Rasta Rafiki to perform at
Carnegie Hall’s Ivy Terrace
Ivy Terrace continues at Carnegie Hall! The Ivy Terrace series is a summertime favorite in the Greenbrier Valley. Fun for all ages, families and friends enjoy free live music on the lawn of Carnegie Hall the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month through August.
Performing on July 9 is Rasta Rafiki, formed in Morgantown in late ‘89 in an attempt to create a danceable blend of rock and reggae. Rasta Rafiki strives to produce music that is equally appealing to the mind as well as the body. Since its inception members have sought a wide audience with the express purpose of promoting peace, equality, and understanding in an ever desensitized world, while supplying a healthy dose of fun.
The band worked hard throughout the ‘90s to establish themselves in West Virginia and neighboring areas. They began recording in 1992, releasing their first independent cassette, Eco Geo, a mixture of styles ranging from roots reggae and calypso to guitar rock. Soon the band was performing throughout West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Maryland and Washington, DC.
Cousins, Rasta Rafiki’s first CD was released in 1993. In ‘94 two tracks from the CD, “Good Calypso” and “Elm Tree,” appeared in the film National Lampoon’s Last Resort. Their third recording Stream of Consciousness followed shortly thereafter on Blue Duck Records. During the recording, the tour schedule included over 150 dates, including club, college, and festival appearances from Boston, MA to Florida. This CD reflected the growth of the band as an ensemble as well as a vehicle for positive social commentary.
By 1997 the combo seemed to run out of steam. Most thought this would be the end of the story. Members drifted to different parts of the country pursuing diverse career paths. In 2007 five members were back in West Virginia. Derrick McDonald in Tampa began talking of getting together to do a few shows just have some fun. Those first shows proved so successful that Rasta Rafiki committed to a few annual performances near their old stomping grounds.
Members of the band include Derrick McDonald on lead vocals and percussion, John Schmitt on lead guitar, Thomas P. Batchelor on rhythm guitar and vocals, Andy Lindsay on bass, Steven Markle on drums and David Loyd on keyboards.
The lineup for the remainder of the season includes performances by The Hello Strangers, Robin & Doug, and the Hans Creek String Band. For more information about upcoming concerts and performing artists, please visit www.carnegiehallwv.org.
Join those who have made Ivy Terrace Carnegie’s most beloved series of the year. Bring a picnic supper, a blanket or lawn chair, and sit back and relax to the sounds of music performed by a variety of local and regional artists. All performances begin at 6:30 p.m., rain or shine. In the event of rain, the concerts will be moved inside the Hamilton Auditorium.
Sponsored by City National Bank.
