Rivas (right) and Sangie Davis.
For many years, Rivas read about, and listened to the music of his Jamaican reggae heroes, from his home in Rochester, New York. Two years ago, he finally visited the country where the music was born.
During his second visit to Jamaica last May, Rivas recorded the song ‘Jah Praises’ with Sangie Davis, a close friend of Bob Marley, and a stalwart of the Twelve Tribes Of Israel organization.
Inspired by Psalm 24, it is produced by Rivas who shares writing credits with Davis. The single was recorded at the legendary Tuff Gong International studios in Kingston, which is owned by the Marley family.
“My first impression of Jamaica felt like home. I am a Puerto Rican and being in Jamaica felt similar in a sense of island beauty and nice vibes,” said Rivas. “The people of Jamaica were very nice and helpful. It felt amazing to be in the homeland of reggae music and Rastafari.”
‘Jah Praises’ features Nyahbinghi drummers from The Binghistra Movement.
Recording music in Jamaica was a dream come true for Rivas who grew up in a Puerto Rican home in Rochester. There was very little reggae activity in that city when he was a boy.
“I am a Puerto Rican and grew up in a culturally-diverse area of my town. I used to wake up to my Dad playing Merengue and Salsa music every Saturday morning,” Rivas recalled. “My Haitian neighbours used to blast Bob Marley really loud.”
On his first trip to Jamaica, he befriended Davis, who co-wrote Marley’s ‘Wake Up And Live’ and ‘A Young One Like Me’ by Nadine Sutherland.
WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL