Episodes

In the premiere of the #1 Music History Podcast Season 1: "Catch a Fire" dials things back to 1987 and heads to Washington, D.C., where Henry is a disillusioned justice major at American University. His life changes, however, when he walks into a record shop and eventually secures an internship at RAS Records working for trailblazing reggae producer Dr. Dread, a.k.a Gary Himmelfarb. The job description seems simple enough: sweeping floors, packing boxes, and answering phones. But, Henry soon lea...

Season 1: continues with "When the Music Hits" as Henry befriends a reggae super fan and an obsessed caller to the label. He soon learns that "Brian from Colorado" is an aspiring singer, whose revolutionary spirit may convince Henry to follow his dream to pursue music over law. That dream becomes a reality when Henry is tasked to bring a reggae legend to a recording session. He's not sure what hits him—it could be the contact buzz, it could be the savory smell of brown stew fish -- but when He...

Season 1: continues with “Welcome to Jamrock” as Henry finds his groove at RAS Records just as reggae music grabs hold of him. Soon after, Dr Dread makes a call to Bob Marley’s widow, Rita, and the young intern lands a job working for the Marley family at the legendary Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston Jamaica. It's here he learns that Kingston is a city of extremes, and it's here he meets more of Reggae’s foundational musicians, who all share amazing tales of confronting and overcoming adversity. ...

Season 1: continues with “Ghetto Stays in the Mind” as Henry meets Mrs. Rita Marley, his new boss at Tuff Gong Music. The label is a magical melting pot of unsung heroes, reggae legends, and righteous Rastafarians. Reality hits when Bob Andy takes Henry into the “garrison,” where he sees the lasting damage caused by a bloody proxy war fought on the streets of Kingston in the 70’s between the CIA and KGB. Rootsland is produced by Henry K Productions Inc. in association with Voice Boxx Studios in...

Season 1: continues with “Money Can’t Buy Life” as Henry learns that the future of the Marley Estate will be decided in the courts. Beyond the legal mumbo jumbo, he also has a chance meeting at a hotel bar with a local gangster named Rude Boy Tex, who may prove to be his most valuable connection during his time in Kingston. Rootsland is produced by Henry K Productions Inc. in association with Voice Boxx Studios in Kingston, Jamaica. Introduction by: Michelle "Kim" Yamaguchi Guest Vocals by: Patr...

Season 1: continues with "Unchained". For the first generation of Jamaicans to grow up listening to reggae music, these songs weren't just jams for a Saturday night of dancing -- they were a guidebook for life. The music was inspiring an entire nation with its timeless messages of love, inclusion, and acceptance. In this chapter, Henry discovers that not everyone in Kingston got the memo. Rootsland is produced by Henry K Productions Inc. in association with Voice Boxx Studios in Kingston, Jamaic...

Season 1: continues with “Love and Hate (Can Never Be Friends)". In the classic roots anthem “Here I Come”, Dennis Brown, the crown prince of reggae, sings, “Love and hate can never be friends." In this chapter, Henry discovers they do live side by side on the streets of Kingston as he comes face to face with hate. Fortunately for Henry, Rude Boy Tex teaches him the road code and helps him out of a sticky situation amidst the brutal and violent world of gangsters and dons. Rootsland is produced ...

Season 1: continues with "Legalize It, Don’t Criticize It". Because of the global impact of reggae and the rise of Rastafari culture, the island of Jamaica and marijuana -- or “ganja”, as it is called -- are forever joined as one. For many decades, however, it was actually illegal to smoke or possess the plant with much of the Rastafarian community paying the price through police brutality and lengthy prison sentences. In this chapter, Henry learns of these truths on his way to Reggae Sunsplash ...

Season 1: concludes with "Righteous People". Jamaica's Reggae Sunsplash Festival is essentially a less organized version of Woodstock -- the same amount of love, only with more weed. On paper, five days of reggae music under sun-drenched skies and star-filled nights should be the perfect ending to Henry’s journey in Jamaica. However, as we hear in this chapter, Henry will soon learn that the decisions to be made concerning his future will affect those around him. Rootsland is produced by Henry ...