The West Indies meets the Wild West! Reggae Cowboys pay tribute
to the black cowboys of the past century and the contribution
they made to cowboy culture. Combining the powerful rhythms
of reggae with country, pop and rock, Reggae Cowboys capture
the hearts and souls of audiences everywhere. Whether a reggae
fan or not, EVERYONE who sees the Cowboys becomes an instant
fan.
The roundup began in late 1993 when Bird "Stone Ranger" Bellony and Aljernon Delano "Click Masta Sync" Rabess (childhood acquaintances from Dominica, British West Indies) joined forces in Toronto, Canada. The Reggae Cowboys' name came from their fascination with the role of African-Americans in settling the West in the 1800s.
Country influences are widely pumped through the radio stations and films in the Caribbean islands, so a lot of West Indians grew up listening to country music. Says Bird, "My brother was a projectionist at the local movie theatre, so I grew up watching Westerns starring Clint Eastwood, Gary Cooper, Gabby Hayes, Audie Murphy and Fernando Sancho."
By combining a unique and unforgettable mix of Reggae and Traditional Country, The Reggae Cowboys evoke a euphoric feeling in all of their audience members.
Download a PDF of the Reggae Cowboys Sell Sheet (268 K)
Press Quotes
Possibly not since (or before) Bob Marley’s “I Shot The Sheriff” has reggae so openly flirted with Country and Western themes.
The Word (Toronto)
“A beautifully crafted blend of riddims…” Billboard “The group has taken reggae to a new dimension – reggae mixed with Blues, Country, R&B and Jazz.” - Xnews (Jamaica)
Presenter Comments
"I wanted to send you a belated thank you for your assistance with bringing the Reggae Cowboys to the Milk International Children's Festival of the Arts. It was great to see kids and families up and dancing to the dynamic beat of the band. Although the band may not be your typical children's festival band, they were a great musical addition to our line-up and fit nicely with the groove of the festival.
It was also nice to see the guys out after their gig's participating in social events and mingling with our other artists. All-in-all, a success! Thanks again. It was a great experience working with LiveTourArtists."
- Jeremy "Boomer" Stacey, Artistic Director Milk International Children's Festival of the Arts
Fan Comments
“HEY – I’M DANNY SWAINSON. I’M 15 AND HAVE JUST HAD MY MIND BLOWN!!!!!!!!!! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST BAND I HAVE EVER HERD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I BOUGHT 3 CDS (THE ONY ONES I COULD GET MY HANDS ON) I LOVE YOUR STYLE. IT’S SO AWESOME! I JUST CAME BACK FROM SEEING YOU GUYS LIVE AT THE RED ROCK FOLK FESTIVAL. IT WAS LIKE NO JOKE A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE! LIKE I TOTALLY AM CHANGING ALL MY GUITAR PLAYING STYLES TO REGGAE. MY U GUYS ROCK. PEACE AND LOVE BROTHERS” - DANNY BOY, BIG FAN
My name is Jake Sheppard and I just got back from the Summerfolk Festival in Owen Sound. You guys are the best thing I have ever heard. Thanks a lot. You will be the rebirth of reggae.
Jake Sheppard
