Debut of the Rock City Orchestra on the Market Square Entertainment (MSE) label.
The Rock City Orchestra (RCO) is a new, exciting, and innovative group with a new and exciting sound called Caribbean Soul! This sound takes the best of the Caribbean and merges it with R&B. The merger is accompanied with exciting vocals, an in the pocket rhythm section, a powerhouse horn section, and tasty percussions. From track one, Josephine to the last track, Socamerica, the Orchestra takes the listener on an Odyssey of sound that is unique to the music world. John Harley, trumpeter, arranger, writer, and producer, leads the Orchestra. Keith "Designer" Prescott and Tony Petty are extraordinary on lead vocals.
John Harley hails from Rock City-- St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. At an early age John was heavily involved in R&B music, including playing private parties and stage shows. He began playing professionally at age 14 with a local group of teenage musicians, The Parliaments, who quickly rose to prominence in the late sixties and early seventies. The seed for mixing calypso and R&B germinated within John in this early period when the group opened for such mainland acts as The Chi-Lites, Kool & The Gang, and The Stylistics.
After graduating high school in 1972, John joined the Virgin Islands' most prominent and internationally known band, "Milo and the Kings." His first record date occurred in 1973, with Milo on the album "Milo and The Kings Today" which quickly climbed to the top of the Caribbean charts in New York City. He toured the United States and Caribbean extensively with Milo, and was a member of the group in 1974 when they won the covenant award for the best brass band in Trinidad & Tobago.
John enrolled at Howard University as a music education major and percussion minor in 1978, on a grant from Virgin Islands Council of the Arts. He toured with the University's Drama department production of "Black Images," primarily as their drummer. He also played drums and recorded for "Spliff," Washington D.C.'s most prominent reggae group, which did numerous club, stage, and television dates. In addition to Spliff, John worked the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area with Jazz recording artist Doug Carne.
In 1994 John co-founded Jiro Productions in New York City, a company dedicated to the development of young, up and coming Caribbean artists. He also started Market Square Entertainment, LLC in 2003, a company dedicated to the production of his own compositions as well as the development of other artists. Some more of his latest work can be heard on the upcoming Bambu Station Studio's single, "Let it Out Dub," on Mt. NEBO Records.
Keith "Designer" Prescott is an exceptional vocalist from Trinidad and Tobago who has the ability to deliver island rhythms in a R&B fashion with his silky-soul voice. On stage, Designer has worked with some of the top names in the music industry including Queen Latifah, Naughty by Nature, Beenie Man, the late Dennis Brown, Lady Saw, Bounty Killer, Ralph MacDonald, Tom Scott, Jake Holmes; Veterans like Swallow, Beckett, Arrow, Carlene Davis and the late greats: Eric Gale and Richard Tee to name a few. He has recently appeared on avant-garde jazz artist, Don Byron's latest album. According to him, being on different sides of the stage has taught him professionalism and the importance of time. Always a popular act on major tour packages, Designer has also carried his own shows to London, France and Canada (the Montreal jazz Festival and Toronto Caribana). Other show venues range from nightclubs to college campuses across the US as well as music festivals in the Caribbean and South America.
Talented Washington, D.C. performer Tony Petty was born to sing. His mother was a local nightclub singer and at the tender age of 15 he soon found himself performing professionally. Tony has performed at many metropolitan area events for very diverse audiences. He has performed on many local artists recording projects and other performances, including television, radio, and live at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York. What makes Tony so uniquely talented is his ability to make a song his own; no matter what genre of music he is performing. Although Tony's mother, Marie passed on at an early age, she continues to be his everlasting source of inspiration, and is the reason he continues to give his very best in all of his performances.
Come enjoy the Odyssey of Caribbean Soul!
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