About Me
Life in Revolution...Ras Moon is a Cape Verdean musician and recording artist who now resides in Western Massachusetts. Originally from the peaceful island of Maio in the Cape Verde Islands, West Africa, Ras Moon-- born, Rui Antonio Santos-- has established himself as a unique and salient voice here in the USA.His island childhood was filled with the sounds of Jamaican reggae music, and the Creole songs born of Cape Verde’s struggle for independence from Portugal. He began teaching himself percussion and guitar to play traditional Cape Verdean music, and later reggae. All around him African nations were rising up to claim their independence from colonial powers, and his music became infused with the energy of this call for freedom and justice. When Cape Verde achieved it’s political independence in 1975, Ras Moon was 9 years old, and that fight for freedom has remained an essential part of the music he makes today.In 1992, Ras Moon began his musical career in the USA as a vocalist and keyboardist in African Roots Reggae band, Black Rebels. After two albums and years of touring with the band in the USA, Africa, and Europe, he embarked on his own solo career. His first alum, 1998’s Uhuru Na Ujama (Freedom and Self-Reliance), is a unique blend of Reggae, Creole and African rhythms. Uhuru Na Ujama was haled as a critical album that communicates a spiritual, universal message of peace and positivity in multiple languages. He has performed with many talented musicians in several Reggae Festivals including the Charlemont Reggae Festival, New England Reggae Festival, and Portugal’s Festival das Comunidades.Ras Moon has worked closely with many community groups and schools to provide cultural and educational programming, youth percussion workshops, as well as performances for various local and global causes. Ras Moon has been honored to be part of Event programming for Black History Month, the International Day of Peace, and World Aids Day. Ras Moon dedicates much of his time to writing, creating, and teaching.Ras Moon’s current musical project, Ras Moon and Monsoon can be seen playing live gigs in Western Mass and New England. The Monsoon band is comprised of a talented ensemble of artists including David Reed on bass, Rich Hommel on guitar, and Sami on drum kit. The group performs original, high energy music by Ras Moon.His music, as is his life, is dedicated to spreading the word of JAH, by promoting peace, love, and respect. Ras Moon is a musical messenger working hard to bring people together through his words and sounds whether he is chanting Nayabingi, performing a solo acoustic set, or fronting Monsoon. His music is an instant call to move the body and the heart with lyrics that beseech us to love each other and ourselves. Ras Moon is inspired to create music so that we may are release fear and chant down the Babylon of discrimination, inequality, hatred, violence, and corruption. We are citizens of the world and one family of JAH! We must stand strong together to overcome. One Love, One Destiny!PEACE LOVE RESPECT
