About Me
Bred up by the sounds of Africa’s Ivory Coast and influenced by artists ranging from Burning Spear and Bob Marley,Otis Redding and Fela Kuti, Gospel Reggae artist Rogé Abergel(pronounced Rowjay- Aberjel) is poised to establish for today’s generation all the soul, strength, positivity, and the cries for spiritual liberation that form the backbone of authentic Roots Reggae.
Born in Casablanca, Morocco (North Africa), Roge’s parents relocated their family in the Ivory Coast, where they lived in Marcory a district South of Abidjan. Nurtured there on a diet of international vinyl imports, Roge experienced the birth of Roots music as Jamaica’s exports evolved from Ska into Rocksteady, and eventually, into the socially and spiritually charged music that served as his musical awakening.
By the mid-seventies, Roge Abergel had been musically schooled by the Reggae greats. Surrounded by the cry of neighboring African nations that resonated with the island music’s themes of poverty, racial discrimination and resistance to government oppression and corruption, he began his career jamming with his friends at a neighborhood park late at night, Later on along with Ghanaen musicians Roge performed in obscure local venues, as well as parties covering the music of Jimmy Cliff ,Bob Marley & the Wailers, Burning Spear, Gregory Isaac ,I-jahman Levy, UB40 and Sonny Okosun’s blend of afro reggae.
Filled with the burning desire to further his music career, in 1983, Roge Abergel emigrated to the United States, but an unexpected encounter with Christ lead him down the path of an altogether different mission. Shaken to the core by his spiritual awakening, Roge Abergel would spend the next two decades of his life answering the call to build a Christian ministry from the ground up in Southern California.
After completing ministry studies,Roge Abergel founded World Harvest Church, Los Angeles, where he still today continues to lead and pastor a growing congregation . Roge Abergel is internationally known for his passion to educating and empowering people to discover their potential for the fulfillment of their destiny in Christ. Over the course of his life he has visited 30 different nations which helped shape his unique multicultural personality and Global Worldview. He is also member of the International Third World Leaders Association, ITWLA (Nassau, Bahamas)lead by Dr Myles Munroe.
In April 2007, while working in the Caribbeans, Roge Abergel began to sense his musical and spiritual calls aligning. Attuned to a sense of divine timing, upon returning from the Caribbean, Roge Abergel sought out Grammy-nominated producer, Rick Balentine, and the pair began a fruitful creative collaboration. To top off the project Roge worked with Christian Reggae pionner and Dub Scientist, Mark Mohr of the well know Group Christafari whom also added other very powerful and important elements to the production
War is the stunning result of that collaboration. Roge Abergel’s EP offering is one of the newest electrifying Roots reggae sound to hit the scene in recent years. With booming bass lines, infectious clav melodies, a growling horn section, and the guitar contributions of Christafari’s Obie Obien, the album delivers infectious modern Roots grooves that both roar and pulse. Make no mistake -- this effort is no lightweight debut. Roge Abergel manages to transcend commercial imitation, infusing each track with all the spiritual authenticity and organic soul that earmark the genre’s greatest albums. All this is perhaps a testament to his sensitivity and maturity, not simply as a musician, but more importantly as a gifted artist who draws inspiration from genuine faith in his message.
Mixed and mastered at Mark Mohr’s (Christafari) Zionic Sounds Dub Lab, War contains three full-length tracks, followed by three Dub versions. Roge Abergel and Kingdom Culture are currently working on their full-length debut CD as well as a full length Dub album due out in mid-2008.
