Yasháh was born George Michael Wilson, to Mr. & Mrs. George Wilson, in Los Angeles, California. At age 11 months, he was adopted by Mr. & Mrs. Aaron F. Marshall of Los Angeles, and renamed Dana Aaron Marshall.
It was said that as a toddler, Dana showed a highly unusual talent in speaking, and in music. When he quoted from the book of Psalms at age two, his astonished parents predicted he would grow up to be a preacher. By the early ‘60’s, his musical interests inspired his mother to purchase a piano and hire a piano teacher for her young son. His first public performance was a piano recital at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles…
In his early teens, Dana became a member of his Jr. High School's theatre ensemble, Young Soul, and soon began appearing in plays, and reciting Harlem Renaissance poetry onstage to live jazz accompaniment. His involvement in acting led to voice-over work with legendary actor/comedian Bill Cosby - landing a co-starring role in the landmark animated feature, "Hey, Hey Hey, It's Fat Albert!"; which first aired as an NBC TV Special on November 12, 1969, and eventually morphed into the hugely successful animated children's television series.
Earlier that same year, while writing songs and singing with a group in local clubs and high schools around the city, Dana was introduced to several members of the famed Sylvers family - including 14-year-old James and 15-year-old Charmaine, who were his fellow students at Locke High School; and later, older brother Leon, who was sixteen at the time, and a percussionist with another local band. These events would later prove to be the main crossroad of his entire musical life - setting young Dana on a course toward his ultimate destiny and purpose...
He soon discovered that like himself, both Leon and James were aspiring young songwriters. He also discovered they were in the process of putting together a new singing group, consisting of the two of them, along with their two oldest sisters Olympia and Charmaine, and younger brothers Edmund (R.I.P.) and Ricky.
The newly reformed family singing group, The Sylvers, signed with MGM Records in 1971, with their first album, "The Sylvers", being released on the Pride subsidiary label the following year. In 1973, their youngest brother Foster recorded a solo album, "Foster Sylvers", which included the R&B classic, "Misdemeanor". The album also included one of Dana's songs, entitled "Only My Love Is True" – his first published work.
Later that year, while serving as a judge at a local talent show, the KGFJ Soul Search, 19-year-old Dana was introduced to an undiscovered singing quintet with enormous talent and potential - a group he soon joined, reformed, and renamed Aphrodisia.
Within a few months, after intense non-stop rehearsing of new material at his apartment, recording a self-produced four song demo, and scoring a featured article in "Right On!" magazine, the group was signed by legendary Motown producer Harvey Fuqua. Working in the studio with such an accomplished music industry veteran - along with having their rehearsals attended by Motown giants Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson - served as tremendous sources of inspiration and hands-on instruction in record making for the budding young writer/producer and his newly signed group.
Aphrodisia recorded three complete sides of original material for the RCA label - including the Dana Marshall/Tony Hayes-penned ballad "That's Why I Call You Love", and another Marshall tune; the danceable "Are You Gonna Be My Lady?". And yet, for reasons that remain vague and unclear, the songs were never released. Another major turning point...
The eldest member of the group, first tenor Sidney Justin, later went on to replace the great Howard Hewett in Solar Records recording group Shalamar; and in the 90's, became lead singer with his all-time favorite group, The Miracles. Another Aphrodisia member, second tenor Gonzales Ozen, eventually became a member of another Motown act, Switch. In the summer of 1974, Dana's second published work, the unknowingly prophetic "Love Over Mind" appeared on "The Sylvers III' album.
As a touring bassist with The Sylvers in the mid-70's, Dana was fully introduced to the live performance aspect of show business – appearing on the same bill with a diverse array of seasoned entertainers, including former employer Bill Cosby, Sonny & Cher, Kool & The Gang, Chicago, The Bar-Kays, Tony Orlando & Dawn, Ringo Starr, Slave, Englebert Humperdinck, and many others.
After leaving the group in the summer of '77, Dana began a personal quest for clarity, purpose and mission. In September of 1979, at age 25, he experienced a life changing spiritual transformation, becoming a "born-again" believer in Christ. Yet another major turning point...
During the decade of the '80's, as a singer, songwriter, studio musician, arranger and producer for Leon Sylvers' powerhouse Silverspoon Productions, Dana was privileged to work with such noted recording artists as The Sylvers, Tavares, The Whispers, Glenn Jones, Krystol, The Brothers Johnson, Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Spinners, and others. Among the notable songs he co-wrote at Silverspoon are The Spinners' hit single, "(We Have Come Into) Our Time For Love", The Brothers Johnson classic, "You Keep Me Coming Back", and the Glenn Jones gem, "Bring Back Your Love"...
In addition, his abiding sense of divine purpose as an artist found expression through various Bible study groups and fellowship with industry standouts Steve Arrington, Butch Tavares, Mark DeBarge, Wardell Potts Jr., Vincent Brantley, and many, many others.
By 1984, at age 30, after experiencing first-hand, the moral quagmires and compromises so prevalent in the industry, Dana began to search anew for a higher plane. In September of 1985, his renewed spiritual quest led to receiving an apostolic call to Kingdom ministry. By 1989, Dana had received a full revelation of his true Hebraic identity and destiny in Christ. It was at that point that he, along with covenant brother and former Silverspoon writer/musician Kevin Walker, was led of the Spirit into an extended music industry hiatus...
The decade of the ’90’s found Dana seeking greater divine understanding in a season of soul searching, spiritual preparation, and community activism. In the fall of 1992, he conceived the groundbreaking L.A. cable access TV program Preparing The Way. In April of ’93, he and brother Kevin officially launched the program, hosted and produced by Kevin - who by that time had begun to prophesy and teach at various churches and Bible study groups around the city. By the end of the decade, the program and ministry outreach as a whole had been firmly established; and continues to enlighten, inform and inspire the greater Los Angeles community and the nation.
Today, with powerful new cultural revelation and inspiration, Dana, now divinely renamed Yasháh, has now resumed his mission in creating an all-new music genre. Along with ministry partner Kevin (now called Shabar), he has also begun to build a new independent label, Mayim Records.
Yasháh's renewed musical vision includes removing man-made boundaries between true "love songs" and "Gospel" music, and helping to usher in a Hebraic cultural revolution – helping to shift the global atmosphere and create a new climate for Kingdom advancement...
Yasháh is the father of two sons, Khallil Amman and Shamir Barakh, and a daughter, Shélah Yadonne.
record company website: (Under Construction)
www.mayimrecords.com