Ninjaman LIVE IN JAPAN (REGGAE SPLASH 1991)

Buju Banton Onstage TV Interview (3/14/20)

Buju Banton (born Mark Anthony Myrie; 15 July 1973) is a Jamaican reggae dancehall recording artist. He is widely considered one of the most significant and well-regarded artists in Jamaican music. Banton has collaborated with many international artists, including those in the Hip Hop, Latin and punk rock genres, as well as the sons of Bob Marley.

Banton released a number of dancehall singles as early as 1987 but came to prominence in 1992 with two albums, Stamina Daddy and Mr. Mention, the latter which became the best-selling album in Jamaican history upon its release. That year he also broke the record for #1 singles in Jamaica, previous held by Bob Marley. He signed with the major label Mercury Records and released Voice of Jamaica in 1993. By the mid-1990s, Banton's music became more influenced by his Rastafari faith, as heard on the seminal albums 'Til Shiloh and Inna Heights.

In 2009, he was arrested on drug-related charges in the United States and his first trial resulted in a hung jury. His 2010 album Before the Dawn won Best Reggae Album at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards. In 2011, he was convicted on the same criminal charge and was imprisoned in the U.S. until December 2018, whereupon he was deported home to Jamaica.

Buju Banton was born in Kingston, Jamaica in a poor neighbourhood known as Salt Lane. Buju is a nickname given to him by his mother as a child. Banton is a Jamaican word that refers to someone who is a respected storyteller, and it was adopted by Myrie in tribute to the deejay Burro Banton, whom Buju admired as a child. Buju emulated Burro's rough vocals and forceful delivery, developing his own distinctive style. Buju's mother was a higgler, or street vendor, while his father worked as a labourer at a tile factory. He was the youngest of fifteen children born into a family that was directly descended from the Maroons of Jamaica.

Banton has homes in Jamaica and Tamarac, Florida (United States). He also has 15 children. 

Yellowman Live At Reggae Sunsplash

This is the performance that I saw as a child that got me hooked on his music.

Vintage King Yellowman

Live onstage

Always Yellow

The legendary King Yellowman (Winston Foster) is returning to Charleston on June 29th. Once again, I have the pleasure of opening the show. People that know me know of Yellow being my musical mentor and as the reason that I began doing reggae in the first place. It runs deep on many levels. Yellow was always a kind of outsider. He was orphaned as a baby (in Jamaica) and faced all kinds of rejection and was met with scorn because of his albinism. I don't have those issues, but I felt inspired by someone who could endure all of that and still become a legendary reggae entertainer. The 3rd gig (of my career) that I did was opening for Yellowman and I was nervous as hell. Time went on, and we opened a few more shows...I always looked to see if he was watching, but after about 5 shows I finally asked if he saw me and he would say "no, me nah see you". Fast forward a year later and he was listening and watching and sent for me to speak with him. He said to me, "Robbie, that song 'Just Like That' is a wicked song...you need to record that". I nearly wet my pants...the guy who inspired me to do this in the first place likes one of my songs! Oh my GOD! With the help of his then bass player Derrick Barnett we recorded the song. It became a staple during my shows. My whole style uses Yellowman as a blueprint.....In 1996, the unthinkable happened in my own hometown the great Yellowman called me onstage to do a song WITH HIM...I don't recall what I said but my bandmates told me that I was giving Yellow's band (Sagittarius Band) orders as if they were my band. I had watched HOURS of video with all kinds of artists performing in front of that band and now I was one of them...I was in heaven! That spoke of some serious respect. For Yellow to invite me onstage and give me shoutouts during performances when I open the show gives me goosebumps. Yellow has been slowed by cancer (originally given 6 months to live in 1985), he's still doing it. Sure his voice isn't nearly as strong as it was in the 80s and 90s....but his energy onstage is matched by very few....Always an inspiration, always Yellow!