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

Tune of the week from MAJESTICS MMXX....

Dub is a genre of music which grew out of Reggae in the 1960’s. It was popularized by mobile sound system operators who were often the record producers themselves, playing alternate versions of the top tunes of the day. The D.J. would ‘toast’ (rap) over the ‘riddim’ (tracks) that had been manipulated by selectively removing vocal, emphasizing bass & drums, adding extreme amounts of echo, reverb, and other effects; even using sampled sounds or snippets from other songs.

‘Old Time Dub’ is the last track from MMXX we have for you. Recorded in the early days of the pandemic while we were isolated from each other, it’s a dub version of last week’s tune and skillfully mixed for us in Germany by our brother and former Majestic Rudy Valentino. We hope you like it. Please leave a comment; we’re anxious to hear what you think. And be ready for an important announcement in the next couple of weeks…..

The Majestics
October, 2020

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 Brother 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)

FaceBook page updated daily ±1 week.

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, 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.

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