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The jamaican
artist named Ronald Merrills,
better known as Judah Eskender
Tafari, is without a doubt
worthy of the titles Legend and
Superstar. His multitalented
career ranges from singer,
songwritter, composer, producer,
guitarist and bassist.
Coxsone Dodd released six
classic songs with Judah
Eskender Tafari: 'Jah Light', 'Rastafari
Tell You', 'Always Trying',
'Conquer Me', 'Danger In Your
Eyes' and 'Just Another Day' a
12", from 1978 till 1980, the
first of which was the
magnificent 'Jah Light'. He was
then due to release an album,
'African Blood', which never
appeared.
Judah first learned to play the
guitar and only wanted to play
the guitar, and while playing
the guitar he started backing up
singers and started to sing
harmonies, and automatically he
started doing his own singing
and started making one or two
songs. Being a part of the
Twelve Tribes Of Israel over the
years inspired him to write more
meaningful songs towards people.
He sang for the Twelve Tribes of
Israel organization from 1976
untill 1978 whe he was brought
to Coxsone Dodd for recording
with intent toward releases.
His introduction to Coxsone was
through the bass player Bagga
Walker and Pablove Black who are
also members of the Twelve
Tribes. Bagga Walker and Pablove
Black were the bass and the
keyboardist at Studio One at the
time. Coxsone never had any
doubt in Judah because both
Bagga Walker and Pablove Black
are very good musicians, so he
put Judah straight in the
studio, and singles were quickly
released.
He did a few covers and
countless originals . A total of
sixteen to eighteen songs were
recorded in the two years period
from 1978-1980.
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Following his involvement with
Studio One, Judah continued in
the Jamaican music industry as
Bass player for the Generation
Gap band.
Judah had since recorded on
albums as bassist. The first
project was put together by Jah
Love Music's manager - Mr.
Belcher. He wanted to do an
album with Brigadier Jerry
(Jamaica Jamaica). He chose the
musicians, and he called on
Judah to play the bass. From
over the years however, backing
up singers Judah decided that
singing is his thing, because he
never really enjoyed backing up
singers as much he enjoyed
singing. Judah says that in
singing, the feeling that he
gets, he doesn't get from
anything else.
In December of 1986, Judah came
to America for the first time,
and shortly after recorded about
5 songs for Jeff Sarge of 91.1
FM in New Jersey who was a
cultural radio personality at
the time.
Since then Judah has traveled
throughout the world including
Africa and played with numerous
bands either as Lead singer,
guitarist or bass player.
He recorded an album for Gussie
P in England circa 1993 which
was released and still seeing
singles release from that
recording session till this day.
Recently Judah has recorded and
released music through the
Twelve Tribes of Israel and also
with some of the current Roots
and Dubwise producers throughout
Europe and America.
Of those recent releases a
string of hits appearing on the
Black Redemption label have
created a huge interest in Judah
Eskender Tafari as a recording
artist and for live
performances.
In the New York City Roots
scene, The Black Redemption
Sounds of Praises live sessions
with selector Ras Kush,
featuring Judah Eskender Tafari
on vocals, has been greatly
received to the point where
their live dvd and cd recordings
have been copied and distributed
world wide as a roots and
culture music phenomenon. This
has made the USA a place of
interest for this locally
developed scene with Judah
Eskender Tafari singing and
sounding better then ever!
Listen to the music of Judah Eskender Tafari
Judah
Eskender Tafari Links:
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