Journey

A pilot’s dream

He went to the US Air Force enrollment office to become a pilot and didn’t meet the physical and medical requirements. "God had other plans for me." That is when I started teaching myself to DJ.

South Florida

A sound system mic

Fascinated with dub culture, he became a young MC on the Virgin Virgo sound system and studied DJs at the Psychedelic reggae bar.

South Florida

People: Virgin Virgo sound system, Santana the Selector, Fathead, Sugar Minott, Brigadier Gerry

The Musician Exchange

Sunday reggae nights with Tishan. Bob Zohn and Randy Bernsen of the Blue Riddim pulled him on stage. Jaco Pastorius told him, "Don’t ever stop polishing those skills, I love the fire in you kid."

Fort Lauderdale, FL

People: Tishan, Bob Zohn, Randy Bernsen, Jaco Pastorius

A room full of Wailers tour cases

Resident reggae DJ at The Village Inn in Coconut Grove, he joined forces with Anthony Booker. At rehearsal, Cedella Marley Booker opened the door. Young Julian Marley joined the second half. That was the start of Le Coup.

Coconut Grove, FL

People: Anthony Booker, Cedella Marley Booker, Julian Marley

Frontman and promoter

After Anthony was killed, he carried the vision of Le Coup forward as its frontman. The first show at Reggae Rockers on South Beach was a smash, and Kēvens the promoter was born.

South Beach, FL

Opening for Jimmy Cliff, twice

At the Cameo Theater in Miami, with his parents in the audience, and later in Key West, where Mr. Cliff taught him the warm tea ritual he still keeps.

Miami and Key West, FL

People: Jimmy Cliff

Acting while leading a band

Several auditions a week. Typecast as the drug dealer or the Rastafarian gunman. Then the national Fox Baseball commercial with Ryan Klesko, and the decision to go into music full-time.

Palm Beach County, FL

People: Ryan Klesko

Le Coup at the Musician Exchange

The club where he jammed at the Sunday reggae nights with Tishan put his own band on the Sunday bill: Le Coup Reggae, Sunday, July 28. The same summer calendar had Buddy Miles, Junior Walker, Spirit and Stanley Turrentine.

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Reggae Sunsplash

Performing in Kingston with Le Coup, at the festival the Blue Riddim had played first in 1982.

Kingston, Jamaica

The night he found his voice

Performing as Le Coup at the Florida Zen Music Festival, alongside Richard Booker, Bob Marley’s brother, he found the police presence heavy and the crowd defiant. He picked up the mic while DJ Monk was spinning and got everyone to chant "Positivity is a Necessity."

Florida

People: Richard Booker, DJ Monk

The Spark

Hearing "Brown Paper Bag" by Roni Size/Reprazent. Its drum and bass rhythms, electronic production and organic elements made him want to bring that energy into his own reggae music.

People: Roni Size, Reprazent

February 14, 1998

With a new band built to play jungle live, he opened for Lauryn Hill and Carlos Santana at the 5th Annual Bob Marley Caribbean Festival. An early step toward the new sound, before he had worked out how to fully realize it.

Miami, FL

People: Lauryn Hill, Carlos Santana

Reprazent, live

Later that season in Miami, working as MC for Rabbit in the Moon, he saw Roni Size/Reprazent perform live and shared the stage with them: Sunday, March 8, 1998, at the Cameo Theatre. He saw a way forward: reggae’s warmth and cultural consciousness with the energy of jungle and drum and bass, through a live band.

Miami, FL

People: Roni Size, Reprazent, Rabbit In The Moon

Naming the sound

At Florida’s Zen Music Festival, a journalist asked him to describe his musical concoction. His answer gave the movement its name: ReggaeEDM. He had tried "live drum and bass jungle with reggae" and Dancehall EDM first.

Florida

Cannabis Hemp

His first single, produced by Leo Purvis. Two hundred CDs, released locally.

Miami, FL

People: Leo Purvis

Ultra, on the mic

He helped book Rabbit In The Moon for Ultra Music Festival and tore up the mic as their MC.

Miami, FL

People: Rabbit In The Moon, Rey Navarro

A whole band at Ultra

Zenfest, after the Chemical Brothers, in his predator outfit. A Full Moon Party that convinced Rey Navarro. Then Ultra with live musicians, dancers and costumes, year after year.

Miami, FL

People: Rey Navarro, The Chemical Brothers

The Groove after-parties

"When brother Wade Hampton (DJ Wish FM) asked to be his MC for the movie Groove after parties, I had no idea I was getting involved with EDM royalty on this pioneering project." The premiere party for Greg Harrison’s film, June 6, 2000, at the legendary 1015 Folsom: John Digweed and Wish FM, with MC Kēvens.

San Francisco, CA

People: Wade Hampton (DJ Wish FM), John Digweed

Cyberfest

Days after flights resumed in September 2001, he flew to Texas to play before The Crystal Method while ravers climbed fences to get in.

Texas

Ultra NY, Central Park

Friday, September 16, 2005. The live band opens the main stage at Rumsey Playfield, ahead of Timo Maas, Paul Oakenfold and The Chemical Brothers, then heads downtown to headline the Avalon at eleven with the full theatrical ensemble. InternetDJ ran the news that month: a drum and bass artist with a progressive, rocking reggae edge, elaborate costumes, and one message, Positivity is a Necessity.

New York, NY

Soft Spot

Released in 2010. The live video from Earthdance in California shows where his ReggaeEDM comes from.

California

Opening for Steven Tyler

At the Celebration of the Sea festival, a standing ovation in the VIP tent, and a Russian booking agent named Elena.

Florida Keys

People: Steven Tyler

Gathering of Nations

His first true arena, more than 25,000 people and over 700 tribes. He closed with "Freedom for Humanity" alongside the Keeswood brothers.

Albuquerque, NM

People: The Keeswood brothers

After the Jacksons

White Nights of Saint Petersburg, broadcast on TV1 to about 50 million viewers. Thirty minutes before his set: "You’re now going on after the Jacksons."

St. Petersburg, Russia

People: The Jacksons

Miami Beach turns 100

The Centennial Concert with Andrea Bocelli, Barry Gibb and Third World. Cat Coore walked into his rehearsal room and stayed.

Miami Beach, FL

People: Andrea Bocelli, Barry Gibb, Third World, Cat Coore

Ultra Korea

Seoul Olympic Stadium, with David Guetta and Ice Cube on the bill.

Seoul, South Korea

People: David Guetta, Ice Cube

Battle for Peace

The single and video that open the album to come.

Legal Dreamers

The single that reached No. 1 in Jamaica, and the Dub Guardian Mix that followed. Covered from Australia to Chile.

Call to Balance

Eight songs about peace, liberty and staying upright when the world tilts. Submitted for Grammy consideration.

The Witch Doctor at the Sphere

Back in a role, on a 100ft screen in 16K, at UNITY Las Vegas.

Las Vegas, NV

Save Me

The new single.