BIO:
On October 10, 1977, Joseph Israel was born Joseph Montgomery Fennel in the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma. In Fayetteville, Arkansas Joseph’s father opened a live music venue called “Jose’s Restaurant and Club”. Growing up, Joseph could often be found at the club engaging with the many musicians that would perform over the years. Joseph showed a natural calling for music from an early age.
Very much influenced by Bob Marley and the Rastafari way of life, Joseph, at age 14, took his first trip to Jamaica. As a youth, he would travel seven more times to the Island, counseling with Rasta elders such as Ras Bee-Bow of Negril and Bongo Hu-I, the great teacher and herbalist of Montego Bay. As the Rasta Philosophy took root in Joseph, so did long dreadlocks. Israel felt a mystical identity to Jamaica; its people, and their music.
Back home Israel became a leading influence among young musicians and formed a band called “Root Kind”. Joseph was so inspired by creating music that he organized funding through his school to record at a professional studio.
In 2000 Joseph put together a new band, “Kepha”, meaning “The Rock” in Hebrew. They recorded their only release “Redemption Time” live at Crisp Studios in Fayetteville. The 10 track CD featured all original music. The band went on to perform at reggae festivals in the south and Midwest U.S. and shared the stage with reggae legends like Culture, Burning Spear, Itals, and many more.
Out of “Kepha”, the Lion’s of Israel” was created in 2002 and toured regionally throughout the Rocky Mountain States and the West Coast, where they received radio play and an enthusiastic response from the crowds. Lions of Israel paved the way for Joseph’s career and birthed the name of his production company.
In August 2003, Joseph’s career took a fortuitous shift as he performed acoustically to a packed house for superstar Ziggy Marley on his Dragonfly tour. He connected with members of Ziggy’s band who are some of Jamaica’s greatest musicians. He had the honor of working with Christopher Meredith and Ian “Beezy” Coleman. Together they produced some demo tracks to be released on the Lions of Israel label.
In the fall of 2003, Israel connected with Robert Roskind, author of “Rasta Heart” and “Gathering of the Healers”. Lions of Israel were invited to join what became a national tour that Roskind was sponsoring with VP recording artist, Abijah. Joseph performed a fiery set each night; sticking mostly to material he had written himself. The tour was a success for both Israel and AbiJah and was an inspiration for things to come. It was from the last show on this tour that the Lions of Israel Live! CD was produced.
At the end of 2003, Joseph put a new team together to join forces with Mikey General for a national tour promoting the General’s latest VP records release Red, Green and Gold. This tour included female backing vocalists Erica Newell who tours with Ziggy Marley and Rochelle Bradshaw who tours with Luciano. Out of this tour came a united effort by each of the members to produce a new song entitled “Universal Love” which appears on Israel’s soon to be released CD.
On October 10, 1977, Joseph Israel was born Joseph Montgomery Fennel in the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma. In Fayetteville, Arkansas Joseph’s father opened a live music venue called “Jose’s Restaurant and Club”. Growing up, Joseph could often be found at the club engaging with the many musicians that would perform over the years. Joseph showed a natural calling for music from an early age.
Very much influenced by Bob Marley and the Rastafari way of life, Joseph, at age 14, took his first trip to Jamaica. As a youth, he would travel seven more times to the Island, counseling with Rasta elders such as Ras Bee-Bow of Negril and Bongo Hu-I, the great teacher and herbalist of Montego Bay. As the Rasta Philosophy took root in Joseph, so did long dreadlocks. Israel felt a mystical identity to Jamaica; its people, and their music.
Back home Israel became a leading influence among young musicians and formed a band called “Root Kind”. Joseph was so inspired by creating music that he organized funding through his school to record at a professional studio.
In 2000 Joseph put together a new band, “Kepha”, meaning “The Rock” in Hebrew. They recorded their only release “Redemption Time” live at Crisp Studios in Fayetteville. The 10 track CD featured all original music. The band went on to perform at reggae festivals in the south and Midwest U.S. and shared the stage with reggae legends like Culture, Burning Spear, Itals, and many more.
Out of “Kepha”, the Lion’s of Israel” was created in 2002 and toured regionally throughout the Rocky Mountain States and the West Coast, where they received radio play and an enthusiastic response from the crowds. Lions of Israel paved the way for Joseph’s career and birthed the name of his production company.
In August 2003, Joseph’s career took a fortuitous shift as he performed acoustically to a packed house for superstar Ziggy Marley on his Dragonfly tour. He connected with members of Ziggy’s band who are some of Jamaica’s greatest musicians. He had the honor of working with Christopher Meredith and Ian “Beezy” Coleman. Together they produced some demo tracks to be released on the Lions of Israel label.
In the fall of 2003, Israel connected with Robert Roskind, author of “Rasta Heart” and “Gathering of the Healers”. Lions of Israel were invited to join what became a national tour that Roskind was sponsoring with VP recording artist, Abijah. Joseph performed a fiery set each night; sticking mostly to material he had written himself. The tour was a success for both Israel and AbiJah and was an inspiration for things to come. It was from the last show on this tour that the Lions of Israel Live! CD was produced.
At the end of 2003, Joseph put a new team together to join forces with Mikey General for a national tour promoting the General’s latest VP records release Red, Green and Gold. This tour included female backing vocalists Erica Newell who tours with Ziggy Marley and Rochelle Bradshaw who tours with Luciano. Out of this tour came a united effort by each of the members to produce a new song entitled “Universal Love” which appears on Israel’s soon to be released CD.
