Errol Blackwood

ERROL BLACKWOOD BIO.
Classified: Band name: Errol Blackwood Injahband

ERROL BLACKWOOD: Singer/Songwriter/Musician.
Contact: Linton Cooper 954 720 8828 or Errol 519-576-0758 email: blackwood100@rogers.com Web Page: www.indejungle.xbuild.com www.myspace.com/errolblackwood


Errol Blackwood was born in the Accompong (Maroon) Hills of Jamaica. He moved to Toronto Canada at an early age where he learned to play the Bass Guitar. He played with several bands in Ontario doing a mixture of RNB, Rock and Funk.
His love for music comes from a variety of sources, from the church of his father who was a pastor, the Nyahbingi Drummers, the School music drama concert and the Jukebox playing from Country to Rhythm n Blues.

In 1980, Errol formed the band Messenjah, along with Ray Ruddock and Rupert Harvey. They recorded two albums and a video under the WEA record label. Messenjah toured extensively for 6 years traveling across Canada and the U.S.A
The band regrouped in 1986 over artistic deference's. Highlights included working with Hugh Masekela, 1985: The Clash, Frank Zappa and playing Reggae Sun splash

ALBUMS AND CDS:
Errol began his solo career with the release of his four songs EP.
1987 EP titled "Chant, Chant" and a video titled "Special Effect."
1988 A Cover song titled: "Give Peace a Chance." became a Video.
In 1990 Blade Music released Errol's first-full-length album titled Warrior.
1994: followed by second CD titled "Waking up the Dream."
2000: A collection of his songs, titled Roots and Lovers Collection.
2003: Full-length CD is titled: "Rastaman Say"
2007 Latest CD Titled: Familytree CD















PERFORMANCE AND UPDATES.


2009: February: Kitchener City hall, Martin Luther King Day; Errol performed and hosted a workshop. Titled Digging Songs. Folk songs from the Jamaican culture.
Collaborate with Blues Legend Mel Brown for a new kind of sound titled: Black N Brown Blues Live at Canada’s top ten bars: The Starlight.

2008: highlight includes Salmon Arm Roots n Blues Festival in BC.
Hosting the Digging Song workshop with Vieux Farka Toure son of Ali Farka. Aswad Brainsley Forbes. London Beer Fest and the many, World Chalk art Festival London Ontario.

2007 Toronto City hall Irie Festival, Calgary Reggae Festival, London Beer Fest.

2006 wrote and perform the theme song for the Paradise Island movie. Filmed in Mexico by Visual Kings of Austria.

2007 Recording his New CD Family Tree. Toronto City hall on Iriefestival/Carribana. CBC Radio: Big City Small world.
CBC Metro Morning and a promotional tour to Austria for the opening of the film: Paradise Island.
2005 highlights include Headlining the Irie Reggae festival at Ontario Place. Fronting the Blue Jays at the Skydome in Toronto.

Fronting Maxi Priest at The Road Island Reggae fest in the USA. 2003 concerts includes August 4th at Toronto Harbourfront CIBC stage,
Freak-fest in London Ontario and City hall summer concert in Kitchener Ontario.

2002 tour includes performance at the New England Reggae festival, with Marcia Griffith and Ika Mouse.
He also performed at the Marcus Garvey day in Toronto.
In March of 2001 Errol performed in Texas at Velvet Park for Bob Marley festival.

1998. Lead Singer For the Bob Marley Wailers band on a tour in California.
He also performed with the London orchestra for the Canada Games in August 0/1.
Other performances include a full house pre release party at the Ceeps in December 0/1. For Roots and Lovers Collection CD.
Special performance in 2000 at the Toronto ITU Triathlon World Cup in July at the exhibition place. Live performance at the Kitchener
City Hall for Rogers TV Summer Festival 2000.



HONORARY AWARDS
Errol has won twelve awards out of fifteen nominations.
CANADIAN REGGAE MUSIC AWARDS /CRMA
2003: Best CD of the year for his latest CD, Rastaman Say.
2003 CANADIAN INDIE MUSIC AWARDS. Rastaman Say. Nominated.
1995 Top reggae Singer (male)
1993 Top reggae Singer (male)
1992 Top Reggae Video, "Un-foreign Dub"
1992 Top reggae Singer (male)
1992 Top Video: "Arrested" From the LP "Warrior"
1992 Top Video: "Irie Dread/ "Warrior"
1993 Top Singer (Male)
1990 Top Album: Warrior
1990 Top reggae Singer (male)
CANADIAN MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS:
1992 Best Video, "Arrested," from LP "Warrior"
TORONTO MUSIC AWARDS:
1988 Best Reggae Artist/Performer
CANADIAN ACADEMY OF RECORDING ARTS/JUNO AWARDS:
1996 Nominee for CD: "Waking Up the Dream"
1988 Nominee for single: "Give Peace a Chance"
1987 Nominee for EP: "Chant, Chant"

























REVIEWS.

FOCUS Magazine (Toronto) - had this to say about Errol:
The Skipah is a product of the courageous Maroons. He is a serious Rastaman. Errol's faith is the driving force in his life. It characterizes his being. With his sporting majestic dreadlocks, he pens plays and sings out his hunger for Justice and Equal Rights. He is certainly one of the hardest working entertainers in Canada today.
The Kitchener Record Newspaper (SHOWCASE) - had this to say:
Errol has a voice full of richness and is a masterful bass player. Errol sings of struggle, love and life, all with the same positive feeling. Not only does he write excellent songs, but he has also masterminded video renditions of his material. A performance by Errol and his band Injah transcends mere playing, taking you on an appealing versatile and spiritual trip through the heartbeat of reggae.
Lake Head University -Thunder Bay {THE ARGUS}
Imagine the herb-enhanced vocals of Joe Cocker and the lyrical grace of Eric Clapton. Errol in all his Rastafarian wisdom delivers even more of a powerful mix with his new CD release, "WAKING UP THE DREAM." recorded in Jamaica. One listen and you will feel the most passionate, vocal presence and skillful instrumental-punch penetrating your spirit with good vibrations. Errol's CD, "WAKING UP THE DREAM," an investment that is truly a collector’s piece.


DUB MISSIVE INTERNATIONAL VOL X, N0.3 HAD THIS TO SAY.
Waking up the dream by Errol Blackwood hits dread on. The Jamaican born
Canadian based singer and Basest captures the essence of roots reggae with hungry tunes of love, redemption, judgment and hope. His sweet throaty vocals lend themselves to so many styles and he easily maneuvers from lover's rock to righteous anthems of roots. I'm the one is one of the strongest dance tracks. The gritty reality of one urban family is reason to weep on "Little Bit of Tear as Blackwood narrates a tale of despair: "Eventually you loose reality/killing then just becomes another spree/ and the children die/ how could we close our eyes.
Free world bounce back with a hopeful kind of Bob Marley meets Talking Heads admonishment to the shitstem and its slick-talking purveyors of false freedom."Liberty Woman is a slow burner. Saving the best for last, the most outstanding is the nyabinghi-style
"Mandela" with bass drums laying the heart beat foundation. Blackwood hails the great freedom fighters. His raspy voice calling with emotion as he begs us to heed the message and carry on the dream.








HIGHLIGHT TOURS.

In April of 1998 lead singer for the original Bob Marley Band the Wailers.
April 18, 1998 House of Blues (Hollywood, California/with Wailers
April 17, 1998 Solana Beach (California/ with Wailers
April 15, 1998 Band Arrival (LA, with Wailers Band
April 16, 1998 Couch House (San Juan Capistrano/Wailers
February, 1997 La Medley in Montreal Bob Marley Homage
July 19, 1997 Vermont Reggae Festival. Injah Band
Feb. 28, 1997 Reggae Motion Festival (Cancun, Mexico. Big Mountain Band
Feb. 1995 Tribute to Bob Marley," at Harbourfront Toronto
June 1995 USA Festival Tour. Houston Texas
August 1995 USA Tour Corpus Christi Texas
Oct 1995 Canadian West Coast Tour, Thunder Bay, University.
Calgary, Salmon Arm, Vancouver Island and Whistler BC.
Oct. 1994 White River Reggae Bash, Jamaica
July 1993 Ottawa Jazz Festival, at the Governor General's residence
Nov 1993 Moonlight Beach Party. Saint Maarten, NA
Aug 1992 Earth Song, Hamilton, Ont.
1992 - 1995 Jamaica Day Toronto featured as headline artist.
1990 - 1993 Festival of Friends, Hamilton Ont.


RADIO AND TELEVISION.
2008: France Reggae: Lean On Me at number five on the chart, Valley of Life number six. Italy Number eleven Lean On Me. Fifteen Valley of Life.
2006. CBC LIVE RADIO: BIG CITY SMALL WORLD. CBC METRO MORNING.
DECEMBER 2006 AUSTRIAN LIVE RADIO, LINDZ AUSTRIA.
Rastaman Say CD can be heard across Canada on CBC Radio.
Feb. 1997 Performed live on Quebec TV Talk Show titled Ready-Ready Go.
Oct. 1995 CD Release "Waking Up the Dream" in concert interview/live footage.
Feb. 1995 BBS TV Canada A.M. live performance
Dec. 1995 C.F.M.T. live performance
Oct. 1994 Irie FM Reggae Bash simulcast.
1991 CBS drama titled "Sweating Bullets" (Tropical Heat)
Errol perform the theme song titled Any way the wind blows.









CALIBRATIONS
Errol worked with several musicians over the years, among them are The Cool Ruler Gregory Isaacs who sang on a track titled GOT TO ROCK from his first solo album WARRIOR. Worked with Bob Marley's Wailers band, as lead singer.
Wrote and perform the theme song for Austrian Film Company Visual Kings: movie series titled Paradise Island. Errol sang the theme song for a CBS series titled "Sweating Bullets." Performed on the national Children show titled "Romper Room."
Since 1990 Errol has been nominated in fifteen music awards, he has won eleven, including his latest award for best CD
Of 2003 and was also nominated in the Canadian Inde Music Award 2003.
More of his accomplishments are on the next pages in his full Bio.

BENIFITS
Errol and his band Injah has perform for many different charitable events, including Tilly Johnson’s scholarship fund. The Women's shelter in Kitchener Waterloo: Habitat for humanity house opening with special guest: former American president Jimmy Carter and his wife. A benefit to send Olympian Lennox Lewis to the 1986 Olympics

1990 C.T.V. Children's show, "Romper Room" (Special guest performer).

MEDIA
Spotlights and feature articles in international, provincial and local entertainment magazines and newspapers.
Selected articles enclosed others available upon request:

BAND MEMBERS:
Errol Blackwood: Lead vocalist/bass
Ray Ruddock: Keybords/organ
Craig Ruddock: drums
Beel Stergiou Guitar
- DUB MISSIVE INTERNATIONAL VOL X, N0.