Album Notes

Music For a Better Planet,Featuring musicians From Kingston Jamaica, Tonga, Houston Texas, New Orleans, Louisiana and back to California. The messages of Love, Peace, and Hope, are timeless.
Bernie Larsen who opens the CD with "Rhythm of Life" has written for David Lindley and Jackson Brown. He has played with Mellissa Etheridge and David Lindley as well as produced his own CD's under the name "CRY ON CUE".
Special guests Santa Davis on drums, currently on the new Countryman CD by Willie Nelson is one of the the true legends of Reggae drumming.He has been playing recently with Ziggy Marley.Fully Fullwood on bass, founded the legendary Soul Syndicate in Jamaica,and played with Peter Tosh and still tours with the Fully Fullwood band.Fully has a new album out that is a must have for groove lovers everywhere. Fully and Santa are the mighty groove on the opening track, "Rhythm of Life. Tony Chin who wrote "Vision" is also from Jamaica. He also played guitar with Santa and Fully in a rhythm section known as "Soul Syndicate." Tony also played with Bob Marley on the very early day of reggae in Jamaica. He also has a new solo Cd out.Duane Smith who played keyboards on "Vision" is legally blind. Duane helped us all "SEE" this song better. Bass player Larry Fulcher who wrote "Shine On" and "Love is the Answer," is currently playing bass guitar with Taj Majal. He has recorded with many R&B and reggae acts. Semisi M'au is originally from Tonga(South Pacific)and has his own CD out in San Diego. He opens his song "You are the music" with a traditional Tongan nose flute solo. Dean Smith who wrote "Just People" and "Promise of Love" is a local bass player and songwriter. Currently playing bass in Private Domain he is releasing an original CD. Just People was written after the Tianamen Square massacre in China. I heard this song years ago and somehow knew I would be involved in helping to produce it. Jerry McCann sang on Dean's "Promise of Love" and wrote and sang "The Distance." Jerry is a well known guitarist-singer and has his own original CD out. Daryl Johnson who sang and played bass on Larry Fulcher's song "Love is the Answer" has recorded and played bass with Emmy Lou Harris for the last 5 years. He has recorded with Peter Gabriel, Bob Dylan, Boz Scaggs,Mick Jagger, The Dixie Chicks, Marianne Faithful, Daniel Lanois, as well as with his uncles, the Neville Brothers . Larry Dent, who played many of the drum tracks, has recorded and played drums in L.A. and San Diego with many well known artists. I have played drums and percussion in San Diego for over 20 years. Larry and I played drums and percussion with many of the players in different bands including "The International Reggae Allstars", "Soul Patrol", and "Cry on Cue." Jim French brought his instrument making and playing skills to the CD with some instrumental magic.These instrumentals are all improv with homemade instruments and organic percussion. All done tottaly improv, by inspiration.
Jeff Clough was the recording engineer at "Cloud 9 Studio" in Sorrento Valley. He brought a great vibe to the project. The pro's that dropped in had a great time.
Steve Shepherd who I've known since high school did the final mastering in Burbank at "Blue Nile". He worked with Kenny G and on the Music for the T.V. show "Touched by an Angel. The Angels were with me as I recorded and worked with a great group of singers, songwriters and musicians. And most of all I dedicate this project with LOVE to the memory of my brother Douglas Alan Johnson. Spread some Love and Peace with your friends and family. Thanks GRJ.