1990-1995 – Lift Up Your Head
In the early 1990’s Blender produced a series of hits, following his autobiographical “Create a Sound” with the Star Trail label. His popularity increased across Jamaican shores to the United Kingdom , and he recorded additional songs to complete an album, his first called “Lift Up Your Head,” reached number four on the Black Echoes music chart. The album was distributed by Heartbeat Records who later became his record label.
1996-2000 – Piece of the Blender, Rootsman Credential, Dance Hall Liberation
Blender released a series of hits with Star Trail and other labels, such as “Blend Dem,” “World Corruption,” “Bob Marley,” “Piece of the Blender,” “The Man,” and “Coming Harder.” Blender started his own record label, Blend Dem Productions. He worked with artists such as President Brown, Admiral Tibet , Louie Culture, Jah Mason, Spanner Banner, Richie Spice and Anthony B. He also produced his own recordings. In 1999, Blender released his first album under his label, Blend Dem Productions, called ‘Rootsman Credential’. It contained songs that became boom shots, “Ghetto People Song,” “Why do we have to War,” and “False Words,” “Slick Me Slick,” “These Hands.” Heartbeat also released an album produced by Blend Dem Production called Dance Hall Liberation. Anthony B, Tony Rebel, Louie Cultured, Richie Spice, Ishja Blender and others were featured on the album. Blender toured internationally, traveling to Europe , Asia , Africa and North America , - his trips took him all over Europe and the U.S. and Canada and to other countries such as South Africa , Malawi , Tanzania and Japan . He sang to enthusiastic audiences as the headliner at many major reggae events and festivals.
2001-2005 – Visionary, King Man and Its My Time
Blender released another self-produced album, Visionary, which featured Beenie Man, Anthony B, Tony Rebel and Marcia Griffiths. In 2003, Blend Dem Productions, through Heartbeat released the album King Man. In 2005, Blend Dem Productions and the Explorer label released Its My Time.
2011 Higher Heights revolution
Blender’s brings this legacy to his new label, Island Splash Records, with the release of a new album titled, Higher Heights rEvolution, which is due out this Fall. The songs on the Higher Heights rEvolution contain Blender’s stamp, conscious roots reggae music and are titled: Bubbaru, Hold On In Deh, When You Wrong You Wrong, Love All These Girls, It’s all About You, Lion Crown and Conference Table.
They are unforgettable, another collector’s item. The album contains a special treat, a combination song with Blender’s daughter Isha which is entitled Lion Crown. The track list rounds out the album with 15 songs which provides a vehicle to display and showcase the talents of next generation Blender. He says of his new album “it is my best work so far, I am putting in 100% of myself, giving to the people lyrics that make them more conscious and spiritual, I feel like I am shining a light of consciousness around the world.”
Notable Live Recordings
In 2000, Blender and his Blend Dem band produced a DVD from a live performance in Jamaica at the White River Reggae Bash. In 2007, Live in Berkeley, the performance of the band was recorded and was released as well. |