In the premiere of Season 1: "Catch a Fire" dials things back to 1987 and heads to Washington, D.C., where Henry is a disillusioned justice major at American University. His life changes, however, when he walks into a record shop and eventually secures an internship at RAS Records working for trailblazing reggae producer Dr. Dread, a.k.a Gary Himmelfarb. The job description seems simple enough: sweeping floors, packing boxes, and answering phones. But, Henry soon learns calls to RAS Records are anything but simple.

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Rootsland is produced and (C) by Henry K Productions Inc.in association with Voice Boxx Studios in Kingston, Jamaica.

Introduction by:

Michelle "Kim" Yamaguchi

Featured Music:

Wayne Armond - "Righteous People"

Season 1: continues with "When the Music Hits" as Henry befriends a reggae super fan and an obsessed caller to the label. He soon learns that "Brian from Colorado" is an aspiring singer, whose revolutionary spirit may convince Henry to follow his dream to pursue music over law. That dream becomes a reality when Henry is tasked to bring a reggae legend to a recording session. He's not sure what hits him—it could be the contact buzz, it could be the savory smell of brown stew fish -- but when Henry sees Dr. Dread behind the mixing board with a grin ... life begins to make a whole lotta sense.

Rootsland is produced by Henry K Productions Inc. in association with Voice Boxx Studios in Kingston, Jamaica.

Home | ROOTSLAND Reggae Music, Podcast & Merchandise "Wear Your Culture"

Introduction by:

Michelle "Kim" Yamaguchi

Guest Vocals by:

Patrick "Curly Loxx" Gaynor

Jermaine Keys

Featured Music:

Big Mountain and Uton Green - " I Can See for Miles"

Notes: This episode contains excerpts from NPR's All Things Considered (the original story was reported by friend and colleague: the late, great, Tom Terrell; BBC Radio's Interview with Joseph "Culture" Hill Conducted by Mark Lamar; and Joseph Hill performing "2 Sevens Clash" live.

Season 1: continues with “Welcome to Jamrock” as Henry finds his groove at RAS Records just as reggae music grabs hold of him. Soon after, Dr Dread makes a call to Bob Marley’s widow, Rita, and the young intern lands a job working for the Marley family at the legendary Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston Jamaica. It's here he learns that Kingston is a city of extremes, and it's here he meets more of Reggae’s foundational musicians, who all share amazing tales of confronting and overcoming adversity.

Introduction by:

Michelle "Kim" Yamaguchi

Guest Vocals by:

Patrick "Curly Loxx" Gaynor Adam "Teacha" Barnes

All music Produced by Henry K

Featured Music:

Israel Vibrations - “Black Muddy River”

Bob Andy - “Fire Burning”

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Season 1: continues with “Ghetto Stays in the Mind” as Henry meets Mrs. Rita Marley, his new boss at Tuff Gong Music. The label is a magical melting pot of unsung heroes, reggae legends, and righteous Rastafarians. Reality hits when Bob Andy takes Henry into the “garrison,” where he sees the lasting damage caused by a bloody proxy war fought on the streets of Kingston in the 70’s between the CIA and KGB.

Rootsland is produced by Henry K Productions Inc. in association with Voice Boxx Studios in Kingston, Jamaica.

Introduction by: Michelle "Kim" Yamaguchi

Guest Vocals by: Patrick "Curly Loxx" Gaynor

Music and Sound Design Produced By Henry K

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Featured Music:

The Yoko Theory “Meds”

Black Uhuru “Slaughter”

Bob Andy “Ghetto Stays in the Mind Dub

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Season 1: continues with “Money Can’t Buy Life” as Henry learns that the future of the Marley Estate will be decided in the courts. Beyond the legal mumbo jumbo, he also has a chance meeting at a hotel bar with a local gangster named Rude Boy Tex, who may prove to be his most valuable connection during his time in Kingston.

Rootsland is produced by Henry K Productions Inc. in association with Voice Boxx Studios in Kingston, Jamaica.

Introduction by: Michelle "Kim" Yamaguchi

Guest Vocals by: Patrick "Curly Loxx" Gaynor

You can support the Show by purchasing The Rootsland (Original Podcast Soundtrack) Home | ROOTSLAND Reggae Music, Podcast & Merchandise "Wear Your Culture"

Season 1: continues with "Unchained". For the first generation of Jamaicans to grow up listening to reggae music, these songs weren't just jams for a Saturday night of dancing -- they were a guidebook for life. The music was inspiring an entire nation with its timeless messages of love, inclusion, and acceptance. In this chapter, Henry discovers that not everyone in Kingston got the memo.

Rootsland is produced by Henry K Productions Inc. in association with Voice Boxx Studios in Kingston, Jamaica.

Introduction by: Michelle "Kim" Yamaguchi

Guest Vocals by: Patrick "Curly Loxx" Gaynor

Featured song: "Living One Day at a Time(Extended Mix)" by Sugar Black & Lehbanchuleh

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Season 1: continues with “Love and Hate (Can Never Be Friends)". In the classic roots anthem “Here I Come”, Dennis Brown, the crown prince of reggae, sings, “Love and hate can never be friends." In this chapter, Henry discovers they do live side by side on the streets of Kingston as he comes face to face with hate. Fortunately for Henry, Rude Boy Tex teaches him the road code and helps him out of a sticky situation amidst the brutal and violent world of gangsters and dons.

Rootsland is produced by Henry K Productions Inc. in association with Voice Boxx Studios in Kingston, Jamaica.

Introduction by: Michelle "Kim" Yamaguchi

Guest Vocals by: Patrick "Curly Loxx" Gaynor

Featured song: Halfpint - “Bully You a Bully”

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Season 1: continues with "Legalize It, Don’t Criticize It". Because of the global impact of reggae and the rise of Rastafari culture, the island of Jamaica and marijuana -- or “ganja”, as it is called -- are forever joined as one. For many decades, however, it was actually illegal to smoke or possess the plant with much of the Rastafarian community paying the price through police brutality and lengthy prison sentences. In this chapter, Henry learns of these truths on his way to Reggae Sunsplash Festival.

Rootsland is produced by Henry K Productions Inc. in association with Voice Boxx Studios in Kingston, Jamaica. Special thanks to Patrick "Curly Loxx" Gaynor for the inspiration from Episode 25 of his show, In the Meantime, which is currently available on YouTube.

Introduction by: Michelle "Kim" Yamaguchi

Guest Vocals by: Patrick "Curly Loxx" Gaynor

Featured song: Sugar Black and Lehbanchuleh - “Give Thanks” Produced by Henry K

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