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TAJ WEEKES & ADOWA
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Contemporary reggae takes many forms, some of them bland or ugly or downright destructive.
But some encompass art, art as valid as anything from reggae's past, as valid as anything hearing
from any other present musical genre. This is where Taj Weekes and Adowa's music fits in. It
represents the most appealing and rewarding manifestation of reggae now being created.
Musically, lyrically and rhythmically it not only reflects the best from the past, but urges the
genre to higher heights. Taj Weekes and Adowa unite a true social consciousness with an
unforgettable reggae groove. Blending in elements of acoustic roots rock and afro-folk
simplicity, the band's vibrant sound defies genre and has garnered critical acclaim and a wide
audience across the globe. Vibrant, emotionally challenging and intellectually stimulating their albums have been consistently ranked as one of the top albums of any given year. Their
performances - classic, soul-stirring, rootsy, tempos with beautifully enchanting vocals
delivering socially conscious, thought-provoking lyrics.
TAJ WEEKES
Musician, Singer/Songwriter, Poet, Freedom Fighter, Humanitarian. This is Taj Weekes through
the eyes of those who have been fortunate enough to experience his music and receive his
message of love, peace, truth, triumph and hope. Many write of his deft skills as a songwriter,
the uniqueness of his hauntingly beautiful falsetto, and the vibrant diversity of his musical
arrangements, however when speaking with the man behind the music, one will find a simple
man, dedicated to presenting pure, honest music with a simple message that transcends race,
class, genre, age, and nationality. The seeds of his values and sense of his place in the world
were all sown on a quiet island many years ago.
THE JOURNEY BEGINS
Taj Weekes’ musical journey parallels his personal one. For St. Lucia’s native son, the youngest
of ten children, music was a family affair. He states: "We were always singing and playing in
my house. My father was an incredible singer... we took that from him." By age five, Weekes
was singing in church and by the age of nine, he and his brothers had formed a band, The
Weekes Brothers, playing in local talent shows, town hall or parish centers around the island.
Throughout his teenage years, Weekes honed his musical talents and songwriting skills listening
to a wide variety of music. He states: "My musical influences were quite varied, 'cause the
radio stations played all kinds of music. There were no formats, so we grew up listening to
everything from reggae to calypso to classic rock and classical music." Years later, he left home
to fulfill his musical ambitions in North America. There, he formed his band, Taj Weekes &
Adowa, and founded Jatta, LLC, his entertainment company that houses his record label, film
and music publishing company, and merchandising division.
TAJ WEEKES & ADOWA – FROM THE STUDIO TO THE WORLD STAGE
To date, Taj Weekes & Adowa has released three full length albums, Hope & Doubt (2005),
DEIDEM (2008), and their much-anticipated third CD, A Waterlogged Soul Kitchen (2010).
They have toured North America extensively, have headlined major music festivals and events
and have been seen and heard in the United Kingdom, Europe, Africa, South America,
Australia/New Zealand and Scandinavia. Their numerous accolades include:
•
Just Plain Folks Music Awards: DEIDEM winner of "Best Reggae Album" Award
•
Grammy Awards: DEIDEM shortlisted for consideration of 2008 "Best Reggae Album"
nomination
•
Billboard Magazine: DEIDEM listed as one of "Six Essential Albums Heralding Roots
Rock's Resurgence"
•
Rolling Stone Magazine: Taj Weekes listed amongst music legends Jackson Browne,
Crosby and Nash, and Willie Nelson featured on a compilation CD for the “Occupy Wall Street
Movement” which has become a worldwide phenomenon.
•
Houston Chronicle: DEIDEM listed as one of "Ten Great Albums” in the past 30 years;
Taj Weekes cited as being one of the greatest reggae singers to come along in a generation.
•
XM Satellite Radio: Taj Weekes noted for "raising the level of songwriting within the
idiom of reggae music."
•
International Acclaim: Reviewed and featured in magazines, video and radio programs
across the United Kingdom, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, Africa and
Scandinavia.
THEY OFTEN CRY OUTREACH (TOCO) – ANSWERING THE ORPHAN’S CRY
In 2007, Weekes founded They Often Cry Outreach (TOCO), a 501(c) (3), U.S. based, not-for
profit organization, to help the youth of the Caribbean through sports, health, and enrichment
programs. TOCO’s mission is to raise awareness of issues that affect Caribbean youth through
comprehensive projects and initiatives that will be implemented on every island in the
Caribbean.