FESTIVAL EMCEES:
MAKEDA DREAD, DOUG GREEN, JUNOR FRANCIS & SPLIFF SKANKIN'

Makeda Dread
Makeda Dread is the founder of Reggae Makossa 91X in San Diego, a reggae radio show, now celebrating more than 20 years of spreading the positive messages of love, world peace, and pursuit of equal rights. In addition to having the longest running reggae radio show in California, Makeda Dread is a veteran and a celebrity in the reggae industry. She has been promoting major reggae concerts, including founding the first Bob Marley Birthday Celebration in 1981.  Makeda continues her work in radio and is also the Executive Director of the World Beat Center, a Multi-Cultural Community Center in Balboa Park, Downtown San Diego.

Doug Green
In early ’78, Doug Green joined The Family Dog as Chet Helm’s partner and they produced the “Tribal Stomps” of ’78 &’79. He returned to Humboldt to build French’s Camp into a concert venue where he produced the “Garberville Music Festivals” in ‘80 & ’82.  As a founding board member of the Mateel Community Center, Doug was approached by one of it’s members to produce a benefit festival when the community center was burnt down by an arson, which marked the birth of “Reggae on the River” in ’84. Doug remained co-producer and MC of “Reggae on the River” for 12 years. He has designed venues (Reggae on the River and Blues by the Bay) and done operations consulting for the past 10 years and remain a “MC at large” to this day. www.douggreenmc.com

Junor Francis
Since 1987, Jamaican-born Junor Francis has been hosting and producing "The Reggae Connection" on the Claremont College-based, non-profit KSPC 88.7 FM.  He can also be heard on the Loyola Marymount University-based KXLU 88.9FM with "The Reggae Show." Whether as a Master of Ceremonies, a journalist or a radio personality, Junor is one of California's premier reggae historians.  He can often be found at festivals deeply entangled in intense interviews and discussions with reggae artists.  Whether reasoning with a living legend or a rising star, Junor is able to make a meaningful and significant 'reggae connection' with his deep knowledge of the music of Jamaica coupled with his unique insights into all the artists within the reggae fraternity.

Spiff Skankin'
Reggae music is life to this talented spinmaster and MC. Since the late 80’s, Spliff has been sharing his “go with the flow” reggae music mix with KPFA listeners, as well as being renown on the club scene both as an MC and also as a resident DJ for Massive Sound International.