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ON THE RISE
GRAMMY-nominated international band, The Original Wailers featuring Al Anderson, delivers a catalog of chart-topping hit songs with a fresh twist captivating audiences around the world. The difference between Al Anderson’s incarnation of The Original Wailers and other bands that have the similar name is that he has recorded and toured with Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and also performed with Bunny Wailer. The group has toured worldwide, carrying the torch of the iconic trio: Bob, Peter, Bunny. In 2023 Al celebrated his 50th Anniversary playing The Wailers Music.
Unlike similar named imitators, The Original Wailers is comprised of talented members from around the world that represent Al Anderson of the original Bob Marley and The Wailers group.
“There are so many bands that copy Bob Marley and The Wailers,” explains Anderson. “I had the opportunity to live and perform with the iconic three original Wailers. I spent a lot of time making music with them and really cherished the thought and moments I had with them. We [The Original Wailers] don’t imitate. We improvise the legendary catalog and perform our own written compositions.”
“Music is art. You need to create your own music as an artist,” shares Anderson.
It was 1973 when Al Anderson was recommended as a substitute for Paul Kossoff to record Bob Marley’s first solo album, Natty Dread. Al got lucky when Paul gave him the opportunity to record and meet Bob Marley. This is how Al found himself performing as the lead guitarist of Bob Marley and The Wailers from December 1973 until 1976 and again from 1978 to 1981.
Al Anderson is no stranger to Multi-GRAMMY Awarded artists. Al played on Carlos Santana’s “Supernatural” and Lauryn Hill’s “Miseducation”. Anderson has taken the stage alongside industry greats for decades. Joining Bob Marley and The Wailers was the beginning of an era for Al Anderson, as well as the beginning of a lifelong journey. During this time, he went on to write some of the most memorable guitar solos in the history of reggae. Alongside Wayne Perkins, Anderson became one of the first guitarists to bring blues-rock guitar to Jamaican music—and, eventually, to the international world of reggae.
The Original Wailers is comprised of Chet Samuel from Puerto Rico on vocals and rhythm guitar, Ras Klapms from Jamaica on organ, Omar Lopez from Mexico on bass guitar, and Paapa Nyarkoh from Ghana (Africa) on drums. Each musician brings a unique set of influences and musical talents, that can be recognised.
“I would like to say I have the United Nations of Sound with me,” Al said.
In 2012, the band’s debut EP, Miracle, was nominated for “Best Reggae Album” at the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards. In 2019 The Original Wailers took the stage as a headliner in Morocco to 100,000 listeners.
For eight weeks, Sugarshack Sessions will feature a compilation of eight songs, performed in an unplugged set, including songs from the early days and two original compositions written by Al Anderson and Chet Samuel “Song of the Divine” and “Empress Omega.” Two songs “Redemption Song” and “Three Little Birds” (the compilation of Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds”, Peter Tosh’s “Legalize It” and Bunny Wailer’s “Rootsman Skanking”) are already available on Sugarshak Music Channel (YouTube). “Song of the Divine” will be released on Lovers Valentine’s Day February 14, “Empress Omega”, - February 28. Enjoy online!
The Original Wailers are excited to share their new album, Mirror of Heaven with their fans, that’s coming soon. The Sugarshack Sessions features two tracks off the upcoming EP.
“Our goal is to get back to the people who embrace our years and our musical journey”, said Al.
Stay connected to Al Anderson and The Original Wailers on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.
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ON THE RISE
Clinton Brand III – better known as CBIII – is a California-based rapper. His new single, titled “I Won’t Quit,” is a motivational and relatable message for everyone “going through it.”
The track, with a beat by Tunna Beats, has a Blurry Face vibe. It starts with a violin and the soft “ahh”s of featured singer Alex Brinkley. When the beat drops, piano, bass and drums enter along with CBIII’s lyrical meditations on “overthinking, contemplating, and debating” why he “won’t quit.”
As the final line makes clear, the song is a study in contradictory mindsets. There’s the fear of failure – what if I’m not good enough? – and then the contrast of relentlessness as stated in the title.
The lyrics of the song’s final quattrain are especially strong. Beginning with an example of CBIII’s wordplay (phenomenal and astronomical anomaly), the final message is one of inspiration: I’m tired of this, so I’m going to make it better.
This struggle with nagging self-doubt and overthinking makes “I Won’t Quit” very relatable. In the end, CBIII wants listeners to be inspired, to not give in when they find themselves in similar circumstances.
Brand’s inspiration for “I Won’t Quit” was intensely personal. Following the death of his parents at a young age, he was raised by his grandmother and then was placed in foster care. A recent visit found his grandmother’s memory fading; this was painful, considering that she had once been his biggest supporter.
This episode left him feeling abandoned, in a dark place.
He says, “I wrote the song ‘I Won’t Quit’ because at that time I was suicidal. I didn’t have nobody else to turn to because my grandma didn’t really care anymore.”
The vulnerability expressed in the lyrics made CBIII unsure if he wanted to release the song at all. He says, “I actually sat on the song for like five months before even thinking about releasing it because it’s so close to home that I wasn’t even sure if I was going to have the courage to share it.”
Now that the song is out, its vulnerability is its strength. Brand’s struggle is real, and the general contours – missing family support, doubting yourself, knowing you need to persevere – will be familiar to many.
In addition to his personal desire to live up his dream of greatness, Brand has another reason not to give up: his younger brother, who is currently in foster care. Knowing his brother looks up to him, he wants to remind him that giving in to doubt is the easy way out.
Brand says, “I want to encourage him, to show him that if you set your mind to it, bro, there’s nothing you can’t do.”
In the end, CBIII wants listeners to learn from his pain, to ask themselves, “What if I don’t give up?”
Stream “I Won’t Quit” now, wherever you listen to music.
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