Levitt’s Free Summer Series
Friday May 20th, 2022
All Ages | Rain or Shine
GA Doors Open: 6:00 PM | Show Start: 7:00 PM
Limited Molly’s Spirits VIP Lounge Tickets
Free RSVP Opens April 22nd at 10am
Black Uhuru
For over 50 years Black Uhuru has remained one of the most popular recognized prolific reggae band from Jamaica. The living legends have earned several achievements in the music industry including winning the first ever Grammy Award for reggae music. They’re long success along with having the highest reggae record sales after Bob Marley & the most songs sampled by other artist over the years has allowed them to become Ambassadors of reggae.
The roots of Black Uhuru formed in Kingston’s “Waterhouse” District in the late 60’s. It is the home of founder & leader Derrick “Duckie” Simpson along with all the rest of the singers from the group. The original Uhuru’s Swahili for “freedom” were Duckie, Don Carlos & Garth Dennis. The first song was a Curtis Mayfield cover of “Folk Song”. They made only a couple more songs before Don left to pursue a solo career & Garth joined Wailing Souls. The two were replaced by Michael Rose & Errol Nelson both from Waterhouse. They recorded the debut album “Love Crises” in 1977 for Prince Jammy later re-released as “Black Sounds of Freedom”. Errol later left the group to join the Jays & was replaced by female singer Puma Jones.
This new line-up is when the band began to collaborate with Sly & Robbie & developed the “classic Uhuru” sound of the 80’s. A unique style full of heavy drum & bass, sharp keys, loud guitar riffs & long instrumentals filled with whirly background effects & the signature “wow oh-oh oh’s” echo. It was during this period they signed with Island Records. They began touring internationally & started receiving worldwide attention. They recorded some of their most popular albums like “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” “Sensimelia” & “Chill Out”. The album “Red” was voted #23 for Rolling Stone Magazine list of 100 greatest albums of the 80’s. And history was made when they won reggae’s first grammy award in 1984 for the album “Anthem”. Shortly after the grammy Michael left the group to go solo.
Another Waterhouse resident named Junior Reid became the new lead singer. Two albums were released “Brutal” nominated for grammy & “Positive” with Ras Records. These albums included popular hits like “Dreadlocks on the Mountain” “Fit You Haffi Fit” & one of the groups first music videos “Great Train Robbery”. Sadly due to ill health Puma passed away in 1990. Around this time Jr. Reid was having visa issues unable to tour.
During the mid 90’s the original members reunited. Four albums were released “Now”, “Iron”, Storm”, “Mystical Truth” & “Strongg” all nominated for grammy. They made an award-winning music video for “Tip of the Iceberg” that featured rap star Ice-T & another video for “One Love” featuring Louie Rankin. They performed live on television for VH1 a cover version of Jimmy Hendrix “Hey Joe”. In 1994 they won the Diamonds Awards for Excellence. Unfortunately, the group began to dispute over band legal rights & went to court in the late 90’s. Duckie won the rights to the name.
As the new millennium approached Duckie found Andrew Bee’s once again from Waterhouse. Bee’s first tour with the band was in 1996 in Brazil. They released two albums “Unification” in 1998 & “Dynasty” in 2001. In 2002 they reunited with Sly & Robbie for an international world tour & released a live album/dvd “Dubbin it Live”. The group resurfaced in 2010 & has been touring extensively throughout Europe, South America & the United States. In 2012 they performed in a Broadway musical in Los Angeles called “Loving the Silent Tears”. In 2013 Duckie was awarded a lifetime achievement award from the IRWMA. In 2017 they released a new single & music video “Jah Guide” a Peter Tosh tribute that featured Bugle.
In 2018 Black Uhuru released a longly waited album “As The World Turns”. The newest album after 15 years it was nominated for “Best Reggae Album” at the 61st Grammy Awards. For the first time it featured Duckie on lead for the entire album. To support the album the band headed on a major US Tour & Hawaii. During the East Coast leg of the tour they appeared live on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series where they performed a new single “I See You” taken from the “Tropical House Cruises to Jamaica Reloaded” album produced by Sean Edwards of Contractor Music. Two music videos "Chalice" & "War Crime" were filmed by Benji Cooper for the album both featured on Reggaeville.
During 2019 when Duckie came back to the States for the Grammy award ceremony he went back up to Nor-Cal where he started recording a new album project with Dylan's Dharma & King Hopeton. Right before the pandemic Black Uhuru & Dylan's Dharma went on a small West Coast Tour with Etana & played the One Love Festival in Long Beach. Since the "lock-down" the band has been laying low back home most of 2020. Duckie did one live stream peformance for Kumar's Kulture Walk St. Bess series during reggae month.
Just recentley in 2021 Black Uhuru released a new single "Jamaica to Here" partnering with So-Cal indepedent label Law Records & Dogranch Music PR. Produced by King Hopeton at his Double Lion Studio in Helltown California the track was mixed by Shaquille "Skunga" Kong, "Med Dread" & Mark "Jah Servant" Giles with Dylan Seid, Dharma LaRocca & Kopavi Cannonn as Executive Producers.
The up-coming album titled "New Day" is scheduled to be releaesd early next year 2022...!
Selasee & the Fafa Family
Selasee & The Fafa Family was formed by Selasee Atiase in 2007. Originally from Ghana, Selasee focuses on reggae/world music made up of some highlife music and what he describes as easy listening reggae music that draws in even people who are not fans of reggae music as well as some pop influences.
Born in Accra, Ghana, Selasee grew up exposed to the colorful and energetic sounds of highlife music as well as reggae, funk, R&B and pop influences. With this exposure Selasee created his own niche—a unique blend of easy listening Reggae music, West African Highlife and some Pop music influences, threading together English and Ghanaian lyrics for a bright and captivating sound.
Selasee recorded his debut album “Run” on Running Dreams Records released in 2006.That same year the title track “Run” won first place in the World Music genre of the International Song Writers Competition. The Tracks “Run” and “Makuma” were also featured in the 2006 FIFA Soccer and 2007 Cricket video games by EA Sports. He released his second album “African Gate” in 2010. Selasee & The Fafa Family is his current band name. In 2014 he released his third album on which features Anthony B and Auston Family man Barrett. Selasee is currently working on his 4th album schedule to be released fall of 2022.
On the touring circuit, Selasee has shared the stage with several reggae legends including Steel Pulse, The Wailers, Third World, The Mighty Diamonds, Don Carlos, Barrington Levy, King Yellowman, The Melodians and Anthony Julian Marley Taurus Riley,Toots & The Maytals, Beenie Man and Black Uhuru.