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www.rasdroppa.com.."left" Born Samuel Richards, musical artist Ras Droppa, has either been making music or helping to spread music throughout the world for over thirty years now. This would be incredible for someone so young but not if you consider that he has been singing since the early age of three. Along with his older brothers in the streets of Jamaica, Ras Droppa began as most of his brothers did, by singing and playing the melodica, his first true instrument.
From their humble beginnings in Trenchtown and West Moreland, Jamaica, which read like the pages from the Jacksons and other famous musical families, the Richards were a uniqueness all to themselves. Ras Droppa's father, Ellis Richards, a local shoemaker, begin teaching his children to appreciate music and learn scales at an incredibly early age. Instructing them in pitch, harmony and tempo he helped to show them paths which might someday lead them to careers as artists. At one point, Ellis Richards had all nine of his children performing musically.
The eight brothers, along with their only sister Andrea, were known throughout Jamaica as The Richards Brothers Band and were successful enough to have even been featured on Jamaican television. It was only as they got older that each of the Richards sought out their own true calling. Through his role as band sergeant in school and his affinity for playing clarinet and singing jazz, Ras Droppa soon discovered that his was to be in music.
Ras Droppa's early influences stemmed from his exposure to artists from his homeland like Bob Marley, Aston "Family Man" Barrett, Garnet Silk, Sly Dunbar & Robbie Shakespeare and Roland Alphonso and the Skatalites, but no one probably helped him pursue his interests more than his music teacher and accomplished xylophone and vibraphonist Lenny Hibbert. It was Hibbert's own performing at local hotels and his constant encouragement which helped Ras Droppa to make music his life's pursuit. Ras Droppa's early stage name "One Drop" was picked up around the age of sixteen, from the Bob Marley tune of the same name which he loved to sing even as a child. He then performed with the Hot Peppers Band which was not only recognized throughout Jamaica but also got him a six-month trip to Japan. The Jamaican Tourist Board even sent him to Cuba to perform and that was followed shortly thereafter with trips to the United States and Canada.
Armed with only his one custom Steinberger, Ras Droppa and his bass have seen more stages, clubs and festivals than most musicians experience in a lifetime. He has shared the stage with reggae greats such as Sugar Minott, Beres Hammond, The Congos, Chaka Demus & Pliers, Lucky Dube, Burning Spear, Aswad, Sly and Robbie, Jimmy Cliff, Yami Bolo, Dennis Brown, The Wailers, Cannibus Cup, Leroy Sibbles and Jr. Jazz just to name a few, and has toured extensively throughout the world with legendary artists like Anthony B, the Mighty Diamonds, Cocoa Tea, Half Pint and Sister Carol. He has been featured at reggae events ranging from Central Park Concerts of New York and the Reggae On The Rocks and Renegade Festivals of Colorado and Nevada to "Reggae On The River", one of the biggest multi-day reggae concerts held each year in Los Angeles.
Ras Droppa has also lent his talents by composing and performing tracks for the widely released motion picture “Lost Highway†and contributed to the soundtrack for the Academy Award winning film “Good Will Huntingâ€. He is presently featured in the upcoming independent motion picture “The Knee Shack†and performs several numbers. He has recently appeared in a widely distributed commercial campaign for the NY Lottery with spots airing in multiple languages and across radio and television networks.
After years of performing with the great and near great, and having appeared live in front of millions of people around the world from places as far reaching as Japan, Europe and Africa, Ras Droppa is releasing his debut album. The new CD, entitled "Just A Little Song", proudly features 14 original tracks covering a wide range of reggae styles from roots to dancehall. The CD includes songs featuring the musical talents of reggae legends Anthony B and Sister Carol as well as dancehall artist Dollarman and up and coming hip-hop artists Skanks and Pawz. The first single from the album, "Just A Little Song" featuring Anthony B, was released in January of 2001 on the Star Trail label and was very well received in Jamaica, instantly making an appearance on the charts.
Ras Droppa is well known and respected throughout the New York area reggae scene and around the world, and whether headlining with his band or supporting another artist on bass guitar and vocals, one can be assured that they're in for a great evening of music with this passionate musician and consummate artist filled with energy and talent, poised to take on the world with his music.
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"Someone Loves You Honey" (Ras Droppa) Music Video
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