POIPU — There’s a reggae party going on all night next door. Grammy Award-winning artist Black Uhuru will perform on Kauai for the first time next Friday at Poipu Beach Athletic Club. “The message is in the music,” said Black
POIPU — There’s a reggae party going on all night next door.
Grammy Award-winning artist Black Uhuru will perform on Kauai for the first time next Friday at Poipu Beach Athletic Club.
“The message is in the music,” said Black Uhuru founding member, Derrick “Duckie” Simpson. “When we get to Hawaii, then we’ll spread the message.”
Blues Bear Hawaii will present the reggae superstars on their three-island Skankin’ on da’ Rock “Jammin’ Roots Reggae Dance Party” 2017 tour from Oct. 20-22.
The legendary band is one of the most popular successful reggae groups to come out of Jamaica. These “Ambassadors of Reggae” won the inaugural Reggae Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album with their groundbreaking 1984 album “Anthem.”
Since forming in 1972, Black Uhuru has been nominated for five Grammy Awards and is the only reggae group to have won the Diamonds Awards of Excellence in 1994.
“The music is unique, because it’s original,” Simpson said. “That’s where the uniqueness comes from. The sound is original, and once you’re stuff is original, then you get a lot of leverage from it.”
Working with many accomplished musicians and producers over the years, including drummer Sly Dunbar, bassist Robbie Shakespeare and singers Don Carlos and Michael Rose, the group has continued as one of the most recognized and prolific reggae bands for half a century, with Simpson remaining the one consistent member.
“Been doing that from when I was about 15,” Simpson said. “Inspiration comes from within. You write about what you see and what you live. What you learn, that’s where inspiration comes from.”
In 2013, Simpson was awarded a lifetime achievement award from the International Reggae and World Music Awards. Aug. 31 is now officially recognized as “Black Uhuru Day” in Las Vegas.
“I have to give thanks still, because a lot of guys are not around for so long,” Simpson said. “It’s the work you know. I’ve put in some good work, some real original stuff. So that’s what take us through all these years.”
Black Uhuru continues to tour and perform at a host of international festivals, with Simpson leading the group alongside singer Oneil “Andrew Bees” Beckford and their seven-piece band.
“Right now, we’re touring the US,” Simpson said. “We’re doing five weeks and 33 shows, something like that, and then coming to Hawaii. Then we’re going to be doing New Zealand and then Zimbabwe.”
With 14 full-length, seven dub, and four live-show albums, Black Uhuru has the second highest album sales behind Bob Marley.
“Music is like any other job,” Simpson said. “Whatever you put in is what you get out. You put in a lot of work, whatever you’re doing music or what, it’s the amount of work you put in. That’s what you get out. Aspiring musicians, they just got to do what they got to do and be original.”
Black Uhuru is working on a new album to be released by May 2018 and is touring behind their new single “Jah Guide.”
“I just take music as a job,” Simpson said. “You get up, you work, you earn, you live. But I’m not into giving people ideas how to live or go about their way of life. Each person lives the way they want to live.”
The band’s name originated from the Swahili word Uhuru, which means freedom.
“Can’t you see what’s happening in the world now?” Simpson asked.
“When you reach my years you will understand the chemistry with world leaders and countries and politics and all that mumbo jumbo,” he said.
The band’s positive lyrics and signature vocals are sure to uplift and get people dancing. Their unique sound features deep bass rhythms, snare drum slaps, sharp keyboards, and heavy guitar riffs dubbed with long instrumentals full of background echo effects.
Opening their shows will be the multi-talented Tina Sureda Castello, also known as Onesty. The Belgian-born artist’s songs are a mixture of reggae, soul and R&B. Since 2007 she has come together with her own musicians, touring Europe to a well-received audience welcoming her fresh new sound.
The Blues Bear Hawaii Production hopes to keep the music live by bringing even more world-recognized artists to entertain on Hawaii, like Rita Coolidge and Judy Collins, in addition to local artists from each island.
“We are coming, we’re getting our stuff together to be there there in Hawaii,” Simpson said. “Bless up, I’ll be there to give thanks.”
Black Uhuru will perform on Kauai before performing on Big Island and Maui. Onesty will be the opening act, along with Kauai bands, Revival and KA HA.
Concert starts at 6 p.m. at Poipu Beach Athletic Club, 2290 Poipu Road, Koloa. General tickets are $45; and VIP admission is $69.
Ticket outlets include Kauai Music & Sound in Kapaa, Hanalei Music & Strings in Hanalei, Scotty’s Music in Lihue, Progressive Expressions in Koloa, plus Bad Hats and Jacqueline On Kauai in Hanapepe.
Info: www.bluesbearhawaii.com or call 896-4845.
