Queens, NY (Top40 Charts/ 809 Band official website) The 809 Band, which in the 90's backed international reggae acts like Bunny Wailer, Maxi Priest, Marcia Griffiths, the I-Three,
Ziggy Marley & the
Melody Makers and Gregory Isaacs had a rich musical history before the group disbanded in the late 1990's. On Sunday, June 29th, the original band will reunite at Roy Wilkins Park in New York (after almost two decades) as the backing band for Reggae
Queen Marcia Griffiths, for her 50th anniversary musical tribute being planned for Groovin' In the Park 2014.
"The 809 band is one of the most accomplished bands out of
Jamaica that boast some of reggae's leading players of instruments. I am thrilled that tour manager Copeland Forbes was able to pull together this special reunion for Groovin' 2014" Chris Roberts, CEO of Groovin Inc said.
Forbes, who recently returned from a tour in Europe, confirmed that the New York reunion will include Mikey
Fletcher on bass;
Christopher Birch on keyboards; Leebert 'Gibby' Morrison, Winston 'Boo Pee' Bowen on guitar; Dean Fraser on saxophone and Ronald 'Nambo' Robinson on trumpet. Desi Jones (former drummer with Jimmy Cliff and Chalice band) will fill in for drummer Paul Kastick who is touring with Kymani Marley.
"809 was Marcia's backing band on many of her international tours including Reggae Sunsplash, The I-Threes tours, Penthouse Showcase in Europe, Reggae Superfest and Reggae Japan Splash" Forbes recalled.
"I spoke with the band about the project and they all decided that since this was a once in a life time occasion, they would make themselves available" Forbes said.
After the band initially broke up, bass player Mikey Fletcher, drummer Paul Kastick and keyboardist
Christopher Birch initially formed the backing band for Shaggy. Kastick also tours with Diana King,
Maxi Priest and Big Mountain. Birch is also an international record producer, who co-produced Shaggy's Platinum selling "
Hot Shot" album and has produced singles for Cherine Anderson, Chuck Fenda, Lady Saw and I-Octane. Dean Fraser was the leader of Luciano's Firehouse Crew along with Winston "Bo-Pee" Bowen. Fraser is now the band leader and musical director for
Taurus Riley. Nambo Robinson and
Chico Chin both joined the Wailers Band and they tour extensively with Sly & Robbie's Taxi Gang. Leebert "Giggy" Morrison formed his own band "Gibby" which tours internationally, playing mainly rock, reggae music.
Other acts booked to perform at Groovin' In The Park are Beres Hammond, Air Supply, John Holt, Bob Aady, Judy Mowatt and Chronixx.
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