Presented by Ronnie King Music & Coachella Valley Weekly
By Noe Gutierrez
The first Reggae Residency show at Schmidy’s Tavern in June was a knockout. It included performance by the Mikey Reyes Acoustic Movement, Higher Heights and Mozaiq. All three artists have increased in exposure and value after that summer night. It is now December and time for round 2. Hence we bring you Desert Reggae Residency. Even in the short time since the last show, there has been a large focus on desert reggae and its artists.
Ronnie King Music and Coachella Valley Weekly bring you Rasun, Vibes Up Strong, Irie Junctions and DJ Journee of Stronghold Reggae at Schmidy’s Tavern 72286 Highway 111 Palm Desert on Saturday, December 6. Entry fee is $5.00 and well worth it.
Ronnie King
The wizard behind the desert reggae curtain is Ronnie King. King has an all-encompassing vision for Desert Reggae. “We are in production of a Desert Reggae compilation record as we speak. The artists included are Irie Junctions featuring Mikey Reyes, Rasun featuring Irie Junctions, Higher Heights, Tribe-O and John Stanley King.” King admits that Desert Reggae is in its developing stages. “The local artists are raw and just need some information. I’m very focused on organizing the scene Jimmy Hoffa style. When there’s three reggae shows on a Friday night that’s way too many shows for this demographic. We will unite the bands and bring everyone together then take it on the road.” The global view that King brings to the table allows the artists to see things through a different lens. “The level of talent is very high around the world so I’m really excited to bring my expertise and a great team to develop a higher understanding of how the recording business works.” With the degree of talent the valley holds and King’s leadership Desert Reggae has no ceiling.
King also brings a savvy to Desert Reggae through his previous experience in the genre. “I love it! I’ve played on every Pepper record since Kona Town. I’ve also recorded with The Specials and Common Sense. In addition I’m involved with the New Reggae sound with bands like Seedless, The Originalites and all of the bands coming out of Lewis Richards’ 17th Street Recording Studio in Orange County.” King has forged new bonds with established artists as well. “Quino and Big Mountain stay on my ranch on occasion. We are in talks to work together to elevate the Desert Reggae scene even further.”
King has the ability to hoist Desert Reggae on his shoulders. “We will create a sound and go through the proper channels and bring it to modern radio. We have had many success stories from people growing up in the desert; Desert Reggae is next, here and now.”
Rasun
Rasun is an American Reggae artist with international status from the Bay Area who has embedded himself in the Coachella Valley. He melds R&B and Reggae into an uncommon sound rarely heard. He now aims to go over big in the desert and beyond. He is committed and has on numerous occasions relayed his love for this area. He and his brother, musician and producer Don Juan Cartel, can be found out and about if they are not working on new music at Ronnie King’s Chateau Relaxo studio. King consults with the brothers on numerous projects as well.
From an early age Rasun began singing with his father’s band Strictly Roots and by 14 years old he was playing drums for the group full time. Rasun will be releasing his new solo album Fight To Live Another Day in 2015. He has been featured on over 35 singles, including “Program Director” by OAR, “Independence Day” by Fiji, “Hard to Walk Away,” for TJ Records.
rasunmusic@yahoo.com
Vibes Up Strong
James McWhinney makes his home in Hilo, Hawaii and San Diego, California. With those tranquil living situations it’s no wonder when you speak with McWhinney you get a sense of relaxation and of no worry. In actuality he is far from sitting back and relaxing. McWhinney is fronting the band Vibes Up Strong and creating a new path for himself and maintaining the integrity that goes along with his family name. McWhinney is the brother of Joaquin ‘Quino’ McWhinney, lead vocalist for the reggae behemoth Big Mountain. With Vibes Up Strong McWhinney is continuing the legacy of greatness.
Born of Mexican and Irish descent in the Honduras in 1973 and raised in San Diego, California, McWhinney was highly influenced by the Southern California reggae movement of the 1980’s. Raised by a Mexican mother and his African-American step-father, James was influenced early on to connect with others regardless of their cultural differences.
As a youngster he was heavily involved with the performing arts. Naturally James was provided the opportunity to join Big Mountain in 1992. With dedication to the music and perseverance in 1993 Big Mountain had their first hit single “Touch My Light”. In 1994 Big Mountain released the reggae version of Peter Frampton’s song “Baby I Love Your Way”. The song has continued to be the most played non-current hit song at radio worldwide daily. It reached number 6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1994, number one on Mainstream Top 40 and was the number 2 song for the year in the United Kingdom. Its follow-up, James performed percussion and vocals for Big Mountain. He has toured with Big Mountain to over 30 countries and sold more than 2 million albums and 6 million singles worldwide.
McWhinney moved to Hawaii in 1998. James continued to be involved in reggae music while in Hawaii establishing a vibe that created a space where everyone could come together, as a family, to celebrate the human experience. This led to the forming of Vibes Up Strong in 2014.
As McWhinney puts it, “Vibes Up Strong is an experience created by the people, the energy and the love surrounding it. VUS’s intent of spreading conscious music is a voluntary choice and a positive reality that brings us together to create change today. VUS is a time and space to connect to your consciousness on a level of oneness.” McWhinney is looking forward to his first desert show as Vibes Up Strong. They are a multi-instrumental band and include dedicated artists from San Diego. McWhinney has this message for the crowd on Saturday night. “Vibes Up Strong is an opportunity to raise a confident and strong loving culture that is absolutely relative to all. Forward ever backward never.”
contact@vibesupstrong.com
www.facebook.com/vibesupstrongband
Irie Junctions
Irie Junctions is Saul Ibarra on the drums, Rick Rodriguez on guitar, Raymond Serrano on lead vocals and Danny Cedeno on bass. They are a roots reggae band formed in 2011 and are based out of the Coachella valley.
Their passion for dub reggae is what united the four. They combine old school roots reggae and new age reggae with the desert reggae moniker. They have completed their first single “Armageddon”, and are in the midst of their first full-length album. Cedeno and Irie Junctions are thankful to the mentorship of King, “Ronnie King is the kingpin in the desert reggae movement. He is an awesome person, a great producer and a close friend of ours.”
With plans to tour the nation they have already put in some time on the road touring the California coast.
On Irie Junctions expectations, Cedeno states, “Irie Junctions plans for the future include spreading positivity and love by delivering excellent roots music. We have our tour coming up in February 2015. Our EP will be released in 2015.” Cedeno is confident in rallying all local reggae artists to form a coalition of sorts. “Our take on the desert reggae scene is unifying everyone who is involved in the reggae scene locally to create team “Desert Reggae.”
Irie Junctions goal is to bring people together at a junction in life with their irie vibes.
www.facebook.com/iriejunctionsmusic
DJ Journee of Stronghold Reggae
Stronghold Reggae is a campaign unto its own. Stronghold Reggae is held the second Saturday of every month at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club in Palm Springs. The next session is the evening of Saturday December 13th, 2014. DJs Journee and Dash Eye spin you the best Roots, Culture, Dance Hall and Lover’s Rock reggae. DJ Journee will be supplying the music for Desert Reggae Residency before, during and after sets.
www.facebook.com/strongholdreggae
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Ronnie King
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Rasun
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Vibes Up Strong
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Irie Junctions
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DJ Journee
