SOWETO SOLEIL
BIOGRAPHY
SOWETO SOLEIL third CD which he composed and produced himself, was released in Africa ,and quickly rose to #1 on the African Charts. The album was embraced by the public , and the press , and it’s immense popularity resulted in his winning two AFRICAN MUSIC AWARDS in Libreville, Gabon. One award was for BEST ALBUM in reggae category, and the other was for BEST VIDEO.
The songs on the album” SARAH “ , range from the Afro-Pop reggae song “ SARAH”, the beautiful video which won BEST VIDEO AWARD, to the expression of Soleil’s philosophy in the hard –core roots hit,” FREEDOOM” and the African reggae roots track, “UNITE AFRICA”. The lyrics of the songs are sung in , English , French, and African languages. “IT’S FOR WAR “ was inspired by the many wars going on in different parts of the world today. “PRAY JAH “ is a universal song of prayer for the world to live in harmony, peace,and unity.
Born Philippe SOWETO YAPO in Abidjan , Cote D’ivoire in West Africa, his interest in music began at an early age . His father , a government official , disapproved so severely of his musical inclinations, that he threw out his first drum set , and sent his son away to boarding school, in the hope that he could be influenced in some other direction. At the age 17 , he left home and continued his schooling in Paris . He returned to Africa and studied accounting , and English in Liberia, playing music all the while . He worked in Kingston, Jamaica with Errol Brown,and Dennis Thompson (Bob Marley’s engineers ). He currently lives in New York city, and travels frequently to Africa. He has played to audiences in Africa, the United States, France, and the United Kingdom.
His present group, the eight member "FLAMES OF FIRE", is comprised of Africans and Americans of various cultural backgrounds. A key element in the creation of Afro-Pop reggae, is the guitarist “Flames Lombo” originally from the Republic of Congo, who is featured on the album . The keyboards player is Sidney Mills of Steel Pulse, who brings the influence of his Jamaican roots. A key ingredient in the creation of Soweto Soleil’s unique sound, is the sax player , Joe Hrbek, who is also a disciple of Maceo Parker. Larita Gaskins sings backup , and brings her gospel flavor to the music. Isaac Vere from Trinidad, plays a booming bass with a righteous reggae style.
Soweto Soleil's recent live concerts at Irving Plaza , one with Black Uhuru, in October, and another with Gregory Isaacs on September 23 , have generated a lot excitement and have led Nick Charles of the New York Daily News, to conclude in his reggae review that Soweto Soleil is the sensation of the Ivory-Coast . At the GrassRoots festival of music and dance which attracts about 12,500 people over four days in Trumansburg, Ithica, NY.Soweto Soleil was the front page favourite. Photo by Bill Warren.
The group displayed it's universal appeal to audiences of all ages and cultures,they also played new materials written by Soweto Soleil which will be on the forthcoming album, as well as the Bob Marley classic “no woman no cry”.
No matter where he played, the red, gold and green flag is always draped on Soweto Soleil’s microphone , and he always places an altar with a candle, incense, and a staff of David on stage. His Rastafarian philosophy combined with his commitment to the cause of freedom and justice are evident in Soleil’s work. His faith in Jah keeps him optimistic. As he often says “ IT GETS DARK SOMETIMES, BUT THE MORNING WILL ALWAYS COME.”
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