Over KIDDUS I
Kiddus I in 1978 became a legend. In the most famous cult movie of reggae Rockers (Universal Pictures), he played a key scene when he voiced the title Graduation In Zion in front of the cameras. Kiddus I was always surrounded with all the legends of reggae as he was a visionary and many greats including some that are no longer with us like Bob Marley, Jacob Miller and Peter Tosh to name a few spend much time reasoning with Kiddus i as he has been called The Sheppard and Doctor Feel Good. All his legendary friends were always happy to sit in and play on anything Kiddus I was doing, as he has always been progressive. For that reason Kiddus I depth in recording is very special as he brings the brotherhood to the Music.
While artists such as Burning Spear, Inner Circle or Gregory Isaacs could use the film as a springboard for an international career, you should not hear any Kiddus I longplayer for long time. The reasons are tragic and funny at the same time: the master tapes of his recordings from 1978 got lost as he calls himself today with a charming self-deprecation "The Most Recorded But Never Released Artist".
Topsy Turvy World was recorded by some of the world’s legendary reggae musicians of the 70s. In two years of studio work they created an authentic roots reggae album that more than any other production of the last thirty years is reflecting the sound of the Bob Marley era. No wonder, as with Aston "Familyman" Barrett (bass) and Tyrone Downie (Hammond, piano and clavinet), two of the main Wailers play on the album. Earl "Chinna" Smith (guitar) and Uziah "Sticky" Thompson participated in countless reggae albums by artists such as Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh and Burning Spear, but also on rock and pop productions of Joe Cocker, Sinéad O’Connor, Grace Jones and Michael Franti, to name a few.
The Jamaican version of the "Buena Vista Social Club" was supplemented by nearly twenty other reggae musicians from Jamaica and Germany. The latter are mostly about JIN JIN, which recorded the first two albums from Sebastian Sturm. All instruments were recorded live and created a beautiful, relaxed reggae sound that is changing between melancholy and party feeling.
Except for the soul classic "A Thin Line Between Love And Hate" (Persuaders) and the version of Serge Gainsbourg's "Je T'Aime Moi Non Plus" (Consider Me) to Kiddus I wrote the English lyrics, you will find only original compositions by Kiddus.
His lyrics are critical and rebellious but never preachy. He also knows how to tell stories about the good things in life with a hidden pun. Musically you can hear that Kiddus is a very versatile musician inspired by many influences from blues, soul, jazz and R & B. which he always sent packed in authentic reggae feeling. A must for every reggae fan and all those who have been waiting since Bob Marley's death for a reggae record that combines songwriting and handmade, timeless sound together.
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KIDDUS I - GRADUATION IN ZION.wmv
Category: Music
Duration: 00:00:00
Description:
Duration: 00:00:00
Description:
Kiddus I (born Frank Dowding in Saint Mary Parish, Jamaica, December 1944) is a reggae singer and musician, best known for his appearance in the film Rockers.
Dowding was born in 1944, his mother a potter and his father a bookkeeper. He adopted the stage name Kiddus, which is Amharic for "blessed one", after becoming a Rastafarian. In 1971, he set up a Rastafarian commune and craft centre located between uptown and downtown Kingston, which became a unique feature of a city generally divided by social class. Dowding was a member of Ras Michael's Sons Of Negus from 1971 to 1978, singing and playing funde drums. He recorded several self-productions in 1972 with Aston Barrett at Joe Gibbs' studio, but these were not released due to lack of funds. Rockers director Theodoros Bafaloukos had seen Kiddus recording "Graduation In Zion" in 1976, two years before the film was made, and decided to film Kiddus recording the track as part of the movie. Kiddus had by then released a few singles on his own Shepherd label, including "Security In The Streets" which was recorded with Lee Perry at his Black Ark studio. Dowding was a prominent member of the Peace Movement, and "Security in the Streets" was one of the first of several songs recorded in appreciation of the Peace Treaty of 1978 between rival political gang-leaders Claudie Massop and Bucky Marshall.
After releasing a handful of further singles, and recording an album that was not released due to the master tapes getting lost, little was heard of Kiddus I until French label Makasound issued Inna De Yard in 2005, one of a series of albums recorded acoustically by vintage reggae artists in Jamaica. Japanese label Dub Store Records then reissued some of the 1970s singles, followed by the anthology Graduation In Zion: 1978-1980 in 2007. In June 2009, Kiddus I released Green Fa Life (Naya Records), remarkably his first full length electric instrumentation album of his 30+ year career. Green Fa Life sees Kiddus I team up with roots reggae legends Earl "Chinna" Smith and Leroy 'Horsemouth' Wallace, although that is naming just a few of the very respected heavy weight artists who also play on the album. Kiddus I also appears on the first two "Grass Yard Productions" albums [Naya Records] released 2009 with the tracks "Merry Chase" and "Shine Your Light". Both Grass Yard Productions: Vol1 & Vol2 has Kiddus I sharing studio time with other stella Jamaican musicians such as Ken Bob, Johnny "Dizzy" Moore, Jamel, Don I, Ken Boothe, Israel Voice, Jahmali and Michh "Shemaiah" Abrahams.
In 2007, a copy of his album tapes from 1981 were discovered, and his debut album was finally released in 2009 as Rocking Rebel Volumes 1&2.
Dowding was born in 1944, his mother a potter and his father a bookkeeper. He adopted the stage name Kiddus, which is Amharic for "blessed one", after becoming a Rastafarian. In 1971, he set up a Rastafarian commune and craft centre located between uptown and downtown Kingston, which became a unique feature of a city generally divided by social class. Dowding was a member of Ras Michael's Sons Of Negus from 1971 to 1978, singing and playing funde drums. He recorded several self-productions in 1972 with Aston Barrett at Joe Gibbs' studio, but these were not released due to lack of funds. Rockers director Theodoros Bafaloukos had seen Kiddus recording "Graduation In Zion" in 1976, two years before the film was made, and decided to film Kiddus recording the track as part of the movie. Kiddus had by then released a few singles on his own Shepherd label, including "Security In The Streets" which was recorded with Lee Perry at his Black Ark studio. Dowding was a prominent member of the Peace Movement, and "Security in the Streets" was one of the first of several songs recorded in appreciation of the Peace Treaty of 1978 between rival political gang-leaders Claudie Massop and Bucky Marshall.
After releasing a handful of further singles, and recording an album that was not released due to the master tapes getting lost, little was heard of Kiddus I until French label Makasound issued Inna De Yard in 2005, one of a series of albums recorded acoustically by vintage reggae artists in Jamaica. Japanese label Dub Store Records then reissued some of the 1970s singles, followed by the anthology Graduation In Zion: 1978-1980 in 2007. In June 2009, Kiddus I released Green Fa Life (Naya Records), remarkably his first full length electric instrumentation album of his 30+ year career. Green Fa Life sees Kiddus I team up with roots reggae legends Earl "Chinna" Smith and Leroy 'Horsemouth' Wallace, although that is naming just a few of the very respected heavy weight artists who also play on the album. Kiddus I also appears on the first two "Grass Yard Productions" albums [Naya Records] released 2009 with the tracks "Merry Chase" and "Shine Your Light". Both Grass Yard Productions: Vol1 & Vol2 has Kiddus I sharing studio time with other stella Jamaican musicians such as Ken Bob, Johnny "Dizzy" Moore, Jamel, Don I, Ken Boothe, Israel Voice, Jahmali and Michh "Shemaiah" Abrahams.
In 2007, a copy of his album tapes from 1981 were discovered, and his debut album was finally released in 2009 as Rocking Rebel Volumes 1&2.
