Imanuel Walsh
Imanuel Walsh was born in the small town of Port Maria on the north coast of Jamaica. As a result of his parents migration to America during his childhood he had to lived with relatives. He proved to be quite a handful for them so at the age of thirteen he was sent to the Alpha Boy's school in Kingston. His most early musical experiences were gained at this esteemed institution which is known to have produced several great musicians such as the legendary Trombonist Don Drummond.While attending Alpha he learned to read and
write classical music and play a variety of instruments. As time progressed the drums became his instrument of choice. Naturally word of his developing talent began to spread back home, resulting in him playing the drums at his grandmother's church when ever he was on holidays.
After leaving Alpha he got jobs as a drummer with several bands, pretty soon he gained quite a reputation and eventually landed himself a job with roots Reggae star Pablo Moses in 1985. That same year Pablo Moses was the opening act for UK super Reggae group UB40 on their Labor Of Love tour in the USA. The following year Imanuel decided to put his vocals to the test and entered the Jamaica Festival Contest as a member of the Redemption Posse Band. He won an award for best performance and placed second in the contest.
His distinctive style & versatility quickly made him a much in demand drummer for both studio and stage performances. As a musician he has worked with the likes of the late Crown Prince of Reggae Dennis Brown, the late Garnett Silk, Ernie Ranglin, Leroy Sibbles, the Skatalites, Third World, the Meditations, I Jahman Levi Capleton, Pablo Moses & the Mighty Diamonds among others. In 1986 while he was still playing with Redemption Posse they were one of the backing bands on reggae Sun Splash, soon after a tour of Japan was the next assignment for the band. While on tour they played several major venues across Japan. While in Japan Imanuel shopped for a record deal without any success. This experience would prove to be worthwhile in the future, after the tour he went back to New York where he got casted to appear in a movie directed by Woody Allen titled Hannah & Her Sisters.
After a while Imanuel got a call to go back to Japan to play with Malja Jua an artist he had worked with before. This artist was one of the major acts signed to Toshiba EMI record company at the time, this performance took place at the famous Bodakan Dome in Tokyo in 1988. After that he stayed in Japan making more contacts in the music industry, which resulted in him working with a Sax player by the name of Sanshiro and his band Sanshiro & Tao. After sitting in on a performance they invited him to play percussions and eventually drums for the band. During his stint with the band he decided it was time for him to launch his singing career, something he had attempted to do in the past with little success. However as faith would have it he got a one album deal with Sony Records in 1990 and he also got a management contract with Show-on Records in Tokyo.
The following year he signed a four album deal with Alpha records which brought him much success with hits like “Sister Sadie†a single from his first album for the label titled “Aspects Of Love†which did very well in Japan. In 1992 he followed with another single “Loves Attraction†featuring JC Lodge and an album of the same name and in 1995 he released another album title ''Rasta Love''.
After many years abroad Imanuel has returned home to build his recording studio, Studio Tokyo which is located in Ochi Rios. Imanuel recently completed his latest project "Deep Within" which was mainly produced and recorded at his studio, it will be released on the 23rd of July on his Jah Sey So label. It Is an eclectic collection of songs that speak of love for humanity, positive living and freedom. Several tracks from the album such as the title track “Deep Withinâ€, “She Loves Moneyâ€, “Dope Smoker†& “Justice†are currently enjoying good rotation locally. The accompanying music video for ''Deep Within" is also
receiving good rotation on local cable networks and television stations. All the songs on the album are written by him and his collaborator Cecil Subaran.
Imanuel Walsh is an artist with a difference whose time has come. This militant Rastafarian Soldier sings for the world with a positive vibration every time he performs whether live or in the studio. It is this positive vibes that fuels him on his mission of upliftment for humanity.