• Roots Reggae Music--and most recently Dub & UK Steppers--have once again captured the world's attention. People are captivated by Roots music's ancient heartbeat and Dub/Steppers heavyweight beats. Roots provides spiritual food, Dub a soundscape for ones to escape to.
• Sister Judy of Original Falasha Sound, plays Roots music in a King David Style; the cornerstone sounds that can't be refused--foundation & vintage rare roots--to UK/Worldwide Steppers, Dub and conscious dancehall. Message & people are the foundation of Roots Sound System, and Judy's mission is to spread the music's powerful message--Empower, Educate, Uplift, Heal--while playing for people's enjoyment--getting them moving & grooving. She's conscious of one more aspect too: Uniting people in the dance & creating a spirit of Oneness--
togetherness. She truly believes that if you play from the heart, people will
respond & Jah will do the rest.
• Love of music was inherited. Her Granny loved Sam Cooke, her parents
listened a wide range of sounds from Duke Ellington, Billie Holliday, to Classical & Calypso her father brought back from Trinidad. She was also influenced by R'nB, Afro-Pop & Hip Hop, and like so many others, Bob Marley. His music struck a deep chord within, and so began the journey that's developed & evolved into the Original Falasha Sound System.
• Several related paths enhanced her craft. From 1999, her artistic talent as an award-winning magazine Art Director was devoted to promoting sessions & designing all flyers for Black Redemption Sound, to build a foundation for the sound she supported from the earliest sessions on. Her writing skills utilized doing profiles online & print--including I-Jabulani Tafari's "RootzReggaeKulture" 'zine. She reasoned with some of reggae's most inspiring figures, like foundation father Cedric "Im" Brooks & NY's original Roots producer, Lloyd Bullwackie Barnes. LKJ taught about UK reggae's political I-story, SoulJahs like Luciano, Linval, Cornell Campbell, Jr Reid, Sizzla & Capleton added insights.
• Two seminal Selectors--Jah Shaka & Albert Malawi--lent guidance. I-lawi with selecting stories, Jah Shaka with encouragement to persevere as a sistren Selector & his selecting credo: "If you reach just one person, you've done your job."
• Original Falasha Sound with Selector Judy debuted at Easystar's popular Blackstar Tuesdays, guesting at sessions thereafter. She also began the Tallawah Sessions @ Barrio NYC-- featuring guest artists--and Dub Den @ Shanghai Den, Brooklyn. She's selected at Fly Ei's celebrated multi-media events--featuring top DJs from other genres--where she got the non-reggae massives rocking & was honored when the other DJs paid respects. Judy's selected at many other venues in NYC, Brooklyn, and NJ, done live sessions on NYC radio & an online stream for UPfront Network. She also opened Satta Sundays @ Swim and at the Knitting Factory alongside Ras Kush & Black Redemption Sound. Recent sessions include the Garvey Center, Cafe Deville, Lava Gina, & Le Grande Dakar, Bklyn.
• In 2005, she played at two Brooklyn roots community gatherings: a benefit organized by Ghetto Roots for the Haile Selassie I Academy (for Rastafari youths) & the celebration of His Majesty's Coronation at the Marcus Garvey Center. Both were a Bless. The ones gathered were welcoming & receptive; open to hearing new tunes--as well as beloved classics--from a Selector they hadn't heard before. Their lighter salutes & positive words gave strength & encouragement to continue the mission.
Give Thanks & Praise to the Almighty One!
