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REGGAE REVIEW
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July 2005 Edition
Irie Island Vibes with Ras Digital
Article and Photographs by Diane “Livonn” Adam © 2005
It’s not often that I can write about a local artist that impressed me as much as the young Ras Digital (Roosevelt Pacquette). I caught his show on June 30, 2005 at the newly opened Irie Café in Vallejo, California. Irie Café has an intimate and homelike atmosphere and was a very nice setting to get up close and personal with Ras Digital and his backing band, Lickshot Crew. After receiving a call from my friend telling me that they were headed over to see Ras Digital in Vallejo, something told me that it would be a good idea to get over there to see this artist perform since missing his performance last year to Dreadstock Festival.
The Irie Café is a co-op inspired by Lickshot Band member Ras David Richmond and co-owners Monica Doss and Christine Gude. Walking into the small restaurant with about 8 tables set up in the old café style with counter ordering of veggie patties and burgers and the Irie Café specialty of Jamaican Jerk Chicken, I was immediately greeted by friends who set right next to the Lickshot Crew who were preparing to perform their second set with Ras Digital. I was happily surprised to see the
Ras Digital & Lickshot Crew
Lickshot Crew there because I knew the music would be irie all night. Ras David with his Lickshot Crew can always be heard around the Bay Area and are really appreciated, especially when all the high-profile Reggae performers are taking a hiatus leaving fans high and dry. A few minutes later Ras Digital appeared and greeted me with a beaming smile and genuine warmth, thanking me for coming to the show. With such close proximity
to the band all of us sitting at the table got a personal and sweet performance by Ras Digital and the Lickshot Crew who include along with Ras David on bass guitar, Nicholas Newman on keyboards and vocals, and Ahkil Mustafa on drums.
Hailing from the Island of Dominica, Ras Digital has been involved in music since he was a youth and was inspired by his uncle Phillip “Chubby” Mark of Midnight Groovers who gained fame on the island for his contribution to the genre of Kadans a musical amalgamation of Calypso, Mazouk and
Benuine. Relocating to New York in the early 1990s, Ras Digital honed his current Reggae influenced music by performing with many top Reggae artists like Sugar Minot, Sister Carol, The Meditations and Nasio Fontaine and later recorded the popular single, “Shashamane On My Mind” with Sidney Salomon from the Twelve Tribes Of Israel Band a song that is dedicated to the Shashamane Health Clinic in Ethiopia.
Ras Digital
Conscious lyrics and music is what Ras Digital is all about. His debut CD release, Calling Israel H.I.M. which he wrote, arranged and produced, features him on vocals/drums/keyboards along with contributions from Ras Michaels on keyboards, Wadell Bell on bass, lead guitarist Fazel Pnedergast (who recently passed on to Zion) and the helping hand of veteran engineer Larry “The Brain” Crain. Calling Israel H.I.M. contains some really sweet Reggae music and I was especially impressed with the Roots songs “Going Home” which truly reflects the longing to go home to Mama Africa and “Jah Never Fail I Yet”, “Jah Love Is Mine” and the title track, “Calling Israel (H.I.M.)”. Ras Digital proves he is no stranger to love songs and melts the heart on the Afro-mantic song, “I Feel”. Though I’m not a big fan of Rap, I did enjoy his combination with Bay Area rap artist South Paw on the songs “Baby It’s OK” and “Groovin”.
Ras Digital and Lickshot’s performance at the Irie Café included songs from Calling Israel H.I.M. along with rocking the small crowd with renditions of Steel Pulse’s “Steppin’ Out” and the Mighty Diamonds “Pass The Kluchie” which even got the owners on the dance floor to strut their stuff. As Ras Digital skanked and laughed during his performance it was clear to see that he really loves Reggae and performing to all of us who share his affection for the music. Ras Digital’s enthusiasm is truly infectious &
Ras Digital & Nicholas Newman, Ras David Richmond
I couldn’t help singing along and smiling as he performed his new song, “Jah Jah Is Real”. Also shining was vocalist, pianist, composer and producer, Nicholas Newman who is also celebrating the release of his new CD, The Nicholas Newman Project.
If you’re looking for bona fide Roots Reggae with an urban edge that not only captures the spirit of love and reverence for H.I.M. but also manages to entertain and inspire, Ras Digital has captured that spirit and will surely rise to the top with his irie island vibes.
Give Thanks & Blessings to Marsha Alexander and Ja’nice Adele Island For their invaluable assistance
Blessed Love
- REGGAE REVIEW by Diane “Livonn” Adam
Discography
Calling Israel Him Audio CD by Ras Digital
1 Interlude
2 Talk to Me
3 Haling Isreal H.I.M
4 Going Home
5 I Feel (Adapted)
6 My Dreams
7 It's Ok Featuring South Paw
8 Grooving Featuring South Paw
9 Jah Never Fail I Yet
10 Jah Love Is Mine
11 Help Them
Photos
Bio
Greetings! Meet Roosevelt Pacquette AKA Ras Digital. Born on the Nature Caribbean Island of Dominica, the multitalented musician is kin Chubby and Henry Bellot of the world renowned and legendary musical group, the Midnight Groovers of Grand Bay Dominica. As a child, Ras Digital’s musical talent was always admired and encouraged by his uncles. He followed in his uncle’s foot steps by playing instruments including the drums he made himself when he was only seven year old. Over time, Ras Digital became one of the most proficient drummers in reggae music.
Ras Digital backed up his older brothers Joseph and Simpson aka ‘Shorwazz’ Pacquette as a group called The Uprising Dramatists. He also created another group called Golden Rocks which allowed him to showcase his vocal talent at St. Mary’s Academy where he attended high school as well as local churches and community events. Ras Digital moved on to focus on his vocal talent and soon found himself opening up for several reggae artists and groups including Third World, The Wailers, Tiger, Anthony Malvo, Michigan and Smiley and many other well established reggae artists.
In 1993 Ras Digital immigrated to the US Virgin island of St. Thomas where he reunited with his brother Shorwazz in a new band called Legal Thunder. There he had the opportunity to share the stage with the great Barrington Levy, Charlie Chaplin and Chicken Chest at the Lionel Robert Stadium. He then relocated to New York, where he continued to showcase his talent with other reggae artists and groups such as The Meditations, Sister Carol, Sugar Minott, Rankin Joe, Junior Demus, Sluggy Ranks, Terry Ganze, Glen Washington, Patrick Junior, Ossie Dellimore, Itals, Junior Jazz, Sydney Salmon of the Twelve Tribes of Israel band and Ras Droppa of The CCB-Cannabis Cup Band and the list goes on.
Ras Digital recalled that the work he is most proud of is the album he recorded with Nasio Fontaine called, “Living in the Positive” which made World Beat Magazine’s Reggae Album of the Year. After several years of assisting other musicians, Ras Digital decided to release his first single called 'Jah Never Fail I Yet' with producer Keith Senior. He continued writing and recording his own music while traveling the US and performing with groups such as The Twelve Tribes of Israel band, Ras Droppa of The CCB-Cannabis Cup Band and Ishejah of the Bitter Herbs Band.
In 2002, Ras Digiital migrated to California’s San Francisco Bay area, where he connected with Fazel Pendergrast of the Yellow Wall DUB-Squad, Razor Blade, WADI Gad, Don Carlos, Rocker Tee, Mr. Majestic, Lick Shot Crew and several other musicians and singers who assisted him in producing his first album called “H.I.M. Calling Israel Twelve Tribes”. In 2008 Rash Digital recorded his second album called 'The World Needs Love' which he produced with Laid Black and Modus Studios recording engineers Asher Cox and Brian Turbett. Ras Digital then recorded two singles at Clayton Hazel Studios entitled, ‘Run Dem Out’ and ‘IGrade.’ His music is heard around the world which has continued to increase his popularity.
Ras Digital is now residing in Atlanta, Georgia, and has recently performed with The Roots Anthem Band sharing the stage with the Midnight Groovers. If asked Ras Digital will tell you, “this was the most exciting time of my life as I was able to share the stage with my heroes.” With his distinct voice being compared to that of the late, great Dennis Emanuel Brown, Ras Digital wowed the crowd at the Atlanta African Carnival on Auburn Ave and the famous Jamaican establishment, Footprints restaurant. Ras Digital states, “I hope to continue this trend for the rest of the year.”
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