NATTY WAILER

• NATTY the Wailer

Natty Wailer, years in the making, is from and inspired by the old school Reggae of the legendary Bob Marley and the Wailers. Natty recorded and toured with Bob Marley and the Wailers as a keyboard player for over nine years. As a result, he's learnt the music trade to the extent of adapting the formula for making good music while spreading the importance of history and culture. After leaving the Wailers in 2000, he found his own entourage "Natty Wailer and the Reggae Vibes" with the main purpose of continuing this tradition. Subsequently, this is not just a musical career that he seeks to project but to pursue as the wider purpose of multiculturalism. He feels the need to contribute ultimately to world peace through music and culture. This indigenous music known as Reggae has the ability to bring all cultures and people together in a common way.

Natty Wailer’s Official MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/nattywailermusic

Natty Wailer’s Website:
http://www.nattywailer.net

 CONTACTS:

Delphine (Natty Wailer’s Manager)
Tel.: 00353(0)868987805
E-mail: nattywailer@gmail.com
 

• NATTY WAILER WITH BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS:

Natty Wailer met Bob Marley and the Wailers through the bass player Aston Barret known as Familyman in 1972. He then rehearsed, recorded and toured with them as a keyboard player.

PITTSBURGH (september 1980)  - Uprising Tour in the USA

Source:

http://www.bobmarleyconcerts.com/1980.php and  http://marley.wikia.com/wiki/1980-09-23

 September 23, 1980   

* Venue: Stanley Theater   
* City: Pittsburgh  
* State/Province: Pennsylvania   
* Country: United States   
* Recording Source Audience and Soundboard Band lineup   
* Bob Marley, vocals, rhythm guitar  
* Aston Barrett, bass *Carlton Barrett, drums   
* Junior Marvin, lead guitar   
* Al Anderson, lead guitar   
* Ian Wynter, keyboards   
* Tyrone Downie, keyboards   
* Alvin Patterson, percussion   
* The I-Threes, backing vocals



“WAILERS' BAND MEMBERS:

Source: http://www.mobilevisionusa.com/bob_credits.htm

Aston Barrett
Carlton Barrett
Earl Lindo
Tyrone Downie
Junior Marvin
Alvin Patterson
Al Anderson
Winston Wright
Gladstone Wright
Ian Wynter
Bernard Harvey
Earl Chinna Smith
Donald Kinsey
David Madden
Philip Madden
Glen DaCosta
Ska Campbell
 

You will also find his name on the superbe " Bob Marley and the Wailers complete discography" by Roger Steffens, a Reggae bible for all of us!

INTERVIEW WITH ASTON BARRETT -

Interview with Aston "Familyman" Barret by Philipp H. Farber (2000) mentioning Natty as the keyboard player of the Wailers.

http://www.marleysite.com/interview/barret.html


Interview with Ian “Natty Wailer” Wynter by Marco Virgona from BOB MARLEY Magazine Italy (JAN 09):

http://WWW.BOBMARLEYMAGAZINE...COM/interviews/showentry.php?..e=4142

Note that you need to register in order to be able to view the interview published on the Bob Marley Magazine website, therefore you will also find the complete interview  on our MySpace Blog Page (see blog from 30/01/09):
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendId=268095509

Natty Wailer recorded numerous albums and compilations wit Bob such as Songs of freedom.

SONGS OF FREEDOM by BOB MARLEY
Performance credits: Keyboards

http://music.barnesandnoble.com/Songs-of-Freedom/Bob-Marley-The-Wailers/e/731451443220/?itm=1
http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,126589,00.html


Natty Wailer also recorded on Bob Marley's song "WAR":

1976 "WAR" on Rastaman Vibration:
Keyboards Ian Winter
http://marley.wikia.com/wiki/War



During the same period, Natty was also playing and recording with Familyman. You will find his name Ian Wynter (often mispelt Winter) on some of his albums such as "Familyman in Dub", "Guided Missile" and "Work".

ASTON BARRETT  "Familyman In Dub" with Ian Wynter on Synthesiser & Piano:

http://itscomingoutofyourspeaker.blogspot.com/2007/11/aston-family-man-barrett-family-man-in.html


ASTON BARRETT COBRA STYLE

CREDITS: Ian Winter (Piano), Ian Winter (Vocals), Ian Winter (DJ),
SOURCE: http://www.answers.com/topic/cobra-style-lost-productions


SONG "WORK"  (see http://www.wailers.co.uk/a-z0vw.html)

Recorded: 1976
Artist: The Wailers actually Familyman & The Rebel Arms
Lead Vocal: Ian Winter
Composer: Aston Barrett
Producer: Aston Barrett
Availability: Cobra Style (Heartbeat)


Other source: Penny Reel's 'Bob Marley - The Illustrated Disco/Biography - by Observer Station' (sadly well out of print): Ian Wynter wrote and voiced The Wailers Tuff Gong 7" 'Work'. This track was backed by The Wailers instrumental 'Guided Missile'. Both sides produced by Family Man.
 

EXODUS AND THE WAILERS- "Traffic Jam" produced by Aston Familyman Barrett
Synthetizer: Ian Wynter


Ian "Natty Wailer" Wynter has also recorded Organ and Piano with many other legendary artists:

Source: http://www.roots-archives.com/artist/4768

Barry Brown - Showcase [1980]
I Roy - Can't Conquer Rasta [1977]
Johnny Clarke - Dread Natty Congo [1977]
Johnny Clarke - Rockers Time Now [1976]
King Tubby - Dub From The Roots [1974]
Lord Tanamo - Calypso Reggae [1979]
Uniques - Showcase [1978]
Cornell Campbell - I Shall Not Remove: 1975-1980



After Bob's passing in 1981, he joined the Wailers for two tours in the USA as well as Europe before forming his own band named the Reggae Vibes in New-York in 2000 where he started composing and recorded his own music (albums "Lifted" and upcoming album "Destiny")

Yet, Natty Wailer is now embarking on the next part of the said journey as titled "Destiny", born to be free, born to be me. A compilation of Originals Songs and Lyrics, soon to be released!!!
 

"To all music lovers and Reggae fans and even to the sceptics, please take the time to listen to the lyrics, the music and the flavor of an original Wailer with his Reggae Vibes! Jah Guide!" Natty Wailer

Full Interview with Ian “Natty Wailer” Wynter by Marco Virgona from BOB MARLEY Magazine Italy (JAN 09) mentioned in above biography:

"Greetings Marco and thanks for getting in touch!

Bob did prophecy in one of his songs titled "Bad card", he said "Them a go tired fe se mi face but them cannot get me out of the race" and everywhere you turn on the Globe, there is a Bob Marley's face if it's even on a T-shirt and his music is still one of the most played. He was a prophet as much as he is a legend. He was topped into a source of higher consciousness of the world around him and this he shared with all who would come in contact with him or his work.

I personally feel blessed to have met him and the team of musicians that worked with him. From this, I have drawn a lot of courage and strength. I was just coming out of high school at the time just at a time when I was still struggling with the question of who I am. After my first experience with the power of Rastafari, I haven't looked back since because I knew then as I know now that I'm a Rasta!

So therefore, there was never a sad moment until Bob's passing in May 1981. Rehearsing, recording and touring was as if  an ordained mission of creativity and Rasta consciousness.


Marco Virgona: Some biographers said you replaced Earl Lindo at Bob's last show in Pittsburgh, sept 1980. If so, what do you remember about that sad show?

Natty Wailer: The day I replaced Earl Lindo was not a sad moment, but a joy for me filling the post while I was touring with the Wailers at the time as a standby keyboard player. The organ bubbling, piano bang (skank) and the string fillings was a very intricate part of the Wailers' music which required two keyboard players to do. Bob and his musicians were visionaries and so they saw the need for a standby keyboard player like me at rehearsals and on tour with them, and then it happened in Pittsburgh! Lindo decided not to play for reasons beyond my knowledge but one thing for certain Bob called me to fill his position that night at his last show in Pittsburgh. On tour I was a standby keyboard player while standing in as an assistant chef.

As you know within a team, there is always things to be trashed out to make way for growth and progress and with that said there was a time when Bob again as a visionary wanted to take the music, thus the musicians to a different level when they did songs like "Could You Be Loved".
At this time, the musicians were comfortable with the sound they had but Bob was yearning to take it to the next level. And with this, I can say that yes there were some sad moments in the process of crossing over to a more Roots, Rock Reggae beat, but in the end their versatility shone through when they did songs like "Exodus".


Marco Virgona: You played on Rastaman Vibration album. What do you remember about those sessions?

Natty Wailer: Those Rastaman vibrations' sessions were as the name says positive, the vibes was right, the timing was due for a Roots Rock Reggae album.

Yes as my memory serves, I've played piano on a few of the songs such as Positive Vibration, Want More, War, Rat Race and Jah Live. As a matter of fact, I remember clearly how the song "Positive Vibration" was written. Early one morning before 8 o'clock, there was an argument downstairs between two team members and Bob looked out through the window from upstairs and shouted to them that they should stop their fussing. This camp is about Rastaman Vibration which is positive, you see you can't get up quarreling, this is like saying prayers to the devil. And at the next rehearsal, Bob start jamming it, the Rastaman Vibration is positive, of course he must have had the time to put the words together but as I mentioned he was always topped into a source of creativity because the Rastaman life was a living proof of the songs he sung. I recorded on many more albums such as "Natty Dread", "Kaya", "Survival", "Confrontation" and the list goes on. A song like "Talking Blues", I am the only keyboard player with my piano strum on this song.


Marco Virgona: Please tell me about your relationship with Bob

Natty Wailer: My relationship with Bob was musical and spiritual. He could read me like a book, fresh out of high school with no identity and he saw my ignorance and my eager to live and learn the culture of Rastafari while learning how to express who I am musically and be a part of the music that was happening around me. When all the musicians were busy, if I was not jamming keyboards with Familyman in the home made recording studio, I would be sitting in with Bob while he was playing his acoustic of endless creative songs. I was always there with my acoustic guitar picking lines along the rhythm he was playing and was fascinated by how he put melody to words that rings truth. I remember after one of these sessions again he called me to the rehearsal room and asked me to show the bass player Familyman the line I was picking while he was jamming the song "Could You Be Loved" earlier in the day.

Yeah the phenomenal Bass player Familyman is, by the time I picked a few notes to the main part of the song, he knew where Bob wanted to take it. It's even said among the musicians that I'm Bob Marley's Reggae Vibes Piano player. As he states in one of his interviews, anybody could play Reggae but not everybody has the Reggae feel. I felt blessed that he appreciated my simple contribution to his vision of music. I feel these are the things that I am still feeling driven today to write, sing and play Reggae music.

I listened to artists such as Ottis Redding, Gil Scott Heron, James Brown, I was inspired by their vocal style but by working with Bob and the Wailers, I found mine and still there is so much more to learn and so much more room to grow.


Marco Virgona: Now you're touring with the Reggae Vibes. Any chance to see you in Italy?

Natty Wailer: To get away from the stereotype of a tribute band, I'm currently preparing to release my new album DESTINY. My first attempt to establish my originality was done in a compilation of the music I've written in an album titled LIFTED which is now featured in MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/nattywailermusic).
The Reggae Vibes is the name and nature of my contribution to the many music lovers and Reggae fans the world over. I'm hoping to tour Europe this year with this new album, Italy will certainly be one of our tops.
My LIFTED album is now being played on the radio in many different countries and the album is also available for sale on the internet.

Marco Virgona: Thank you very much for sharing your memories with us

Natty Wailer: For this new year I wish you and your team progress and prosperity in your mission!

 

• REGGAE MUSIC - RECENT WORK

Due to his experience in the Reggae music industry over the years, Natty feels like a man with a mission and with a passion. His culture and music is unique on international stage as it stands out with its dance mood whilst spreading the message of freedom of expression. It is not only a mode of entertainment but also based on the inclusion of cultural diversity.

Since he migrated to Ireland in 2000 after the launching of his then new CD "Lifted", he has done numerous live performances including festivals with his band "Natty Wailer and the Reggae Vibes" and has done workshops and charities with his acoustic Reggae. Moreover, Natty Wailer has worked with Irish local bands such as "Breag" (Belfast based Reggae band). He's recently done some work with the multicultural group Sean Agus Noa who made the album Eagsulacht (2007) featuring 65 Galway based musicians from 20 diverse ethnic groups as a celebration of Ireland's cultural diversity of which he composed and recorded a track titled "Let's come together".
You can also hear Natty Wailer's vocals on the song "Country Life", by Australian Dub/Reggae band "Secret Masters" from their album "Words, Power, Sound".
Natty Wailer is currently completing the recording of his long awaited Album ,,,DESTINY,,, to be free. 
 

• ACOUSTIC REGGAE 

Natty Wailer, a self appointed Reggae ambassador feels it is his duty to keep the Reggae music alive and growing. To this extend, apart from his ongoing recording, his workshops, and live Reggae shows with his 7 members band, his latest style of doing so is his live performances titled "Acoustic Reggae".
For all who knows Reggae knows it as rhythms, voices and with maximum heart beat drum and bass on all frequencies. What they might not know is where it did come from or why is it such a vibrant beat. This is what Natty Wailer's acoustic Reggae will demonstrate during his live performance. You will hear a bit of the history, the religion, the philosophy and the actual Wailers' vibe when you see one of his shows with pure voices and acoustic rhythms.
In the opening of the show, he does an introductory segment of a few favorites of Marley's work, as a tribute due to the fact that Marley is his musical and spiritual mentor.
In the second part, he will do songs from his first album "Lifted" and his upcoming album “Destiny”.

Creatively, we do more with less. With voices and an acoustic guitar, the audience gets the chance to fully participate in a social gathering we call "Gigs". Acoustic Reggae highlights the raw material from which the extended sounds came from. It exposes the soul of the song and its rhythmic melodies what makes it "The Reggae Vibes" that gives the dance texture! Performing this style of music leave wild open for the audience to participate. Less is truly More!

Even the troubadour armed only with an acoustic guitar and voice is, in some ways, a minimalist drawing strength from his audience while music is always a sense of purpose encircled by an infinite source of inspiration. Thus, the border between the two is what makes music magical. This is an event with a more intimate and spiritual experience of the music you love and appreciate to be a part of  "in an Acoustic Reggae setting".
The Acoustic Reggae with just an acoustic guitar and harmony lines provided by a Bass Guitar and some backing vocals sets the stage, creating a sense that your are simultaneously grounded and moving somewhere far off.
The emotional impact of such sonic architecture comes from this subtle manipulation of the interaction of the audience with the Vibes that occurs over the course of the performance.
Furthermore, the message in this indigenous music has the flavor that all cultures can identify with.
 

• HIS FIRST CD "LIFTED"

The CD entitled "Lifted" is a cross over of Reggae and blues without losing the roots of Reggae music. This is a compilation of some cool upbeats tempos of songs of optimism and love. The music and the message within it reflect the moods and aspirations of all people. The song "Lift  Your Spirits" was also selected by well known Adrian Sherwood for the soundtrack of the American movie "Johnny Was" - directed by Mark Hammond and with actors such as Samantha Mumba, Lennox Lewis, Patrick Bergin & Vinnie Jones (see link http://www.tackhead.com/news/article/209 )

The CD “LIFTED” is now available for sale on CD Baby.com (http://cdbaby.com/cd/nattywailer) and with over 300 online digital distributors worldwide including Rhapsody, Amazon, Apple iTunes…! 

The CD “LIFTED” is also available in some Records Shops in Dublin such as City discs, Spindizzy, InDub, Freebirds Records!!!
 

• DVD – "A TRIBUTE TO BOB" (2007) for Promo purposes

All 7 songs were done by Natty Wailer & the Reggae Vibes live in the backroom of McGrory's, Cullduf, Donegal Feb. 2006. By then, it was Bob Marley's 61st birthday anniversary & 25 years after his passing. Yet these songs still rings true and vibrant that when you hear them, you can't help but to sing along.
Natty Wailer - who lived and toured with Bob sees him as his musical and spiritual mentor in his musical career as a Reggae ambassador – for this he dedicates these songs to the memory of the right honorable Mr Bob Neste Marley.
Reggae Music speaks of Love and Liberation. The two goes hand in hand for world peace. Liberation for Love. Love for Liberation. There is a message in the music. Thus, music in the message of ONE LOVE.
RECORDING OF HIS NEW ALBUM "DESTINY"

Natty is presently working out of the studio called Blastfurnance in Derry (County Down, Ireland), purifying the songs of the Reggae Vibes by finally recording, mixing and mastering his new album titled "Destiny". The band members Errol Donaldson (drummer), Andrew McLean (bass player), Keith Hagley (keyboard player), the Henry Sisters Lorna, Karen and Jolleen McLoughlin (backing vocals) are part of this project.
As the songs will emphasize, life is not a destination but a journey. Discovering what we are and who we are as we move along this path, this is destiny, how else could it be, born to be free...
 

• PROMOTION: New Management incl. Media Marketing MySpace, Facebook…
  

1. MYSPACE

Natty Wailer and his manager Delphine are managing Natty Wailer’s MySpace since October 08.

Since October 08, the number of views of the MySpace website went from 4000 to over 30000 views in May 09!!!

In December 08, “PLANET REGGAE” selected Natty Wailer’s Official MySpace as “Profile of the Month” (see www.myspace.com/planetreggae )

“Profile of the month - Dec - Natty Wailer
Category: Music
Natty Wailer is a Reggae Artist with a rich musical history covering 4 decades and has worked with Bob Marley and the Wailers as well as Family man on his solo project Family man in Dub. Natty migrated to Ireland in 2000 and launched his album Lifted, since then he has played at numerous festivals and gigs and has gained a following with a new generation of Reggae fans with his band the Reggae Vibes. Natty has also worked with Belfast based band Breag and contributed to the album Eagsulacht by Sean Agus Noa celebrating Ireland’s cultural diversity.
Natty continues to embrace music from all cultures pushing the boundaries of Reggae to a new territory, and continues to excel and grow as a Musician and a spokesman for One love spreading the message of peace and unity where ever he goes.” PLANET REGGAE.

“Considering that I just started managing MySpace myself with the help of my Personal Manager Delphine, I'm amazed and inspired by the progress and the people we've come to meet such as Planet Reggae and the many others who are making sure that the word must be heard, spreading the message of One Love through the international Reggae.” NATTY WAILER Dec. 08.

Five songs from Natty’s first album “LIFTED” are featured on MySpace: “Get Higher”, “Going Up In Smoke”, “Lift Your Spirits”, “The Mark” and “Mellow  Mood”! Note that the soundtrack “Lift Your Spirits” was selected by Adrian Sherwood for the soundtrack of the movie “Johnny Was”. The sixth song "Country Life" is a very new song!

Ongoing upload of new blogs, pictures, music videos, information on Natty and the band, upcoming shows etc!

NETWORKING with Artists, Promoters, Radios, DJ’s & Selectors, Festivals, Venues, Reggae Communities, Fans, Licensing…worldwide! Since October 08, we went from 200 to over 4000 MySpace friends genuinely interested in Natty’s work!

MySpace has also opened doors for new projects of compilations, collaborations on new Reggae Songs, Festivals, Tours in other countries such as the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, and maybe Asia as well as Australia and more.


2. NEW Natty Wailer’s artist pages. 

on various Reggae websites  Reverbnation, Facebook, Bebo, United Reggae, Tribe Of Noise, Roots Rock Reggae Cafe, OurStage.com, Beta Records, Twitter, Reggae Dancehall Media,

including Web Radios: BigUp Radio, Reggaedubwise.com, IMRadio, Cool & Deadly Radio, TightenUp Radio,

TOUR IN IRELAND:

Natty Wailer is currently touring Ireland with both his Acoustic Gigs and his 7 piece band “The Reggae Vibes”. He started the year 2009 by playing at the “Button Factory” in Dublin and at the “Cranelane Theatre” in Cork with the whole band in January. He's also touring Ireland with his Acoustic Reggae: Athlone, Mullingar, Slane, Kilkenny, Warrenpoint, Dundalk, Drogheda, Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Derry, Clifden and more gigs to be confirmed. Please check out our MySpace or Reverbnation/Facebook Websites for updates on upcoming shows.

A major part of the shows are songs from Natty’s new album DESTINY and his first album LIFTED. After just taking a break from the road to finish this new album, he is establishing himself as an original Wailer (singer, composer and musician) who has played on numerous Marley’s songs and on tours the world over. Furthermore, Natty has recorded with Dennis Brown, Johnny Clarke, Lival Thompson, Meditations, The Rastafarians, Earl Chinna Smith, Family Man and many more legendary artists. Music has no boundary, prejudices nor colour, it’s purely melodies and harmonies in all genres transcending the moods and aspiration of all people. Liberation for love and love for liberation!

• GENERAL INFORMATIONS:

 
Band's name:

"Natty Wailer with the Reggae Vibes"
 
Official web sites:

http://www.myspace.com/nattywailermusic
http://www.nattywailer.net
 
Number of band members:      

7 (1*singer Natty Wailer / 4*musicians / 2-3*backing vocals)
 
Names of band members:

-         Ian “Natty Wailer” Wynter
-         Errol Mc Donaldson (drummer)
-         Andrew McLean (bass player)
-         Keith Hagley (keyboard player)
-         Steven McKnight (Lead Guitar)
-         “The Henry Sisters” Lorna, Karen & Jolleen McLoughlin (backing vocals)
 

• CONTACT DETAILS:

Delphine (Natty Wailer’s Personal Manager)
Tel.: 00353(0)868987805
E-mail: nattywailer@gmail.com