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Big news from the Majestics....

1) 1ST CLUB SHOW IN 20 MONTHS ~ MMXX Finally Released....
December 3rd we'll be returning to THREE HEADS BREWING for our first inside show since pre-pandemic. Not only is it the 3HB debut of Vince Ercolamento as a full-time Majestic, our newest record, MMXX, will be available on thumbdrive with mp3 & wav files as well as the album art and liner notes.

Recorded mostly during the height of the pandemic's first wave last year, we worked in isolation from each other, building the songs track-by-track. Herb Smith, Linda Rutherford and Vince contributed and former Majestic Rudy Valentino mixed a killer DUB version.

$10 at the 3HEADS show or $15 postpaid in the Majestic store

MAJESTICS MMXX

Recorded September 2019 - August 2020

Pre-pandemic tracks recorded at Majestics World H. Q. Rochester NY

Pandemic-era tracks recorded in isolation in our home studios

MAJESTICS are:

Kevin Hart - guitar, vocals

Lou LaVilla - drums, vocals

Jim Schwarz - bass, vocals

Ron Stackman - keyboards, guitar, melodica, vocals

with...

Vince Ercolamento - saxophone

Linda Rutherford - violin

Herb Smith - trumpet

Recorded, produced & arranged by Majestics

Mixed & mastered by Jeff Gilhart; Tree Fort Studio, Rochester NY

Dub mix by Rudy Valentino; Hamburg, Germany

TRACKS

1) 'What Was It You Wanted' (Dylan)

2) 'Drunken Sailor' (traditional)

3) 'Toronto Shuffle' (Young)

4) 'Lonesome Side of Blue' (Stackman)

5) 'Live In Unity' (LaVilla)

6) 'Waste Not, Want Not' (Hynde)

7) 'Old Time Saying' 12"-45rpm version (Rodney)

Check out this piece in CITY NEWS talking about our new record....thanks Frank DeBlase

Click to go to CITY NEWS....

2) Vince Ercolamento joins the band....
Our long-time friend and musical conspirator, Vince Ercolamento, has become a full-time Majestic. The big difference now is that instead of the highly-paid, hired-gun sideman he used to be, he now has to rehearse every week and is paid crappy like the rest of us, if at all. We welcome Vince. He was The Majestics first sax player 35 years ago, and he brings a wealth of sound, expression and humor that fits perfectly. Vince's CD "Inner Soul" is available in the Majestic store.

Photo - Torin Washington

Original songs and distinctive versions from the deep archives of Roots Reggae

About us

Ron Stackman, Jim Schwarz and Lou LaVilla began performing together in 1972.

The following year they created Bahama Mama, one of the first American bands to embrace Reggae music. When the group split up in 1980, Stackman, Schwarz and Lavilla remained together and formed the Majestics.

Originally a trio with Ron on Hammond B-3, clavinet and guitar, Jim on bass and Lou on drums, the Majestics steadily developed a fan base in upstate New York, eventually catching the attention of the legendary Lee "Scratch" Perry. In 1982, the group backed Perry when he opened for the Clash during their historic run at New York City's Bonds International Casino, then traveled with the music icon to Kingston, Jamaica to record his "Mystic Miracle Star" LP. The Majestics later filled out their sound, enlisting guitarist Rudy Valentino (with whom they recorded their 1984 EP, "Future Now") and Trinidadian percussionist, Fitzroy 'Brother' James.

The band performed extensively throughout the eastern United States during the 1980s, opening for Burning Spear on two tours and appearing with a veritable who's who of Reggae music including Peter Tosh, Toots and the Maytals, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Leroy Sibbles, Yellowman, Third World, The Gladiators, The Wailers, Eek-A-Mouse, Dillinger, The Heptones, Jimmy Cliff, Ziggy Marley, Black Uhuru, Mutaburuka and others.

Now, 40+ years after the band's formation, the Majestics' original trio is back along with guitarist Kevin Hart and Vince Ercolamento on saxophones.

Original roots music along with versions of classic Reggae gems. Roots. Rock. Reggae.

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Here are photos from our first post-pandemic (part 1) show, opening for Third World at the Party In The Park, August 2021. Thanks to photographers.....

Marty Gira

Torin Washington

Aaron Winters