Rising Son

From VCReporter, CA 6/25/02
music

" One of the venues we can (hopefully) count on being around for awhile, the Ventura Theatre, has a must-see show June 20, with reggae legends Culture topping the bill. The show is not necessarily as noteworthy for the headliners as it is for the local opening act, Rising Son, which features charismatic frontman Levi.
Reggae is in desperate need of a new star and Levi possesses the talent, passion and authenticity to become a sensation in the reggae world. He's already creating a stir in the local music scene with his riveting performances when opening for big-name acts like Eek-a-Mouse. It may seem like hyperbole, but Levi could honestly be the heir apparent to the reggae throne vacated by Bob Marley 20 years ago."

--Matthew Singer, Columnist
- Ventura County Star

From VCReporter, CA 12/12/02
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Rising Son
Riddim of the Heart

Vagabond by bus: Reggae is one of the world’s more technically simplistic musical forms, yet it’s also among the most difficult to perfect. To get it right takes more than musicianship; the artist must be able to convey a passion that cannot be manufactured. Levi, frontman for roots reggae ensemble Rising Son, is such a performer. Possessing a wellspring of charisma and incredible songwriting ability, the tall, dreadlocked Levi bears more than a physical resemblance to a young Bob Marley. A native Californian, Levi is well-traveled from an early age and acquired an education through real life experiences. A long stint in Hawaii fostered Levi’s infatuation with reggae. Truthfully, though, music has literally flowed through his veins since birth—Levi considers his heartbeat to be his first introduction to rhythm.

When disaster strikes: Shortly after moving from Los Angeles to Oxnard, Levi experienced every musician’s worst nightmare. One morning, upon returning home from an errand, he discovered his garage door open, with thousands of dollars worth of equipment missing, including two guitars and a keyboard. Somehow, Levi found the strength to persevere. Following the robbery, Levi said, chance meetings materialized with the individuals that would collectively become known as Rising Son. Levi recruited keyboardist and former roommate K.C. Zebulon and Zebulon’s friend, guitarist Teknique, after encountering him on the street. Bassist Benji was spotted at the beach, and drummer Ezra—whose Hebrew name ironically translates to “help” in English—became a permanent member after filling in behind the kit at an early gig. With backing vocalist Jah Ram and percussionist General Lee rounding out the lineup, Rising Son began to play locally and managed to score coveted opening slots for reggae legends Culture and Michael Rose. Six months after the theft, a mutual acquaintance persuaded the culprit to return the stolen items.

Heir apparent: For Levi, music is not just a career choice. “This is what I was sent here to do,” he said. “This is my destiny. I must fulfill it.” To that end, Rising Son are recording their debut album in a Los Angeles studio. Financial problems are providing an unfortunate roadblock, but Levi remains persistent, aiming for a January release of a seven-song EP. On Wednesday, Dec. 18, the group will appear at Frog & Peach in San Louis Obispo. Lovers of true reggae music will find it well worth the two-hour drive to catch an artist who could be the successor to the throne vacated by Bob Marley more than 20 years ago. —Chris Jay
- VC Reporter