JASON WILSON'S MUSICAL COLLABORATIONS INCLUDE

BOB ANDY
THE DRIFTERS
JAY DOUGLAS
BRINSLEY FORDE (ASWAD)
BORIS GARDINER
KEN LAZARUS
HOPETON LEWIS
AMANDA MARSHALL
LARRY MARSHALL
MESSENJAH
THE MIGHTY SPARROW
JACKIE MITTOO
DOROTHY MOORE
DERRICK MORGAN
ERIC "MONTY" MORRIS
ALANIS MORISSETTE
MUSICAL SNIPER
ERNEST RANGLIN
THE SATTALITES
PERCY SLEDGE
ERNIE SMITH
MICHAEL ST. GEORGE
LYNN TAITT
UB40
DAVE WAKELING (THE BEAT/GENERAL PUBLIC)
WILLIE WILLIAMS
(see individual bios below)

JASON WILSON HAS RECORDED & PERFORMED WITH THE FOLLOWING ARTISTS

JAY DOUGLAS
Jay Douglas' musical career began as a member of his church choir during his youth in Jamaica. His future as a singer was sealed when he captured first prize in an amateur talent contest when he was fifteen years old. Since coming to Canada, Jay as opened for many major American R&B acts including Fats Domino, Cissy Houston and Sweet Inspiration. He has performed on every continent expect Australia. His talents extend beyond music into theatre and he was an original cast member of Black Theatre Canada's production "One More Stop on the Freedom Train". Douglas has been a mentor to Jason Wilson.

BRINSLEY FORDE
Brinsley Forde has been at the centre of the international reggae scene for more than 30 years as the former front-man and founder of British reggae band Aswad. Formed in West-London in 1975, Aswad were able to successfully appropriate Jamaican music with social issues more pertinent to their London climate. The album Distant Thunder gave Aswad a UK Number 1 Hit with "Don't Turn Around" in 1988. "Shine" climbed to UK number 5 in 1994, while the attendant Rise And Shine reached the Billboard Reggae Top 10. A two-time Grammy-nominated act, Aswad remain one of the most successful reggae groups ever to come out of Europe. Brinsley Forde, also star of the British film Babylon, left Aswad in the late 90s and currently hosts Lively Up Yourself, a BBC radio show featuring the world's best reggae music. Forde joined Jason Wilson for twenty eight shows in 2005 and is going to be on the next release.

KEN LAZARUS
Ken Lazarus is probably best known for his work as a lead singer in Byron Lee's Dragonaires band. In the early 60s the band toured extensively in the Caribbean which made Ken Lazarus a popular singer on the island. He also became famous as a highly commercial cover artist. Later on he changed his style, recording some fine roots and culture sides.

MESSENJAH
Messenjah is arguably Canada's most popular reggae group. Messenjah released its first album, Rock You High, independently in 1982; it was re-issued by WEA in 1983. The critically acclaimed Jam Session followed in 1984. Messenjah=s third album Cool Operator gave the band several radio friendly hits. Messenjah toured extensively in Canada and the USA, and appeared in Jamaica (Reggae Sunsplash, 1985), developing an international reputation as one of the leading non-Jamaican-based groups in reggae. The band was seen in the US feature film Cocktail (1988) and contributed to its soundtrack. Messenjah's best-known songs include "Jam Session", "ACool Operator", "Crazy" and "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love?" Jason Wilson played his first night-club with Messenjah at the age of fourteen and has had a deep association with the band ever since.

JACKIE MITTOO
One of the original members of the Skatalittes, Mittoo settled in Canada before his death in December 1990. Mittoo's famous rhythm tracks, including 'Ram Jam', have survived as some the most used backing tracks for numerous reggae artists over the years. Mittoo also recorded and performed with UB40, The Toronto Symphony and was largely responsible for the success of Britain's 'Musical Youth' in the 1980s. Mittoo helped Wilson to record the original Tabarruk 4-song demo and actually performed on one track 'Angel'. Jason Wilson and Tabarruk took part in two memorials in honour of the "Grandfather of Modern Reggae". Mittoo's mark on reggae is arguably second to none.

ALANIS MORISSETTE
One of the world's biggest stars - ALANIS MORISSETTE has become one of the premiere singer/songwriters in contemporary music since her arrival on the scene in 1995. Her deeply expressive music and performances have earned the seven-time Grammy Award winner vast critical praise and a dedicated fan base that extends throughout the world. Her Jagged Little Pill album was the biggest selling album in the 1990s - over thirty-million copies. Alanis appears on Jason=s debut album.

ERNEST RANGLIN
Perhaps one of the most important Jamaican musicians of all time - Ernest Ranglin was born in Manchester, Jamaica in 1932. He was still a boy when his music peers realised that he had that "something special". In 1964 Ernest went to Ronnie Scott's jazz club in London and so impressed the owner that he became resident jazz guitarist for some 9 months. There he made "Wranglin" for Island Records after his first "Guitar in Ernest" and then "Reflections". Ernest was also a primary creator of ska music (and Reggae). In England in 1964, Ranglin launched the hit song "My boy lollipop" with Jamaican singer Millie Small. In 1973 Ernest was awarded the Order of Distinction from the Jamaican Government for his contributions to music in Jamaica. Ranglin has recently recorded with Jason Wilson.

UB40
Twenty-five years after their formation on the dole queue, UB40 are the biggest reggae band in the world. The band is second only to the Beatles in terms of charted singles in the UK and have sold over fifty million albums. The band have experienced several international number one singles including "Red Red Wine" and "Can't Help Falling in Love". Their Labour of Love series (three in number) provided the non-reggae world with a thick tome of artfully crafted versions of Jamaican music. Jason Wilson's cousin Michael Virtue is UB40's former keyboardist and the band have supported Jason's own musical career several times. Tabarruk have opened for UB40 four times both in Canada and the United Kingdom. Michael Virtue appears on Tabarruk's Juno-Nominated Jonah.

WILLIE WILLIAMS
Willie Williams is a known entity in Jamaican music, "Armageddon Time" has been a touchstone. The track is a quintessential reggae anthem, one that represents the genre in its most spiritually and politically potent form n rhythms of urgency with verses of prophesy. The lyrics of "Armageddon Time" resonated with punk rock ideology of late 70s England such that The Clash adopted it as a mainstay in its reggae arsenal. As such, the recording was ensured a minor pop culture legacy. Regardless of the impact, significance, or staying power of the song, Williams has contributed a steady and valuable output of reggae music over the last thirty five years.

JASON WILSON HAS PERFORMED WITH THE
FOLLOWING ARTISTS:

BOB ANDY
Bob Andy emerged as a solo star in 1966 with the smash hit "I've Got to Go Back Home", a song which has become a much-loved anthem for Jamaicans. He had served his singing and songwriting apprenticeship with the legendary vocal group THE PARAGONS, which he founded with Tyrone (Don) Evans and Howard Barrett, later joined by John Holt. The Paragons had several hits for producer Coxsone Dodd including the Number One "Love At Last", penned by Bob. As one of STUDIO ONE's leading lights, Bob worked closely with Jackie Mittoo on many of the label's seminal sounds. Besides writing songs for himself which have become reggae standards - "Feeling Soul", "My Time", "Going Home", and "Too Experienced", to name just a few - Bob contributed hits for many of the other artists there.

THE DRIFTERS
The Drifters were not only a popular for their vocals but, for their choreography. Such Drifters hits include "Money Honey," "Such A Night," "Honey Love," and "White Christmas." A latter incarnation of the group with Ben E. King as lead tenor was even more successful then the original group. Songwriters Leiber and Stoller wrote the new group=s first record "There Goes My Baby" a #2 hit in 1959. Other major hits were "This Magic Moment", "I Count the Tears", and "Save the Last Dance for Me". The Drifters were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

BORIS GARDINER
Jamaican singer/songwriter Boris Gardiner charted with "Elizabethan Reggae" in the 1970s. In 1986 he recorded the pop single "I Want To Wake Up With You", a surprise UK Number 1, which spent two months in the Top 10. It was followed into the charts by "You're Everything To Me", and "The Meaning Of Christmas". Later, Gardiner signed to RCA Records. In 2002, a 22 track anthology, The Very Best of Boris Gardiner was issued on CD by Music Club.

HOPETON LEWIS
Hopeton Lewis first came to prominence with "Take It Easy" - a song that is regarded as the watershed moment when ska slowed down to rocksteady - the era just prior to reggae. Throughout the sixties he released a series of hits including the 1970 Jamaican Song Festival winner, "Boom Shacka Lacka" and "Let Me Come On Home". Hopeton is now a renowned gospel singer in Jamaica.

AMANDA MARSHALL
While performing on the Queen Street West bar scene in her teens, Marshall met guitarist Jeff Healey, who was instrumental in getting her career going. In 1995, Marshall signed to Sony Records, and released her self-titled debut album that year. The album was a massive hit in Canada, spawning six Top 40 hits -- "Let It Rain", "Beautiful Goodbye", "Dark Horse", "Fall From Grace", "Sitting on Top of the World" and of course "Birmingham", which remains her biggest hit internationally. In 1999, she released her follow-up album, Tuesday's Child. It followed in the same vein as her debut, with a mix of soulful pop songs and ballads, characterizing her powerful voice. Marshall was a one-time member of Tabarruk.

LARRY MARSHALL
Larry Marshall is one of reggae's true foundation figures. His expressive and easily identifiable voice has graced a number of the music's most timeless classics, and his time spent as house engineer at London's Studio One gave shape to some of the most electrifying sounds of the early 1970s. Marshall made his recording debut with a song called "Too Young To Love." Marshall's first big hit came with a cover of popular American tune "Snake In The Grass," issued by Top Deck in 1965. Marshall's "Nanny Goat" pointed the way to the new reggae beat; "Mean Girl" and "Your Love" held intensely emotional performances, while the rhythm of the proverbial "Throw Me Corn" proved as individual and infectious as that of "Nanny Goat".

THE MIGHTY SPARROW
Slinger Francisco was born in the village of Grand Roy, Grenada. He moved to Trinidad at an early age and would one day become the undisputed King of Calypso. He began singing calypso in the early 1950's adapting the calypso nickname Mighty Sparrow. Sparrow was rewarded with the Calypso Crown of 1956 for his song "Jean And Dinah", which protested about the fallout from Americans who had left Trinidad's military bases. At the same time he lent his support to Eric Williams' People's National Movement, writing many calypso songs in praise of the nationalist leader. Sparrow's popularity was such that in the 50s and 60s he was capable of filling a venue such as New York's Madison Square Gardens. His storied career spans over 50 years.

DOROTHY MOORE
From her smash-hit single "Misty Blue" to the soulful AYour Body=s Here With Me@, Dorothy Moore has warmed the hearts of millions with her songs. Dorothy has earned awards and recognition, including four Grammy nominations, an Image Award, NATRA Female R&B Vocalist of the Year, Billboard Magazine Award, Governor=s Award for Excellence in the Arts, and many other awards worldwide. Her well-known single "Misty Blue" is used on the movie Phenomenon soundtrack. Throughout her career, Dorothy has appeared with such stars as Lou Rawls, Al Green, B.B. King and The Temptations. She has also appeared on such shows as "American Bandstand," "Rock Concert," "Soul Train" and "The Midnight Special".

DERRICK MORGAN
Emerging in the early sixties as one of the luminaries of ska, Derrick Morgan was so popular that in 1961 he dominated the top seven slots in the Jamaican music charts --- a record that still remains unbroken. Holding down the number one spot that year was 'Housewives Choice', the song that sparked the legendary rivalry between Morgan and producer/singer Prince Buster (Morgan was accused of steeling a solo from Buster's 'They Got To Go'). The artists exchanged insults in several songs that soon followed, including Morgan's 'Blazing Fire' and 'No Raise No Praise' (an allusion to Buster's refusal to give Morgan a raise, causing Morgan to defect to producer Leslie Kong). In fact, Morgan's string of early hits was mostly achieved with the help of Kong's legendary hit-making prowess, including 'The Hop' and 'Forward March' written for the Jamaican independence in 1962.

ERIC "MONTY" MORRIS
Eric 'Monty' Morris' is perhaps best known for the ska hit 'Penny Reel', although he continued recording through to the reggae period and in 1972 united with producer, Bunny Lee to record the Drifters' favourite 'This Magic Moment'. Morris helped the Jamaican music scene move forward when he took lyrics from traditional Folk and Mento songs and applied them to the new Ska style. His work with Prince Buster included the song 'Humpty Dumpty' which saw Buster selling dub-plates for upwards of the unbelievable price of 50 pounds each. With a string of hits as long as your arm, Eric Morris almost seems to be the forgotten Ska superstar.

THE SATTALITES
Hailing from widely diverse musical and cultural backgrounds, the Sattalites are notably the first Canadian band to be invited to perform at Jamaica's "Sunsplash", playing to an audience of over 25,000 reggae connoisseurs.During their illustrious career the band have garnered many awards B including two Juno awards for Best Reggae Recording; a Casby for Best R&B/Reggae Recording; a Toronto Music Award for Best Reggae Group; and two Black Music Awards, Best Group and Best Single of the Year. They have received countless Canadian Reggae Music Awards including 1992 Group of the Year. Jason Wilson is now a member of the Sattalites.

RON SEXSMITH
Canadian Ron Sexsmith is known as a songwriter's songwriter, with a gift for melody, insightful and understated lyrics, and an expressive, affecting voice. His admirers include Elvis Costello, Sarah McLachlan, Radiohead, Bill Frisell, Elton John, John Hiatt, Rod Stewart, Chris Martin and Paul McCartney. Between 1995 and 2001, Sexsmith released four albums before the acclaimed Cobblestone Runway in 2002. His Retriever album is a pop-oriented album than previous efforts and is dedicated to Elliott Smith and Johnny Cash. Sexsmith has won many prestigious industry awards. Ron often appears with Jason, Tim Bovaconti and the Sattalites at the Orbit Room in Toronto.

PERCY SLEDGE
Percy Sledge is a US-American R&B and soul performer. Sledge's smooth voice was perfect for the series of soul ballads produced by Ivy and Marlin Greene, which rock critic Dave Marsh called "emotional classics for romantics of all ages". "When A Man Loves A Woman" was the first song recorded, and it became not only an international hit, but was also the first gold record released by Atlantic Records. The magnificent soul anthem became the cornerstone of Sledge's career and was followed by "Warm And Tender Love", "Take Time To Know Her", and "Cover Me." Sledge charted with "I'll Be Your Everything" and "Sunshine" during the 70s, and has become an international concert favorite throughout the world, especially in the Netherlands, Germany and on the African continent. In 2005, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

ERNIE SMITH
Glenroy Anthony Smith is known around the world as a true pioneer of Reggae Music. His professional musical career began in 1965, when he formed his first band,the Vandals, from among his brothers, sisters and friends. His first recording in1967 was an original composition, AI Can't Take It@ - later recorded by Johnny Nash as "Tears On My Pillow". Four fantastic hits followed, "Bend Down", "Ride On Sammy", "One Dream", and "Pitta Patta". Smith became the first Jamaican musician in the field of popular music to receive a national honour from his Government. The award of the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service, together with his creativity, music and energy boosted his popularity and fame both at home and abroad.

TAJ MAHAL
New Yorker singer/composer/guitarist/pianist/historian Henry St. Clair Fredericks (Taj Mahal) has been on dedicated mission to preserve American roots music for over 40 years. His interpretations of roots classics and his originals have won critical and popular acclaim. Starting out in the New York Folk/Blues scene of the 1960's, Fredericks has gone on to create a genre-bending career that never forgot the Blues. Mahal is a Grammy Award Winner.

LYNN TAITT
Reggae guitar-great LYNN TAITT was one of the key architects of Jamaica=s rocksteady music. After working with Jamaican superstars like The Skatalites, Jackie Mittoo and Tommy McCook & The Supersonics, the Trinidadian born guitar virtuoso formed his own band. By 1966, Lynn Taitt & the Jets became the premier studio band for the rocksteady era led by Taitt's unique and easily identifiable guitar style which stands today as the genre=s trademark. Lynn Taitt & the Jets made literally hundreds of records for Jamaican producers like Duke Reid and Coxsone Dodd B often in support of Jamaica=s biggest artists of the time including; Bob Marley, Desmond Dekker, Lee Perry and Ken Boothe - not to mention Taitt's memorable performance on Johnny Nash's international smash-hit "Hold Me Tight".

DAVE WAKELING
One of the earliest and most important ska revivalist groups, Birmingham's The Beat formed in 1978. The multiracial band carved a distinct sound through the use of alternating lead vocals by guitarist Dave Wakeling and punk-toaster/Jamaican-rapper Ranking Roger. Following a string of hits, including "Mirror in the Bathroom", Wakeling and Roger went on to form General Public - a band that also enjoyed chart success with "Tenderness". Jason Wilson joined Wakeling on stage during one of his recent visits to Toronto.