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Tribal Seeds is an American
reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...
band based in San Diego that was formed in 2005 by the Jacobo brothers, singer Steven Rene and producer Tony-Ray.


Biography


Formation (2003–2005)

From
San Diego, California San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United States ...
, award-winning reggae group Tribal Seeds have become known for their spiritually driven, refreshing rock vibe they have infused with the roots style of reggae music. Originally started by two brothers, Steven Rene Jacobo (lyrics, vocals, guitar) and Tony-Ray Jacobo (keyboardist, producer) in 2005 (though the idea came about in 2003), Tribal Seeds went through a lot of different members over the years. Currently, the band boasts six members, including: Victor Navarro (bass), Ryan "Gonzo" Gonzales (guitar, vocals), Luis Castillo (keyboards, vocals), Danny Lopilato (keyboards, vocals) & Jamey "Zeb" Dekofsky (drums).


''Youth Rebellion'' and Self-titled album (2005–2008)

With the original lineup of the Jacobo brothers, along with brothers Victor and Antonio "Tony" Navarro on guitar and percussion, they added another guitarist Mark Muñoz, keyboardist John Wegener and drummer Carlos Verdugo. The band issued their debut album, ''Youth Rebellion'' in 2005. The album was the first of many to be released on the group's own label. Tribal Seeds self-titled album, their second, was released on their own label on January 16, 2008.
iTunes iTunes () is a software program that acts as a media player, media library, mobile device management utility, and the client app for the iTunes Store. Developed by Apple Inc., it is used to purchase, play, download, and organize digital mul ...
named this album "Best Of" in the Reggae genre. Their debut album helped garner them the "Best World Music" title at the San Diego Music Awards in 2008.


''The Harvest'' and ''Soundwaves EP'' (2009–2011)

Their third album, ''The Harvest'', followed on May 26, 2009, once again, on their own label. It featured 14 original songs and debuted at the #5 spot on the ''
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' Top Reggae Albums Charts, as well as earning iTunes "Best Of" category just like their debut album. On July 19, 2011, Tribal Seeds released their first EP titled, ''Soundwaves'', which peaked at #2 on the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart.


''Representing'' (2013–2015)

In the beginning of 2013, the band parted ways with guitarists Marc Muñoz, percussionist Tony Navarro, and bassist John Wegener. They added their friend, producer, keyboardist and lyricist E.N. Young who previously produced the band's ''Soundwaves EP''. On May 13, 2014, Tribal Seeds released their fourth studio album, ''Representing''. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard Reggae Charts (114Top 200 05.31.2014
Billboard.
Top ''Billboard'' 200), as well as the iTunes and Amazon Top Reggae charts. ''Representing'' contains 12 original recordings featuring
Don Carlos ''Don Carlos'' is a five-act grand opera composed by Giuseppe Verdi to a French-language libretto by Joseph Méry and Camille du Locle, based on the dramatic play '' Don Carlos, Infant von Spanien'' (''Don Carlos, Infante of Spain'') by Friedri ...
,
Mykal Rose Michael Rose (born 11 July 1957) is a Grammy award-winning reggae singer from Jamaica. He is known for a successful tenure with Black Uhuru from 1977 to 1984, and he has worked regularly with Dennis Brown, Big Youth, The Wailers, Gregory Isaacs ...
, Kyle McDonald of
Slightly Stoopid Slightly Stoopid is an American band based in the Ocean Beach neighborhood of San Diego, California, who describe their music as "a fusion of folk, rock, reggae and blues with hip-hop, funk, metal and punk." As a band, they have released thirt ...
, Vaughn Benjamin of Midnite,
New Kingston Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley Inter ...
, Maad T-Ray (Tribal Seeds' producer), and guitarist, Gonzo.


Major lineup change (2016)

Once again, the band announced another lineup change with the departure of two influential members: Carlos Verdugo and E.N. Young. Long-time drummer Carlos Verdugo decided to leave the band on good terms and was recruited as the new full-time drummer for
Sublime with Rome Sublime with Rome is a musical collaboration between Eric Wilson (bassist), Eric Wilson, formerly of the American ska punk band Sublime (band), Sublime, and singer and guitarist Rome Ramirez. The group's name is not only a reference to the singe ...
. The band quickly named Jamey "Jeb" Dekofsky who was most notably the drummer for
Barrington Levy Barrington Ainsworth Levy (born 30 April 1964) is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist. Career Levy was born in Clarendon, Jamaica. He formed a band called the Mighty Multitude, with his cousin, Everton Dacres; the pair released "My Bl ...
and backing band, Detour Posse. However, E.N. Young didn't leave so quietly. He took to social media to announce his abrupt departure and express his frustration with the Jacobo brothers (owners) and the band's management on how they handled the situation by a "letter of termination" email after asking questions about the band's future. Meanwhile, Steven Rene responded by saying had "nothing bad to say about E.N. but it just didn't work out with him." Jacobo added, that "all the negatively surrounding the topic shouldn't have been made into a scene online." Tony-Ray Jacobo decided to ditch the keyboard and live performances to solely focus on producing Tribal Seeds' music and albums, so he will remain with the band behind the scenes. He also wanted to focus on his solo career with different musical genres. He goes by the name "Maad T-Ray".


''Roots Party EP'' (2017)

Tribal Seeds released a second EP titled, ''Roots Party'' on December 1, 2017, which debuted at the top of the charts at #1 on Billboard, iTunes, and Amazon Reggae charts. The EP consists of five new tracks including; "Aroma", "Gunsmoke" (featuring
Protoje Oje Ken Ollivierre (born 14 June 1981), popularly known as Protoje, is a contemporary reggae singer and songwriter from Jamaica. His mother is Jamaican singer Lorna Bennett, best known for her 1972 rendition of "Breakfast in Bed".Johnson, Rich ...
), "Roots Party", "Empress" and "Rude Girl", along with three dub tracks. (The European version of ''Roots Party EP'' was released on June 6, 2018. It includes five bonus tracks.)


''Live'' album (2020)

The band recorded their first live album titled ''Tribal Seeds Live: The 2020 Sessions'', which released on November 20, 2020.


Tours

Tribal Seeds have toured throughout the United States, as well as performing in
Aruba Aruba ( , , ), officially the Country of Aruba ( nl, Land Aruba; pap, Pais Aruba) is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands physically located in the mid-south of the Caribbean Sea, about north of the Venezuela peninsula of ...
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, and
Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
. They shared the stage with reggae artists such as
Gregory Isaacs Gregory Anthony Isaacs OD (15 July 1951 – 25 October 2010)Thompson, p. 127. was a Jamaican reggae musician. Milo Miles, writing in ''The New York Times'', described Isaacs as "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae".Miles, Milo (1992),RECORDI ...
,
Julian Marley Julian Ricardo Marley (born 4 June 1975) is a British-Jamaican reggae musician, songwriter, producer and humanitarian. He is the son of reggae music icon Bob Marley, and Lucy Pounder. He follows in his father's footsteps and is a devout Rasta ...
, Stephen Marley,
Matisyahu Matthew Paul Miller (born June 30, 1979), known by his stage name Matisyahu (; ), is an American reggae singer, rapper, beatboxer Beatboxing (also beat boxing) is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of mimicking drum mac ...
, Rebelution, SOJA,
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. They also opened up for rock, pop and R&B groups like Cee Lo Green, Dave Matthew's Band,
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O.A.R. O.A.R. (short for Of A Revolution) is an American rock band, founded in 1996 in Rockville, Maryland. The band consists of lead vocalist/guitarist Marc Roberge, drummer Chris Culos, guitarist Richard On, bassist Benj Gershman, saxophonist/guitar ...
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.


Awards and honors

Their debut album helped garner them the Best World Music title at the San Diego Music Awards (2008).Best World Music
San Diego Music Awards.
Tribal Seeds won Artist of the Year at the San Diego Music Awards in 2017.


Lineup


Current band members

*Steven Jacobo – Lead Vocals, Guitar (2005–Present) *Tony-Ray Jacobo ("Maad T-Ray") – Keyboard, Vocals (2005–Present), Producer (2005–Present) *Victor Navarro – Bass (2005–Present) *Ryan "Gonzo" Gonzalez – Guitar, Backing Vocals (2013–Present) *Luis Castillo – Keyboards, Backing Vocals (2017–Present) *Jamey "Zeb" Dekofsky – Drums (2017–Present) *Hector Roots Lewis - Guest Vocals (2022–Present)


Past band members

*Daniel Lopilato – Keyboard (2017–2020)
(featured on ''Roots Party EP'') *Marc Muñoz – Guitar (2005–2008)
(featured on ''Youth Rebellion'', ''Tribal Seeds'') *John Wegener – Bass (2005–2009)
(featured on ''Youth Rebellion'', ''Tribal Seeds'', ''The Harvest'') *Tony "Dready" Navarro – Guitar, Percussion (2005–2014)
(featured on ''Youth Rebellion'', ''Tribal Seeds'', ''Soundwaves EP'', ''The Harvest'') *Carlos "C-Los" Verdugo – Drums (2006–2017)
(featured on ''Youth Rebellion'', ''Tribal Seeds'', ''The Harvest'', ''Soundwaves EP'', ''Representing'') *E.N. Young – Keyboard,
Melodica The melodica is a handheld free-reed instrument similar to a pump organ or harmonica. It features a musical keyboard on top, and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. The keyboard usual ...
, Backing Vocals (2013–2017)
(featured on ''Representing'') *Joe Rodriguez – Percussion, Keyboard (2013–2017)
(featured on ''Representing'')


Discography


Studio albums


Singles


References


External links

* {{Authority control American reggae musical groups Musical groups from San Diego Reggae rock groups