| THE ITALS | ||
DATE: TUESDAY JULY 14
EVENT: THE ITALS
VENUE: RED FOX TAVERN 415 5th street Eureka, CA
DETAILS: $20 , 21+, 10:30pm
CONTACT: Eric Kinnally
EMAIL: [email protected]
THE ITALS http://www.myspace.com/theitals
with special guest: JOSEPH ISRAEL http://www.josephisrael.com/ http://www.myspace.com/josephisrael
**Press photos attached**
Roots Reggae pioneers, the Itals along with special guest Joseph Israel, will lay down irie vibes and sweet rhythms at the Red Fox Tavern Tuesday July 14th
"were still singing about Roots and Culture and Reality...the songs, are beautiful harmonies, beautiful music and nice riddims. You know, my music has always come from the roots - you see, there can never be a branch without the roots... the music I put out is just the music of the inspiration." - Keith Porter
Long before the Itals were a spark in their producers eye, Keith Porter recorded his first hit single, Hitey Titey , with the Westmorelites on the Studio One label in 1967. Around 1969, Keith became lead singer for a band named Soul Hermit, backed by Eugene Gray and Wignal Henry on guitars, Reginald Seewell/Nash on base and drums. They played in numerous entertainment sectors of Jamaica until Owen Sinclair put together a new band in 1971. Called Future Generation, the band was composed of Dalton James and Roy Hilton on drums, Devon Henry on keyboards, Eugene Gray, guitar, Scott on sax, and Keith on vocals. They performed at many hotels and nightclubs on the tourist circuit of Jamaica for X amount of years, singing all styles of music, American and Jamaican.
Tiring of the club scene around 1975, Keith ran into Ronnie Davis on Orange Street in Kingston and asked him who was auditioning. Ronnie gave him a cassette with a rhythm. I was so happy with that rhythm I didnt look any further, says Keith. In less than a week I had written Ina Dis Ya Time and came back to Kingston to record it for Lloyd Campbells SpiderMan label. Lloyd felt it needed some harmonies with my lead, so Ronnie and I both added harmony parts. There was no intention of forming a group called the Itals; the record first came out as Keith Porter. After the song was on its way to becoming a hit in Jamaica, we all went out to do some promotion. Lloyd, Ronnie, myself and Brian Thomas of RJR were sitting out back in the cantina, when Brian said why not call them the Itals, because now there was more than one person singing. Everyone liked that name. It sounded good, so all of a sudden, Itals was a group. It was never intentional. Ive always wondered if the name was the result of Brian noticing how strict I was about the food I ate, strictly Ital.
Lloyd quickly repressed the record as The Itals to meet demand. Today the song remains The Itals' signature tune, and has been described by Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones as the perfect reggae track . It has been included on the Rolling Stones Artist Choice cd, released this year and available through Starbucks Coffee from Hear Music, a division of EMI and in selected major chains.
The success of Ina Dis Ya Time saw the group return to the studio with the addition of Lloyd Ricketts singing the third harmony part on a series of superb recordings for the SpiderMan label. Tunes like Don't Wake The Lion, Brutal, and Temptation followed on 7 release in Jamaica and New York in 77 and 78, establishing the Itals among the best of Jamaica's singers and songwriters. The Itals were twice finalists in the Jamaica Festival Song Competition, and their 1981 tune, Jamaican Style, earned them a place at Reggae Sunsplash that year. 1982 saw the release of the first Itals' album, Brutal Out Deh on Nighthawk Records. The Itals toured the US and Canada backed by the Roots Radics. Their second album, Give Me Power, was released to critical acclaim and hit #1 on CMJ's Reggae Route chart. In 1985, Pollstar Magazine placed them in the top 100 artists of the year.
The Itals' third recording, Rasta Philosophy, won a Grammy nomination for best reggae album, followed by Cool And Dread. Their fifth album, Early Recordings, gathers together all the Itals' early singles and several rare pre-Itals tracks for a collector's feast from Nighthawk. Next came the Rhythm Safari album Easy to Catch , followed by Modern Age on Ras Records, and continuous touring throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe.
Over the years, the Itals have performed countless shows worldwide. Although the harmony singers have sometimes changed, they still sound as sweet as ever, backing the original Itals lead vocalist, Keith Porter. Now, with the release of Mi Livity from the Itals Keith Porter, the Ital tradition continues into the current music scene.
JOSEPH ISRAEL:
Joseph Israel, born Joseph M. Fennel, is one of those unique individuals whose natural talents and spiritual calling have merged into a music that is as thought provoking as it is inspiring. "What I share with my audience is t draw everyone closer to the source of Truth that we are all brothers and sisters, and that division and lies cannot stand". The name, Israel, is a reflection that defines Joseph's striving for the blessings of the Almighty YHWH (pronounced "Yahweh'). This is the name intended for all peoples, tribes and tongues that love the Most High and love their neighbor. These are the teachings of Rabbi Yahshua of Nazareth the Messiah. We are all one family.
Joseph is truly blessed to have been surrounded by a deep sense of appreciation for all cultures as a youth. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Joe and Jean Ann Fennel, Israel was exposed to the works and writings of history makers like Martin Luther King Jr. His father and Uncle were also huge fans of reggae music and traveled often to Jamaica. At age 12 Joseph received his first reggae cassettes Bob Marley, "Legend", Peter Tosh. "Wanted Dead or Alive, Jimmy Cliff, "Special", Burning Spear, "Markus Garvey. Israel was inspired by their musicianship, but more importantly, by the message. "Their music really inspired me to become who I am. They were speaking about the truth, humanity and about changing things in a positive way. And even when things are tough, we must keep going. So I found a common thread in reggae music that spoke to my heart".
Naturally, Joseph began writing songs of his own, and formed the reggae band Kepha, (Aramaic for "Rock') which did well regionally. The group recorded "Redemption Time' in Fayetteville, AR. He also started the group Lions of Israel, whose modern day roots rocked the Midwest and beyond from 2002-2005. In 2004 Joseph was invited to open for Ziggy Marley at a sold-out concert in Fayetteville. His acoustic performance was captivating and propelled Joseph closer to the recording of his debut solo album "Gone Are the Days". The album was self-produced and financed, and was recorded at Tuff Gong Studios in the heart of Kingston, Jamaica. Its lyrics are of headline-torn news reports, and are a call for spiritual awakening. In 2006 Joseph Israel was signed to New Door Records of Universal Music Group, and in 2007 "Gone Are the Days" reached #11 on the Top Reggae album charts.
In 2008 Israel released download-only EP "Teach Your Children", Restore Humanity. "It was a lot of fun to make", says Joseph of the sessions. "I was able to record some great songs, while helping to bring awareness to the Restore Humanity organization". Restore Humanity is a 501{c} {3} non-profit charitable outfit founded by Sarah Fennel, Joseph's sister. The program aids and assists the needs of oppressed and poverty-stricken families around the world.
Joseph Israel has toured the US, rocking and inspiring audiences from coast to coast with his message music. Israel is currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on his second album, to be released in 2009.
"This music is like a tree planted by the river of water that brings forth fruit in due season fruits of Joy, Hope, Unity and Healing. I look forward to the day that the Earth weill be restored, no more war, suffering or strife, only LIFE! I realized instead of just talking about these things I could share them through song and really have a positive effect. This message is healing people all over".  [Read the rest of the current Random news here] | ||