Biography
Queen Makedah of Zion stirs up strictly conscious and inspirational lyrics in a unique and blessed brew of sound that melds sweet velvety-soul vocal harmonies over Roots Reggae Rhythms, making her a beloved addition to the world of Reggae music.
QUEEN MAKEDAH (Lead Vocals) – Queen Makedah’s passion for Roots Reggae music was born as a youth growing up in some of the most controversial events of our time, The Vietnam War, Civil Rights and Freedom Movements of the 70's, inspired by the music of The Legendary Bob Marley, The I-Three's, Judy Mowatt, Marsha Griffiths, Rita Marley, Bunny Wailer and The Wailers, Steel Pulse and Third World, to name a few. Her talent as a Singer was influenced by the strong jazz culture of the historical 18th and Vine Street Jazz District of Kansas City, Missouri, where she was born and raised, hometown to the legendary sax player Charlie ‘Yard Bird’ Parker. She was influenced by powerhouse vocalists and storytellers like Billy Holiday and Sarah Vaughn and soul-stirring singers like Aretha Franklin and Tremaine Hawkins, whose music helped shape her unique velvety-soul vocal style. Queen Makedah’s talent as a Songwriter took off during her spiritual sojourn in Jerusalem, which lent her the cultural perspective she pours into the heartfelt lyrics of her music, inspired by the Hebrew Bible and Psalms of David. It was in Israel that she met her musical co-writer, Brooklyn’s own Roots Reggae Writer/Producer ‘Chariot,’ whose influences include The Gladiators, The Abyssinians, Steel Pulse & Aswad. Together they collaborated with famed Israeli Roots Reggae group Roots Africa and have 2 albums as a writing duo, the first of which (‘The Awakening’) was co-produced by one of Reggae Music's greats, Ras Michael of the Sons of Negus a Bob Marley contemporary, recently featured by the Smithsonian Museum's series on Niyabingi. Their second album, ‘Spiritual Healing’ introduces hot new tracks, like ‘Kadosh,’ ‘Healer’ and ‘Freedom.’ They are currently working on their new album entitled 'Humble Heart,' which includes hit singles 'Bless Africa,' 'Dem Dey Children,' and 'Babylon Food.' She has performed before audiences at The Lima, Lima in Tel Aviv; The Barby Club in Tel Aviv; Club 24 in Tel Aviv; The Spring Reggae Festival at Tseelim Kibbutz, Israel; The Street Arts Festival in Tel Aviv; Barzailai Club in Tel Aviv; The Israel Cultural Center in Arad, Israel; The Jazzhaus in Lawrence, Kansas; Rasselas Jazz Club of San Francisco; Zazoo’s at Jack London Square; Owerri University in Emo State, Nigeria; for Blacks in Government (B.I.G.); the N.A.A.C.P.; the Urban League; and Georgetown University to name a few. Her musical influences include Luciano, The Legendary Bob Marley & The I-Three’s, Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt, Steel Pulse, Desiree, The Abyssinians, Bunny Wailer, Sly & Robbie, Ras Michael & The Sons of Negus, Ziggy Marley, Aswad, Earth Wind and Fire, Prince, Billy Holiday, Chaka Khan, Mable Staples, Sade, Sarah Vaughn, Minnie Ripperton, Zap Mamma, Wanda Hutchinson, Tremaine Hawkins, Oleta Adams, Aretha Franklin, Lauren Hill, India Arie, Miriam Makeba, Salif Keita and Stevie Wonder. Outside of Israel, Queen Makedah resides in the East Bay area of California with her husband and two beautiful children.
Other band members include:
HERB DALY (bass) - visited Jamaica in the Seventies, taught adult literacy in the poor areas in and near Kingston and wound up in recording sessions with Jamaican artists U Roy, the Mighty Diamonds, Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. Upon his return to the States, he joined with California reggae trailblazers Roots of Creation and toured the West Coast; co-founded the popular international reggae ensemble, the Rastafarians, and provided guitars, vocals and percussion for the group’s two LP’s and on its national tours. Daly has since laid down bass at live showcases by Nicodemus, Ken Boothe, the Congos, Daweh Congo, Tippa Irie and many more. Herb's most recent project has been writing and playing the basslines on Jamaican singing sensation Lymie Murray's upcoming cd. Bands: Reggae Scorches, Sons of Creation, Roots of Creation, Session (w/Azeem), I-tal Breed, Rastafarians, Mighty High, SugarBeats, Road Crew, Killah Natives, Nana Kofi, Reggae Angels, Music Machine (w/Fazal Prendergast), Root Awakening.
JAMAKI (Drums) - Hailing from St. Croix, Jamaki Knight, is a versatile and creative drummer. The Virgin Islands has been leading the renassaince in roots reggae and Jamaki has performed with some of the VI's top artists like Abja, Batch, Ras Attitude, Volcano, Army and more. Also a producer in his own right Jamaki has built a catalog with Brooklyn based Ghetto Roots Records. Whether it's the conscious Hip Hop grooves of The Welfare Poets (NYC), Afro Beat stylings of Wunmi (UK), or straight up reggae Jamaki is sure to be solid in the pocket.
SISTER KELLIE (BG Vocals) - Kellie McCoy is a renowned artist through out the San Francisco Bay area. She has performed with an array of artist from Gospel to Funk to Reggae. She has studied under the tutelage of some of the Gospels greatest, such as, Tramaine Hawkins, Edwin Hawkins, Darryl Coley, Richard Smallwood, and Helen Stevens. While studying music and partaking in many workshops through out the United States she has also performed in a number of groups and bands. She is one of the co founders and original members of the Maranatha Visions of Berkeley,Ca, The Rev. M.T Thompson and the Zioneres Gospel group, the Funk band Flight and the Consciously aware Roots Reggae band ObeyJah. She is currently Blessed and Called to share and grace the stage with the Melodic Prophetic Songstress, Queen Makedah, where she performs back ground vocals in this Roots Reggae, Neo Soul band.
K.I. NICHOLAS (Rhythm & Lead Guitar) - K.I. (www.kinicholas.com) - Born Raymond Nicholas in the village of Prospects in the parish of St. Patrick in the West Indian tropical island country of Grenada. He was one of thirteen children that grew up listening to island music and steel drums. He taught himself guitar as a kid and started to build upon the music of his country. To date, K.I. Nicholas has over 20 years as a professional Rhythm Guitar player, and is versed in Reggae, Soca, Calypso, Caribbean Fusion, Rock and Pop. He is a multi-faceted musician who plays several instruments, writes and composes his own music and tours the Caribbean, U.S. and Canada as such. After three extended gigs as guesthouse performer at Foxy's on the island of Jost van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands in 2005, 2006 and 2007, Nicholas made his move to the United States in June of 2006! He is now based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
TUVIEL ‘CHARIOT’ LEVI (Keys) – (www.shofarproductions.com) co-writer/producer for Queen Makedah, Tuviel 'Chariot' Levi, is a gifted producer writer whose sound is reminiscent of the Roots and Culture sound of the great Aston “Family Man” Barret (bandleader of The Wailers). Tuviel’s influences include The Gladiators, The Abyssinians, Steel Pulse and Aswad and he has worked with Roots Reggae groups Rahsul, Roots Africa (founded by the original bass player for Alpha Blondy), Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus and ‘Lion’ (bassist for Joseph Hill of Culture). In 2001, Tuviel received his degree in Sound Engineering from the Academy of Music and Sound in Birmingham, England, where he Selwyn Brown and David Hinds of the legendary Steel Pulse, while engineering for Ritch Bitch studios. Of his time spent in the personal studios of Steel Pulse he says, “Being in their presence gave a boost to my writing and production skills through being exposed to their level of professionalism and musicality.”
MELCHIZEDEK Y. LEWIS (Master Percussionist) - a master in the art of African and Latin percussion, Melchizedek studied under Chief Hawthorne Bey of Cats on Broadway in the 70’s and formed one of the first African drum dance troupes of the day, The House of Nilijah, sharing the stage with such world renown performers as Theolonius Monk, Pharoah Saunders, Nina Simone, Sun Ra, and Leon Thomas. With the rise of Salsa music in the 70’s, he was featured in the film “Our Latin Thing” by Paramount Pictures, which highlighted the African origins of Salsa music via the Fanya Allstars.
For bookings or more information, contact oriyahmusic@aol.com or visit www.queenmakedah.com or www.myspace.com/queenmakedah or www.twitter.com/queenmakedah.
Instrumentation
Queen Makedah - Lead Vocals
Sister Kellie - BG Vocals
Herb Daly - Bass
Jamaki - Drums
KI Nicholas - Guitar (Vocals)
Tuviel Levi - Keys
Melchizedek - Percussion (Vocals)
Discography
Humble Heart Album (2010)
Babylon Food Single (2009)
Spiritual Healing Album (2009)
Lift You Up Single (2006)
The Awakening Album (2000)
Links
| http://www.myspace.com/queenmakedah |
| Myspace |
| Website |