Groundation

Infobox musical artist
Name = Groundation

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Img_capt = Groundation performing at the 2006 Jamaican Reggae Festival in Kandel, Germany
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Origin = California, United States
Genre = Reggae
Years_active = 1998–present
Label = Young Tree
Associated_acts = Don Carlos
Israel Vibration
URL = [http://www.groundation.com/ www.groundation.com]
Current_members = Harrison Stafford
Ryan Newman
Marcus Urani
David "Diesel" Chachere
Kelsey Howard
Paul "Papa" Spina
Mingo Lewis Junior
Kerry-Ann Morgan
Kim Pommell
Past_members = Jason Robinson
James Stafford
Ben Krames

Groundation is an American roots reggae band with jazz and dub influences from Sonoma in Northern California.

History

The band was formed in the fall of 1998 by Harrison Stafford, Marcus Urani, and Ryan Newman. In 1999, Stafford teamed up with Kris Dilbeck to found Young Tree Records and release Groundation's debut album of the same name. In 2000 they added to the line up David Chachere, a San Francisco based jazz trumpeter, and Kelsey Howard, a North Bay trombone player. Saxophonist Jason Robinson was a member of the band for a time, and has since gone on to become the head of the jazz program at UC San Diego. Drummer Paul Spina (Les Claypool, Will Bernard’s Mother Bug) has been with the group since taking over for James Stafford in December 2001.

Between 1999 and 2001, Harrison Stafford taught the first course on the History of Reggae Music at Sonoma State University.

Lineup

*Harrison Stafford – vocals, guitar
*Ryan Newman – bass
*Marcus Urani – keyboards
*David "Diesel" Chachere – trumpet
*Kelsey Howard – trombone
*Paul Spina – drums
*Mingo Lewis Jr – congas, timbales, percussion
*Kerry Ann Morgan – chorus
*Kim Pommell – chorus

Discography

Studio albums

*1999: "Young Tree" (Remastered in 2002)
*2001: "Each One Teach One"
*2002: "Hebron Gate"
*2004: "We Free Again"
*2005: "Dub Wars"
*2006: "Upon the Bridge"
*2008: "Rockamovya" (Groundation project featuring Will Bernard and Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace)

Rockamovya - A Groundation side project

The three founding members of Groundation (Harrison Stafford, Marcus Urani and Ryan Newman) join forces with the legendaryJamaican drummer Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace and the grammy nominated Jazz guitarist Will Bernard to formRockamovya. The name comes from Leroy Horsemouth Wallace, Jamaicanpatios style and is meant to show the unity and power of the music.The sound is fresh and very different from the Groundation works, butit remains deeply rooted in Reggae and Jamaican popular music. Therelease has been scheduled for June 17, 2008.

---> [http://www.rockamovya.com Rockamovya's official website]

External links

* [http://www.groundation.com Groundation] official website
* [http://www.youngtreerecords.com/ Young Tree Records] official website
*myspace|groundation
* [http://www.reggae-reviews.com/groundation.html Groundation album reviews] at Reggae-Reviews.com
* [http://www.rockamovya.com Rockamovya] official website