Gizzae Free Teddy Afro profile picture

Gizzae Free Teddy Afro

Roots Like a Lion CD - Just Released!

About Me


Hailing from the beautiful Caribbean island of Dominica, the Ancient and Holy Lands of Ethiopia, and the south side of Chicago, comes the award winning reggae music of Gizzae. Rocket, Ruphael, Clem, Asrat and Ralph have over 100 years of musical experience collectively and 4 Grammy® awards playing music professionally with such acts as:
The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Ziggy Marley, Third World, Toots and Maytals, Burning Spear, Carly Simon, The Talking Heads, Rita Marley, Judy Mowatt, Chachi, Sam Ghansah, Moja Nya, Dallol, Rude Beat Society, The Mighty Baron of Trinidad, Bell Combo and many, many others. Working and playing with such a vast array of musical styles and talents has enabled Gizzae to create fresh reggae sounds. Combining traditional Jamaican roots reggae with the exotic beats and rhythmic sounds of Soca, Creole, Calypso, Cumpas, Jazz, Rock and Blues, Gizzae brings a dynamic and progressive roots flavor.
Formed in 1992 after the breakup of Dallol (Ziggy Marley's Touring Band) and Moja Nya (New York), Gizzae soon became a fan favorite in the Chicago and Midwest reggae scene. A Sunday night staple at the fledgling Wild Hare, fans started to come out to hear this new reggae band in force. Building a local fan base through constant touring in the Midwest at such places as: The Wild Hare (Chicago), The Red Sea (St. Louis and Minneapolis), First Ave. (Minneapolis), Reggae Festivals and many college campuses, has put Gizzae on the reggae map for good. If you like live jams and wicked solos, come dance the night away with Gizzae!
If you like live jams and wicked solos, come dance the night away with Gizzae!
Roots Like a Lion CD - Just Released!

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 6/19/2007
Band Website: gizzae.com/
Band Members:
Brian Rock - Singer/Bass.
Asrat Selassie - Drums/Percussion/Vocals - A two time Grammy® award winner Ziggy Marley, Evans Atta-Fynn-Drums
Ralph Mote - Keys/Vocals.
Clem Julien - Guitar/Vocals.
Ruphael W. Mariam - Drums/Keys/Vocals - Winner of 2 Grammys® for best reggae album with Ziggy Marley.
Influences: Bob Marley and the Wailers, Peter Tosh, Culture, Sugar Minott, and Ibex Band( Ethiopia).
Sounds Like: Nominated Chicago Music Awards - Best Reggae Entertainer 2005
Best Chicago Reggae Entertainer - Chicago Music Awards (Multiple winner including 2004)
Taste of Chicago Featured Artist 2005
Opening Act for English Beat 2005
Gizzae and Chachi Tadessee Atlanta GA 2005
Opening Act for India Arie - Mainstage - Taste of Chicago 2004
Opening Act for Third World-Festival of Life 2002
Opening act for Burning Spear-Bloomington, IN 2001
Opening Act for Toots and Maytals-Bloomington, IN 2001
Opening Act for Everton Blendor, IN 2001
Great Lakes Naval Base Main Stage 2001
Voted #1 Chicago Artist by Jamaicans.com 1999-2004
Reggae on the River Featured Artist 2000
Vermont Reggae Festival Featured Artist 2000
House of Blues Chicago with Michael Black 2000
Apple Vacations Corporate Events Band 1999-2002
2 Grammy® awards for Ruphael Mariam and Asrat Selassie
(Best Reggae Album, One Bright Day and Conscious Party...Ziggy Marley)
Musical Guest on Soul Train (Dallol)
Musical Guest on Arsenio Hall (Dallol)
NAACP Awards Ceremony Musical Guests (Dallol)
Appearance on NBC's Hard Rock Extravaganza (Dallol)

Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: None