Hope for Liberian Musicians
As Keith Bartlin Pays Visit, By Imanoel Nagbe
Published: 01 February, 2008
Freesound lead vocalist/guitarist, Keith Bartlin, a renowned musician from Honolulu, Hawaii in the USA recently paid a one-week visit to Liberia. The Rastafarian musician, who was in the country for the first time, expressed joy to be in a country he had heard about for a long time.
He noted, after his one-week stay, that Liberia is a place that has vast potentials for the tourism industry.
His band, Freesound, which he founded with gifted guitarist Adam Crowe in 2000, had performed at least 350 gigs (shows) in the last three years.
Keith Bartlin said he had performed with many famous reggae musicians including the late Honorable Joseph Hill of Culture and with the Marley brothers, Ziggy, Stephen, Kymani and Damian. He had, according to him, played with Toots and the Maytals, President Brown, KRS One, and most recently, with the remaining members of 60's rock and soul group, The Doors at the Monterey Summer of Love Festival during celebrations of The Doors' 40th anniversary.
The unique original music of Freesound crosses many genres including psychedelic, soul, roots rock, roots reggae, classic rock/reggae, blues, jamrock and folk.
Keith Bartlin said when he gets back to the States, he, along with his band would organize a concert in February during Black History Month to be named “Liberate Liberian Youths”. According to Bartlin, proceeds from the concert, which will coincide with the 64th birth anniversary of legendary Jamaican superstar and Jamaica's gift to the World, the late Honorable Robert 'Bob' Nesta Marley O.M (Order of Merit), would be used to start preparing some friends he met around the Mamba Point area to, in his words, 'sort of empower themselves'.
Keith who, during his short stay met some local reggae musicians, believes Liberian artistes have a bright future in music and his visit kind of opens doors for him to be able to help improve and promote their work.
When asked how he was going to do it, he replied, “Liberia has beautiful sunshine akin to the Caribbean and holding concerts here along with famous international reggae artistes is my dream and a means to showcase local musicians and propel them to international fame”.
In an exclusive interview with our reporter, Mr. Bartlin told Arts and Culture that he had been motivated to visit Liberia by his aunt who had been on vacation and always spoke about how hospitable Liberians are.
“And here I am in this beautiful country of yours, with lovely beaches and people smiling,” he opines as he shook his dreadlocks in affirmation.
Touching on the achievements of his band, Freesound, Keith said they had produced three albums, with the fourth to be released this summer. In fact a single, Sweet Sensi, from their second album won the AMMA awards for best reggae song last year at the Monterey Reggae Festival in Monterey Bay, California, USA.
Keith Bartlin left Liberia Monday, January 28, 2008 to, in his words, “come back and contribute to the development of this land of liberty”.
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