Groundation

Northern California-based reggae group Groundation were formed by guitarist/singer/lyricist Harrison Stafford, keyboardist Marcus Urani, and bassist Ryan Newman in 1998. The rest of the band personnel has fluctuated. As of 2009, it included a horn section consisting of David "Diesel" Chachere (trumpet), Kelsey Howard (trombone), and Dr. Jason Robinson (saxophone), as well as percussionist Mingo Lewis, Jr. and singers Kim Pommell and Stephanie Wallace. The group's newest member was drummer Te Kanawa Haereiti. Groundation self-released their debut album, Young Tree, on their own Young Tree label in 1999. Each One Teach One followed on July 31, 2001. The disc featured guests Ras Michael and Marcia Higgs. Hebron Gate, released January 21, 2003, included Don Carlos and the Congos as guests. Don Carlos also appeared on We Free Again (November 16, 2004), along with Apple Gabriel. In 2005, Groundation released the dub album Dub Wars. After the appearance of Upon the Bridge on October 17, 2006, the band not only toured internationally as usual, but, for the first time, also performed in the eastern half of the U.S. The domestic release of Here I Am on August 18, 2009, also heralded a round of American tour dates. ~ William Ruhlmann