Farin

"Farin," is the term for Americans or America in the Jamaican dialect Patois, (pronounced patwa),and the name Monty Rateliff chooses for himself and the representation of his music. One would think being born in the moderately sized southern city of Little Rock, Arkansas would have little relevance to where Farin and his music are today. Not true. As founder and frontman of the band Jah Pickney, Little Rock's first known Reggae band, Farin was able to write and perform the expressions of his beliefs. But situations with some band members ,led him to play drums for Level Vibes, a newly formed band with most of the members of Jah Pickney. It was then, that he was introduced to the more diverse styles of Dance Hall. Reggae steadily increased his interest in the culture and the home of Reggae, Jamaica. While attending Sunsplash, he befriended a Jamaican family ,who opened their home and hearts to him. After establishing roots in the Montego Bay area,he eventually met the woman who later became his wife. At the time, she was living and working in Kingston, and as one would expect, rather than returning to the U.S., he decided to remain in Kingston with his wife. The song" Nice Lady," recalls some of those precious moments. Now based in the burbs of Atlanta with his family, he claims that the meeting of (engineer/producer),Daryl Thompson ,was no accident.Besides his outstanding talent as an engineer, Daryl is a master guitarist. Mega producers Sly and Robbie recognized his talent and have been working with him for a span of nearly three decades. " Reggae is the vehicle I choose to carry my lyrics. Like one big truck,my pulsating rhythms and driving bass lines are the solid foundation, the only vehicle capable of carrying my heavy lyrics," says Farin.During some downtime at a recording studio in Paris, France recently, Daryl played Bangarang for Sly Dunbar. After a moment,peering over the top of his shades, Sly said," it sound a way Daryl ... drop it."