican Broadcasting Corporation (JBC)
- Co-founder of both the Rastafari International / Marcus Garvey Culture Center in Los Angeles, CA and the Fly Away Culture Center in Kingston, Jamaica.
- Speaker/lecturer and presenter, recent topic “Jamaican Music with an African identity” at the California Institute of the Arts.
- Ambassador, and diplomat for the Ethiopian Orthodox Tawahido church internationally.
- Awards include the Lifetime Achievement Award accorded by the Ragga Muffin / Bob Marley Day Festival, 2001
- Martin’s International Award for the most Cultural Music Roots Band
- Nomination to the Reggae Hall of Fame in Jamaica, 1995
- Ras Michael is a lifetime member of Reggae Ambassadors Worldwide (#854)
|
Radio Shows 
