World-class singer, songwriter, producer, and bass player Haile Maskel is on the rise again. Best known internationally among the reggae community for the vintage and much played track entitled, “Roll Call”, his music was a staple in the dances in Jamaica during the 1980’s. Also known as leader of 80’s reggae group the Rastafarians based in Santa Cruz, “Roll Call” is included on their collector’s item album entitled “Orthodox”.
Maskel is undoubtedly one of the unsung heroes of the Reggae music industry. Although he has been around seemingly forever, and his talents as a bass player have long been heard on countless recordings, yet, unlike other famous bass players like Familyman Barrett, Robbie Shakespeare, or Lloyd Parkes for instance, Maskel remains largely unknown to many who consider themselves “experts” on Reggae.
After many years in the business, he has composed, produced, and recorded trademark bass lines for a range of top flight artists including Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Ijahman Levi, the Heptones, Ras Michael & the Sons of Negus, Judy Mowatt, Israel Vibration, Sugar Minott, King Sounds, Lee Scratch Perry, The Mighty Diamonds, The Itals, Zema, Johnny Rivers, Luke “D”, The Light of Saba, Denis Brown, and the list goes on.
He is currently in the Los Angeles area leading one of the finest reggae groups based in America, Haile Maskel & the 101 Band. From Haile's acclaimed hits “Roll Call”, “Clap Your Hands”, and “My Jah”, to his current album “Papa Africa”, the audience is guaranteed a wealth of inspiration as he blends Jamaican roots with timeless devotion to Rastafarian livity. From Kingston to America, Haile performs one of the best live sets of reggae you'll ever hear. That is a live performance not to be missed.
Haile Maskel has been a part of reggae history since his first recording at age 19 and is still one explosive force in the music world, delighting his audiences with conscious lyrics, unforgettable melodies, and bubbling bass lines. This humble musician is sure that he has more than paid his dues in the business and he is now ready to reap some of the benefits for his long contribution to the sound and substance of Reggae Music.
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