Alborosie

Alborosie

Alborosie performing at Chiemsee Reggae Summer 2013
Background information
Birth name Alberto D'Ascola
Born (1977-07-04) 4 July 1977
Marsala, Sicily, Italy
Origin Marsala, Sicily, Italy
Genres Reggae, dancehall
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, record producer
Instruments Vocals, drums, guitar, keyboard, bass
Years active 1993 – present
Labels Greensleeves Records
Associated acts Reggae National Tickets, Ky-Mani Marley, Gentleman, The Abyssinians[1]
Website www.alborosiemusic.com

Alberto D'Ascola (Italian pronunciation: [alˈbɛrto ˈdaskola]; born 4 July 1977), better known by his stage name Alborosie, and sometimes styled as AlBorosie, is an Italian reggae artist.

Career

Born and raised in Marsala, Sicily, Italy, but now residing in Kingston, Jamaica, he is a multi-instrumentalist, being proficient in guitar, bass, drums and keyboard. His musical career began in the Italian reggae band Reggae National Tickets, from Bergamo city, when he was 15 years old in 1993, in which he was known as Stena.

In 2001 Alborosie decided to try a solo career. He moved to Jamaica to be close to reggae music's roots and Rastafari culture.[2] There, he started working as a sound engineer and producer. He has also worked with artists like Gentleman and Ky-Mani Marley. His first solo album was called Soul Pirate. In the summer of 2009 he released his second album which was called Escape from Babylon.[3] In August 2008 Alborosie played at the Uppsala Reggae Festival.[4]

The name 'Alborosie' comes from a name he was given in his early years in Jamaica. "Borosie was what they used to call me. Let me put it like this. My early experience in Jamaica was… not nice. Borosie was a name they used to call me and it have a negative meaning. So I said “I'm gonna use this name and mash up the place turn a negative into a positive thing!". Basically my name is Albert so I add "Al" – Al-borosie. But I’m not gonna tell you what borosie mean!"[5]

Alborosie's hits include "Rastafari Anthem", "Kingston Town", and "Call Up Jah". Alborosie recently started his own record label, Forward Recordings. He has given concerts all round the world, including most of Europe and Jamaica.

In 2011, he became the first white artist to win the M.O.B.O. (Music of Black Origin) Awards in the Best Reggae Act category.[6][7]

In 2014, Greensleeves Records released Specialist Presents Alborosie & Friends, a collection of collaborations with other artists.[7] The album entered the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart at number 7.[7] He collaborated with King Jammy on a dub album, Reality of Dub, which is set for release in early 2015.[8]

Personal life

Alberto D'Ascola was born on 4 July 1977 in Marsala, Sicily, Italy. He is a member of the Rastafari movement.[9] His father is a retired policeman and his mother was a housewife.[10] D'Ascola developed an interest in reggae music and joined the band Reggae National Tickets in 1992 at 15 years old.He is a dual citizen of both Italy and Jamaica.

Discography

Awards and nominations

Year Organisation Award Result
2011 2011 MOBO Awards Best reggae act Won

References

  1. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyCUnbC9JAg
  2. ↑ "Alborosie marks journey from Sicily to Kingston Town". The Jamaica Observer. 10 June 2007. Archived from the original on 30 June 2008. Retrieved 24 October 2008.
  3. ↑ Moore, Malcolm (19 January 2008). "Sicilian reggae performer wows Jamaica". The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 24 October 2008.
  4. ↑ "Första artisterna till Reggaefestivalen klara". Upsala Nya Tidning. 3 March 2008. Retrieved 24 October 2008.
  5. ↑ "Interview : Alborosie". unitedreggae.com. 28 February 2008.
  6. ↑ "MOBO 2011 2011".
  7. 1 2 3 "Alborosie debuts on Billboard", Jamaica Observer, 4 July 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014
  8. ↑ "King Jammy and Alborosie join forces", RJR News, 2 October 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2014
  9. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_OkOw5wipQ
  10. ↑ "Alborosie Interview". reggaenews.de. 22 June 2009.

External links

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