BIOGRAPHY

ERROL BLACKWOOD

SINGER, SONGWRITER, MUSICIAN 

BORN IN THE MAROON HILLS OF JAMAICA. CURRENT RESIDENCE: ONTARIO,CANADA

His love for music comes from a variety of sources, from the church where his father was its pastor, the Nyahbingi Drummers, the school music drama concert and the jukebox playing from everything from country to rhythm and blues.

MESSENJAH

In 1980, Errol formed the band Messenjah, along with Ray Ruddock and Rupert Harvey. They recorded two albums and a video under the WEA record label. Messenjah toured extensively for five years across Canada and the U.S.A. The band regrouped in 1986. Highlights included working with Hugh Masekela, 1985: The Clash, Frank Zappa and playing Reggae Sun splash

SOLO (ALBUMS, CDs, VIDEOS)

Errol began his solo career with the release of his four songs EP.

1987 EP titled “Chant, Chant” and a video titled “Special Effect”

1988 A cover song titled “Give Peace a Chance” became a video.

1990 Blade Music released Errol's first full-length album titled “Warrior”

1995Second CD titled “Waking up the Dream”

2000A collection of his previously released songs, titled Roots and Lovers Collection.

2003Fourth full-length CD titled “Rastaman Say”

2008Latest CD Titled Family Tree scheduled for release in Fall 2008

HONOURARY AWARDS

Errol has won twelve awards out of fifteen nominations.

CANADIAN INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS. Rastaman Say. Nominated.

CANADIAN REGGAE MUSIC AWARDS /CRMA 2003: best CD of the year for his latest CD, Rastaman Say.

1995 Top reggae Singer (male) 1993 Top reggae Singer (male) 1992 Top Reggae Video, "Un-foreign Dub"

1992 Top reggae Singer (male) 1992 Top Video: "Arrested" From the LP "Warrior" 1992 Top Video: "Irie Dread/ "Warrior"

1993 Top Singer (Male) 1990 Top Album: Warrior 1990 Top reggae Singer (male)

CANADIAN MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS: 992 Best Video, "Arrested," from LP "Warrior"

TORONTO MUSIC AWARDS: 1988 Best Reggae Artist/Performer

CANADIAN ACADEMY OF RECORDING ARTS/JUNO AWARDS: 1996 Nominee for CD: "Waking Up the Dream"

1988 Nominee for single: "Give Peace a Chance" 1987 Nominee for EP: "Chant, Chant"

COLLABORATIONS

Errol worked with several musicians over the years, among them are The Cool Ruler Gregory Isaacs who sang on a track titled “Got to Rock” from his first solo album “Warrior”.

Worked with Bob Marley's Wailers band as lead singer.

Wrote and performed the theme song for Austrian Film Company Visual Kings: series titled Paradise Island.

Errol sang the theme song for a CBS series titled "Sweating Bullets".

Performed on the national children’s show, “Romper Room”.

Since 1990 Errol has been nominated in fifteen music awards, he has won eleven, including his latest award for best CD of 2003 and was also nominated in the Canadian Indie Music Award 2003. More of his accomplishments are on the next pages in his full Bio.

PERFORMANCES AND UPDATES.

2006 Toronto City Hall for Iriefest / Carribana. CBC Radio: Big City Small World.

CBC Metro Morning and a promotional tour to Austria for the opening of the film: Paradise Island.

2005 highlights include headlining the Irie Reggae Festival at Ontario Place, performing before a Blue Jays game at the Skydome in Toronto and Fronting Maxi Priest at The Rhode Island Reggae festival.

2003 concerts included a live performance at Harbourfront CIBC stage for the Soul Island Festival, Freak-fest in London, Ontario and City Hall summer concert in Kitchener, Ontario.

2002 tour includes performance at the New England Reggae festival with Marcia Griffith and Ika Mouse.

He also performed at the Marcus Garvey day in Toronto.

In March of 2001, Errol performed in Texas at Velvet Park for Bob Marley festival.

He also performed with the London orchestra for the Canada Games in August 2001.

Other performances include a full house pre release party at the Ceeps in December 2001 for Roots and Lovers Collection CD.

In 2000, Errol had a special performance at the Toronto ITU Triathlon World Cup in July at Exhibition Place. He also did a live performance at the Kitchener City Hall for Rogers TV Summer Festival 2000.

REVIEWS

Errol Blackwood has been the subject of spotlights and feature articles in international, provincial and local entertainment magazines and newspapers. Below are just some of the reviews from Errol’s solo career.

FOCUS Magazine (Toronto) - had this to say about Errol:

The Skipah is a product of the courageous Maroons. He is a serious Rastaman. Errol's faith is the driving force in his life. It characterizes his being. With his sporting majestic dreadlocks, he pens plays and sings out his hunger for Justice and Equal Rights. He is certainly one of the hardest working entertainers in Canada today.

The Kitchener Record Newspaper (SHOWCASE) - had this to say:

Errol has a voice full of richness and is a masterful bass player. Errol sings of struggle, love and life, all with the same positive feeling. Not only does he write excellent songs, but he has also masterminded video renditions of his material. A performance by Errol and his band Injah transcends mere playing, taking you on an appealing versatile and spiritual trip through the heartbeat of reggae.

Lake Head University -Thunder Bay {THE ARGUS}

Imagine the herb-enhanced vocals of Joe Cocker and the lyrical grace of Eric Clapton. Errol in all his Rastafarian wisdom delivers even more of a powerful mix with his new CD release, "WAKING UP THE DREAM." recorded in Jamaica. One listen and you will feel the most passionate, vocal presence and skillful instrumental-punch penetrating your spirit with good vibrations. Errol's CD, "WAKING UP THE DREAM," an investment that is truly a collector’s piece.

DUB MISSIVE INTERNATIONAL VOL X, N0.3 HAD THIS TO SAY.

Waking up the dream by Errol Blackwood hits dread on. The Jamaican born

Canadian based singer and Basest captures the essence of roots reggae with hungry tunes of love, redemption, judgment and hope. His sweet throaty vocals lend themselves to so many styles and he easily maneuvers from lover's rock to righteous anthems of roots.

I'm the one is one of the strongest dance tracks. The gritty reality of one urban family is reason to weep on "Little Bit of Tear as Blackwood narrates a tale of despair: "Eventually you loose reality/killing then just becomes another spree/ and the children die/ how could we close our eyes.

Free world bounce back with a hopeful kind of Bob Marley meets Talking Heads admonishment to the shitstem and its slick-talking purveyors of false freedom.

"Liberty Woman is a slow burner. Saving the best for last, the most outstanding is the nyabinghi-style

"Mandela" with bass drums laying the heart beat foundation. Blackwood hails the great freedom fighters. His raspy voice calling with emotion as he begs us to heed the message and carry on the dream.

SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE February 1997

DANIEL FEIST

Jamaica's Favorite son Robert Nesta Marley born in 1945.

The dreadlocked singer, a hero to millions around the world, ranks among the century's most important musical contributors. Against great odds, he put reggae and Rastafarianism on the map.

I Shot the Sheriff, No Woman No Cry, Stir it up; Jamming and Waiting in Vain are among the classics penned by Marley. Revolutionary albums recorded with his group The Wailers include Natty Dread, Rastaman Vibration, Exodus, Survival and Uprising. Though Marley died in 1981, His fame and influence has steadily spread.

This weekend at the Medley, one of Canada's veteran reggae artists, Errol Blackwood, will pay his respects to the Marley legend with a special tribute performance,

"Bob worked from his soul," Blackwood said in a recent telephone interview. "He was true to his art and his songs them, the more they reveal."

Blackwood was a founding member of Messenjah in 1980. The group, formed in Toronto, was among the first successful acts in Canada to carry the reggae banner. Two original members still tour as Messenjah, while Blackwood has worked on his solo career since 1986. His most recent CD is called Waking up the Dream.

For his Tribute to Bob Marley concert, Blackwood put together a specialty band called Misty Morning. As good as it sounds; the singer has occasional concerns about the entire "tribute band" phenomenon.

"I have my own original music and I want to present it, so in some ways this can be frustrating," Blackwood said. "But still I do get inspired by Bob."

And the tribute is something I love to do four or five times a year. Bob is a phenomenon that just keeps growing."

N Errol Blackwood's Misty Morning presents Tribute to Bob Marley Saturday and Sunday.

BENEFIT SHOWS

Errol and his band, Injah, have performed for many different charitable events, including

Tilley Johnson’s scholarship fund

The Women's shelter in Kitchener Waterloo

Habitat For Humanity house opening with special guest, former American president Jimmy Carter and his wife.

A benefit to send Olympian Lennox Lewis to the 1986 Olympics

HIGHLIGHT TOURS

April 1998 Lead singer for the original Bob Marley Band, The Wailers.

April 18, 1998 House of Blues (Hollywood, CA with Wailers)

April 17, 1998 Solana Beach (California with Wailers)

April 15, 1998 Band Arrival (LA with Wailers)

April 16, 1998 Couch House (San Juan Capistrano with Wailers)

February 1997 Bob Marley Homage, La Medley (Montreal, QC)

July 19, 1997 Vermont Reggae Festival with Injah Band

Feb. 28, 1997Reggae Motion Festival (Cancun, Mexico with Big Mountain Band)

February 1995 Tribute to Bob Marley at Harbourfront (Toronto)

June 1995 USA Festival Tour (Houston, Texas)

August 1995 USA Tour (Corpus Christi, Texas)

Oct 1995 Canadian West Coast Tour (Thunder Bay, ON, Calgary, AB, Salmon Arm, Vancouver Island and Whistler BC)

Oct. 1994 White River Reggae Bash (Jamaica)

July 1993 Ottawa Jazz Festival at the Governor General's residence

Nov 1993 Moonlight Beach Party (Saint Maarten, NA)

Aug 1992 Earth Song (Hamilton, ON)

1992 - 1995 Jamaica Day headliner (Toronto, ON)

1990 - 1993 Festival of Friends (Hamilton, ON)

RADIO AND TELEVISION.

2006CBC radio “Big City, Small World”, CBC Metro Morning. Rastaman Say CD can be heard across Canada on CBC Radio.

December 2006 Austrian live radio, Lindz Austria.

February 1997 Performed live on Quebec TV Talk Show titled Ready-Ready Go.

October 1995 CD Release "Waking Up the Dream" in concert interview/live footage.

February 1995Live performance on Canada AM

December 1995 C.F.M.T. live performance

October 1994 Irie FM Reggae Bash simulcast.

1991 Errol performed the theme song titled Any Way the Wind Blows for the CBS drama titled "Sweating Bullets" (Tropical Heat)

1990 Errol was a special guest performer on the CTV children's show, “Romper Room”

BAND MEMBERS:

Errol Blackwood: Lead vocalist / Bass

Ray Ruddock: Keyboards / Organ

Craig Ruddock: Drums / Backup Vocals

Gary Fraser: Guitar / Backup Vocals

In 1988, Errol started a band named Injah, playing several clubs and concerts touring across Canada and the USA.

Craig Ruddock, on drums, Craig has been playing drums since he was twelve years old. His father Ray was the original drummer for Errol’s first band Messenjah. Watching Craig on stage is art in motion.

Ray Ruddock and Errol have been playing together since before Messenjah. Ray is a rhythm expert. From his unorthodox drum pattern in Messenjah to his organ drop in Errol Blackwood's Injah, Ray is another veteran for the living band.

Gary Fraser is a veteran guitarist in all genres of music but his specialty is roots reggae. His melodic mix and harmony is much like the legends of reggae.

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