Album Notes

Andrew Diamond’s debut album, “Diamond in the Rough”, mixes the sweetness of roots reggae with the toughness of machine driven dance hall.

Andrew has included some of Jamaica’s great recording artists on the album including members of the Roots Radics', Burning Spear's and Ziggy Marley’s bands, and singers John Junior, Queen Ifrica, and Prezident Brown.

Songs include: “Special Guest”, a cover of one of Andrew's favorite Gregory Isaacs tunes, “Run Around”, about a misbehaving fictitious female that he did as a combination with Prezident Brown. “Real Love”, a tune that just busted out; it was written in a matter of minutes from hearing the rhythm, it is also a combination with Ochi Rios singer John Junior. Other tracks on the album include: “Naturally”, a slow and relentless groove featuring Dwight Pinckney and Flabba Holt of the Roots Radics band, “Last Chance”, with the Solid Foundation Band on the Real Rock Riddim, and, “You’re Mine”, an Al Campbell cover that features lush harmonies by Jah Lu from the group Foundation.

Andrew grew up surrounded by music in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, originally a drummer; he did a short tour with the Itals before starting the reggae band Solid Foundation. Solid Foundation has since toured backing artists as: Everton Blender, Richie Spice, Norris Man, Tony Rebel, Queen Ifrica, Foundation, and Prezident Brown.

Andrew moved to Kingston, Jamaica in 2004 to complete “Diamond in the Rough” and to work as the resident engineer at the world renown Geejam Recording Studios in Port Antonio. He stayed in Jamaica for two years before returning to the US and now resides in Washington DC.