 | The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's notability guideline for music .(October 2019) |
The Expanders | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Roots reggae, Rocksteady |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels | Easy Star |
| Members | John Asher John Butcher Roy Fishell Chiquis Lozoya Evan Heins |
| Past members | Devin Morrison |
| Website | www |
The Expanders are an American roots reggae band from Los Angeles, California. [1]
The Expanders formed in Los Angeles, California in the summer of 2003. [2] The band's sound is influenced by vintage 1970s and early 1980s Jamaican reggae groups, with three-part vocal harmonies, conscious songwriting, and an indie-DIY spirit. [2] [3]
The Expanders self-titled debut album was recorded from 2006 to 2010 and was released in 2011 on Man-Like Records. It captured the retro Jamaican sound they hoped to create by recording at Killion Sound studio in Los Angeles, California alongside sound engineer Jay Bonner, the original bass player for The Aggrolites. [4] [5]
In 2012, the Expanders released a covers album titled, Old Time Something Come Back Again, Vol. 1, a free 13-track covers album of rare Jamaican songs. It was released on Jump Up! Records. [6]
The Expanders returned to L.A.'s Killion Sound studio between 2012 and 2014 to record their third studio album (second original song album) Hustling Culture. [3] Recordings were done entirely on analogue tape.
In 2015, the band signed with New York City's Easy Star Records, who released Hustling Culture on June 26, 2015. [7] They explained, "'Hustling Culture' is the band coming into its own with our songwriting and musicianship." [8] The album debuted #1 on the Billboard's chart of Top Reggae Albums. [9]
On September 29, 2017, The Expanders released their second covers album and fourth studio album, Old Time Something Come Back Again, Vol. 2 via Easy Star Records. [1] The album was their second release to debut #1 on the Billboard chart of Top Reggae Albums. [10] The second volume features The Expanders versions of songs by Burning Spear, The Gladiators, The Ethiopians, The Itals, Little Roy, Yabby You, among other reggae artists.
In 2018, there was a change in the lineup when rhythm guitarist Devin Morrison left the band, which was an amicable departure to explore other musical endeavors. Along with the remaining members, the band added Evan Heins from Ital Vibes and Prime Livity on bass. They also switched Chiquis Lozoya from bass to lead vocals rhythm guitar. [11]
Also in 2018, The Expanders collaborated with renowned Grammy Award-winning producer Walshy Fire for two separate riddim albums of their tracks "Top Shelf" and "Thanks For Life." [12] The albums feature vocals from reggae artists like Cocoa Tea, Randy Valentine, Queen Omega, Fyakin, and others.
The Expanders collaborated with Kyle McDonald of Slightly Stoopid on a track titled "Sweet & Slow" which was released on November 22, 2019.
In the summer of 2020, The Expanders were asked to record two covers of classic Toots & Maytals songs in anticipation of a month-long tribute to Toots Hibbert on Rootfire. However, directly after they finished the recordings, Toots Hibbert died at 77 years old after contacting COVID-19. The band released their two-track tribute EP Two For Toots on October 23, 2020. It featured covers "True Love" and "Love Is Gonna To Let Me Down". The proceeds from the album was donated to Toots' family. [13]
On November 6, 2020, The Expanders once again teamed up Walshy Fire for another riddim album of their title track "Peace of Love". The album featured artists such as Buzzrock, Blessed, Hanali, Tóke, Promise No Promises and more reggae artists. [14]
Devin Morrison – Guitar, lead Vocals (2011–2018)
| Year | Album | Label | Billboard peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | The Expanders | Man-Like Records | — |
| 2012 | Old Time Something Come Back Again, Vol. 1 (Covers Album) | Jump Up! Records | — |
| 2015 | Hustling Culture | Easy Star Records | #1 |
| 2017 | Old Time Something Come Back Again, Vol. 2 (Covers Album) | Easy Star Records | #1 |
| Year | Album | Label | Billboard peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Walshy Fire and The Expanders Present Thanks For Life | Self-produced | — |
| 2018 | Walshy Fire and The Expanders Present Top Shelf Riddim | Self-produced | — |
| 2020 | Walshy Fire and The Expanders Present Peace of Love Riddim | Self-produced | — |
| Title | Release Date | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Race Is Run" | 2011 | The Expanders |
| "Snow Beast" | 2011 | The Expanders |
| "Merciless Deeds" (feat. Alex Desert & Deston Berry of Hepcat) | 2011 | The Expanders |
| "Something Wrong" | 2011 | The Expanders |
| "Turtle Racing" (feat. Jah Faith) | 2011 | The Expanders |
| "Moving Along" | 2011 | The Expanders |
| "Evilous Number" | 2011 | The Expanders |
| "Careful" | 2011 | The Expanders |
| "Down In The Valley" | 2011 | The Expanders |
| "Follow It" | 2011 | The Expanders |
| "Gone Away" | 2011 | The Expanders |
| "Thanks For Life" | 2015 | Hustling Culture |
| "World of Happiness" | 2015 | Hustling Culture |
| "Uptown Set" | 2015 | Hustling Culture |
| "Hustling Culture" | 2015 | Hustling Culture |
| "Iron Throne" | 2015 | Hustling Culture |
| "Piece of Love" | 2015 | Hustling Culture |
| "Reggae Pops" (feat. Dan Hastie) | 2015 | Hustling Culture |
| "Flesh and Bone" | 2015 | Hustling Culture |
| "Too Late" | 2015 | Hustling Culture |
| "People Business" | 2015 | Hustling Culture |
| "Struggler's Time" (Ghetto Connection cover) | 2017 | Old Time Something Come Back Again, Vol. 2 |
| "Blood Morning" | February 16, 2018 | (Single) |
| "Top Shelf" | 2018 | Top Shelf Riddim |
| "We Deya" | 2018 | Top Shelf Riddim |
| "Roots Daughter Flex" | 2018 | Top Shelf Riddim |
| "Medical Marijuana" | 2018 | Top Shelf Riddim |
| "Rubble Rebel" | 2018 | Walshy Fire and The Expanders Present Thanks For Life |
| "Don't Waste My Time" | 2018 | Walshy Fire and The Expanders Present Thanks For Life |
| "Sweet and Slow" (feat. Kyle McDonald of Slightly Stoopid) | November 6, 2019 | (Single) |
| "Herb Dream" | 2020 | Peace of Love Riddim |
| "The Wall" | 2020 | Peace of Love Riddim |
| "Scarlet Begonias" (Grateful Dead/Sublime cover) | September 4, 2020 | The House That Bradley Built (Single) |
| "I Will Love You Girl" | May 28, 2021 | Cali Roots Riddim 2021 (Single) |
Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first popular song to use the word reggae, effectively naming the genre and introducing it to a global audience. While sometimes used in a broad sense to refer to most types of popular Jamaican dance music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that was strongly influenced by traditional mento as well as American jazz and rhythm and blues, and evolved out of the earlier genres ska and rocksteady. Reggae usually relates news, social gossip, and political commentary. It is instantly recognizable from the counterpoint between the bass and drum downbeat and the offbeat rhythm section. The immediate origins of reggae were in ska and rocksteady; from the latter, reggae took over the use of the bass as a percussion instrument.
Dub is an electronic musical style that grew out of reggae in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It is commonly considered a subgenre of reggae, though it has developed to extend beyond that style. Generally, dub consists of remixes of existing recordings created by significantly manipulating the original, usually through the removal of vocal parts, emphasis of the rhythm section, the application of studio effects such as echo and reverb, and the occasional dubbing of vocal or instrumental snippets from the original version or other works.
"54-46 " is a song by Fred "Toots" Hibbert, recorded by Toots and the Maytals, originally released on the Beverley's label in Jamaica and the Pyramid label in the UK. A follow-up version released a year later, "54-46 Was My Number", was one of the first reggae songs to receive widespread popularity outside Jamaica, and is seen as being one of the defining songs of the genre. It has been anthologised repeatedly and the titles of several reggae anthologies include "54-46" in their title.
SOJA is an American Grammy-award winning reggae band based in Arlington, Virginia. Formed in 1997, their music is currently produced under ATO Records. The eight-member band has released a number of singles, albums, and DVDs, including SOJA – Live in Hawaii. Their third full-length album Born in Babylon peaked at number 11 on the Top Heatseekers chart, while their 2012 album Strength to Survive topped the Billboard Reggae Album Chart. The band continues to tour and record new music.
Cultura Profética is a Puerto Rican reggae band formed in 1996. The band has undergone several lineup changes, but founding members Willy Rodríguez, Eliut González (guitar), and Omar Silva have remained in the group throughout its history. Despite primarily performing reggae music, Cultura Profética has experimented with genres such as bossa nova, tango, jazz, and salsa. Lyrically, the group discusses socio-political and ecological issues including Latin American identity and environmental concerns, as well as interpersonal relationships and love.
Colin Patrick Harper, better known by his stage name Collie Buddz, is a Bermudian reggae artist best known for his single "Come Around".
The Skatalites are a ska band from Jamaica. They played initially between 1963 and 1965, and recorded many of their best known songs in the period, including "Guns of Navarone." They also played on records by Prince Buster and backed many other Jamaican artists who recorded during that period, including Bob Marley & The Wailers, on their first single "Simmer Down." They reformed in 1983 and have played together ever since.
Alberto D'Ascola, better known by his stage name Alborosie, is an Italian reggae artist. He is sometimes called the "Italian Reggae Ambassador".
Major Lazer is a Jamaican-American electronic dance music and DJ trio, which includes record producer Diplo, and DJs Walshy Fire and Ape Drums. It originates from Kingston, Jamaica, and was founded in 2008 by Diplo and Switch, with Switch leaving after three years in 2011. He was then replaced by both Jillionaire and Walshy Fire. In June 2019, Jillionaire left the group and was replaced by Ape Drums. Its music spans numerous genres, mixing reggae with dancehall, reggaeton, soca, house and moombahton.
The Movement is an American reggae band originally formed in Columbia, South Carolina, in 2003. The two founding members, Josh Swain and Jordan Miller, then relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where they acquired a live rhythm section in the form of local Philadelphia musicians Jay Schmidt and Gary Jackson. The band has released six studio albums. Their music is commonly described as a fusion of rock, reggae, hip hop and acoustic music.
Passafire is a reggae rock band based in Savannah, Georgia.
Jamar Rolando McNaughton, popularly known as Chronixx, is a Jamaican reggae artist. His stage name replaced the name "Little Chronicle" which he was given because of his father, the singer "Chronicle". Chronixx and his music has been branded as a "Reggae Revival", alongside other reggae musicians including Alborosie, Dre Island, Jah Bouks, Jah9, Protoje, Kelissa, Jesse Royal, Keznamdi and Kabaka Pyramid. His lyrical content revolves around themes of anti-war, romantic declarations and resiliency.
Leighton Paul Walsh, better known by his stage name Walshy Fire, is a Jamaican American DJ, MC and record producer. He is part of the dancehall reggae-influenced group Major Lazer alongside fellow DJs Diplo and Ape Drums. Walshy Fire toured with the Black Chiney sound system beginning in 2004. Black Chiney is cited as a significant influence on the evolution of Major Lazer with its mashups that blend hip hop or R&B rhythms with reggae & R&B artist vocal tracks and its representation of the Jamaican sound system. The subsequent mix tapes that the Black Chiney collective of DJs, engineers and MCs would develop were the training ground for Walshy to become a remix producer.
Easy Star Records is an American independent record label founded in 1996. Based in New York City, the label primarily produces and releases albums in the genres of reggae and dub.
Common Kings are an American, Hawaiian, and Samoan reggae rock/pop band from Orange County, California. The band's debut album, Lost in Paradise, was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Tropidelic is an American band from Cleveland, Ohio. They infuse multiple genres into a style that's a blend of reggae rock, hip-hop and high energy funk.
Dancehall pop is a sub-genre of the Jamaican genre dancehall that originated in the early 2000s. Developing from the sounds of reggae, dancehall pop is characteristically different in its fusion with western pop music and digital music production. Dancehall pop is also different from dancehall in that most songs use lesser Jamaican Patois in lyrics––allowing it to be globally understood and consumed. It also incorporates the key pop music elements of having melodies, hooks, and the verse-chorus format. Additionally, the genre moves away from the reggae and roots reggae music origins in social and political protest, now lyrically centering on partying, dancing, and sexuality.
Iya Terra are an American roots reggae and dub band based in Los Angeles, California.
Arise Roots is an American roots reggae band based out of Los Angeles, California. Their music is described as a "positive classic roots sound with a modern twist".
Through The Roots is an American reggae rock and pop band based out of San Diego, California. They are described as "easy-listening music with positive Cali-vibes and inspiring messages".