Lion of Judah Birthday Bash feat: the Abyssinians!

Come and join WorldBeat Center for the Lion of Judah Birthday Bash featuring the legendary reggae trio, the Abyssinans, Itimo Reynolds and DJ Lulu. This birthday party is to celebrate all those born in July (Judahs) and Leos.

The Abyssinians
Few groups better captured the heart and soul of roots reggae than the Abyssinians; the vocal trio’s heavenly close harmonies, dark melodies, and Rastafarian themes, all delivered with a deep spiritual feeling, were instrumental in defining and refining the genre. Bernard Collins and Donald Manningwere longtime friends, and neither initially planned a career in music. That all changed one night in 1968, when during a creative burst, the pair composed “Satta Massa Gana” (also spelled “Satta Amassa Gana”). In 1971 when the trio finally bought back its tape (for a ludicrously inflated sum), and released “Satta Massa Gana” as a single on their own Clinch label. The song’s deeply devotional message, its dreams of far-away Africa, its throbbing rhythm, and its melancholy melody struck a chord across the island, and the record was an instant classic.

The Abyssinians released three further hit singles in 1971. First up was “Declaration of Rights,” and never has a call to revolution sounded so sweet and heartfelt. The equally evocative “Jerusalem” also appeared in 1971, and completing a quartet of hits for the year was “Let My Days Be Long.”