Come and take part in honoring the Life and Legacy of Robert Nesta Marley; the King of Reggae Music. A night of strictly Bob Marley favorites…Jamaica style, the Caribbean Allstars will backline with Special guest stars, Harry Best, K.I. Nicolas, McDaddy, D.J. Edwin and more…
Robert Nesta Marley, was born February 6, 1945 – May 11, 1981 a Jamaican singer-songwriter who became an international musical and cultural icon, blending mostly reggae, ska, and rocksteady in his compositions.
As Jamaica's most acclaimed musician, Marley toured the world with reggae music that came from his Rastafarian faith. He preached the power of music to heal and change people, singing songs of human rights, justice, and one love to a global audience, until his death on May 11, 1981. He left a legacy carried on not only by his offspring but also by musicians in many styles and cultures, including tonight's bands.
The Caribbean Allstars are pioneers in the Bay Area reggae scene and longtime regulars at Ashkenaz. The ensemble, whose geographical roots range from Jamaica and South America to West Africa and the U.S., began joining together their musical forces and international backgrounds during the early 1970s. Out of such predecessors as Obeah and the Sons of Creation, the Caribbean Allstars were formed and became the founding fathers of Bay Area roots reggae. Although many musicians have come through the band since its founding, it has long been guided by its director, Trinidad-born drummer Hugh "Sweetfoot" Maynard.
The Caribbean Allstars not only play Jamaican reggae with a traditional electric bass-drums-guitars-keyboards lineup, but also add steel drums to bring in South Caribbean calypso and soca styles of Trinidad and Tobago, producing rhythms that drive listeners to the dance floor. Over the years the band has performed with an array of talent sitting in, including Taj Mahal, Narada Michael Walden, and Carlos Santana. Santana played on their second album and introduced them as "my favorite band" at the 1987 Bay Area Music Awards (Bammies). The Allstars were featured on Ashkenaz's 30th anniversary CD and have for many years been one of the core bands of the extended Ashkenaz world music and dance community.
