Ras Midas: Biography & Discography

      Singer, songwriter, performing and recording artist, composer and producer, Ras Midas has produced critically acclaimed roots rock Reggae music since 1974 when he began recording unique and innovative songs for legendary Jamaican producer, the late Harry Johnson (Harry J Recording Studio, Kingston, Jamaica).   

     With over 40 years in the recording studio and on the stage, and with countless singles and 11 albums to his credit, roots rock Reggae foundation artist Ras Midas has been featured on several compilations including Reggay Roots (“Trouble Town,” 1977 Harry J Records, Jamaica) and Reggae Party From Jamaica (“Rastaman In Exile,” 1983 Disc AZ International, France). The 2016 re-release of Rastaman In Exile (JML Records) has again put the spotlight on this talented and humble Rastaman from Jamaica; the album continues to receive excellent rotation on radio stations around the world. 

     Ras Midas was the featured artist in the April 2017 Worldwide Edition of IRIE Magazine.  Ras Midas’s first album, Cover Me (1974), was released on Harry J Records and Trojan Records, and was followed by Reflections in 1975. His first international hit, “Kude-A-Bamba,” was recorded in 1974 in English and - at Island Records’ Chris Blackwell’s suggestion - in Swahili (Island Records 1976); the single quickly sold more than 500,000 copies worldwide.   The albums Kude-A-Bamba (1978) and Rain And Fire (1978) were released on Harry J Records and Island Records. Rastaman In Exile was recorded at Harry J’s and released on Disc AZ International (France) in 1980; the record was voted Reggae Album Of The Year in France. In 1984 Stand Up Wise Up, recorded at Harry J’s, was released on Celluloid (France).   

     In 1979, Ras Midas collaborated with the late Jamaican DJ I-Roy (Roy Samuel Reid), on 12” disco mixes of “Kude-A-Bamba,” “Trouble Town”, and “Good Old Days” (Harry J Records/Virgin Records). The disco mixes of “Can’t Stop Rastaman Now” and “Rain And Fire” were released on Warrior Records, a subsidiary of Universal Records, in 1980.  Stand Up Wise Up was re-released on vinyl in the U.S. on Ras Midas’s label, JML Records, in 1988, followed by Loving Vibration (1998), Confirmation (2000), Reaching Out (2006), and Fire Up (2010) on CD. Loving Vibration was rated No. 3 by music critics in the 1998 Top Ten independently produced World Music albums category and, two years later, Confirmation was a Top Ten contender for consideration for a Grammy Award. Rastaman In Exile - remixed and remastered - was released on CD in October, 2016 on JML Records.   

     A 12” vinyl record featuring “Good Old Days” (with I-Roy) and “Melchizedek” was released on Roots Vibration Records (Belgium) in 2019, followed by an LP featuring “Let The People Go” / “Rain And Fire” in 2021. Both LPs were quickly sold out. Ras Midas released his first “live in concert” performances in 2020: “No Bread Live” and “Trouble Town Live” are available as digital singles.   

     Ras Midas released a new song, “World Block Party” and its dub version, “World Dub Party,” in January 2021; it is available from all online music platforms. In May 2021, Roots Vibration Records released a double-sided 12-inch featuring “Let The People Go” and the dub version, “Universal Dub” with “Rain And Fire” on Side B. A review of the 12-inch is here: https://pauzeradio.com/ras-midas-let-the-people-go-review/?goal=0_175be965e0-84dbc240f5-531427117&mc_cid=84dbc240f5&mc_eid=038a222790. (Link exceeds space limits.)   

     Ras Midas continues to push traditional Reggae music into a new and contemporary dimension while retaining its roots; his performances showcase positive lyrics with original Reggae rhythms -  and Ras Midas’s next album confirms his move forward into a contemporary direction. “Existence” will feature nine new songs, and a Dub album will also be released in late 2022 on Ras Midas’s JML Records label.  

     A Rastaman with a distinctive style and a silky smooth voice, Ras Midas sings with the mission of a musical revolutionary; his powerful messages of social justice, love, unity, and spiritual consciousness have remained unchanged over four decades.  

     Always recording with top-notch, respected musicians and vocalists, Ras Midas’s albums feature background vocals from Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt, Rita Marley – these three ladies comprising The I-Threes (backing vocals for Bob Marley), Pamela Hall, Annesa Banks, Keble Drummond (The Cables), Carlton Smith, Junior Moore, and The Tamlins.   

      Musicians who have recorded with Ras Midas include, but are not limited to:   

Drums - Sly Dunbar, Leroy “Horsemouth” Wallace, Mikey Richards, Carlton “Santa” Davis Bass - Robbie Shakespeare, Val Douglas, Ian Lewis (Inner Circle), 

                        Bertram “Ranchie” McLean  

Guitars – Ernest Ranglin, Andy Bassford, Dwight Pickney, Lloyd “Gitsy” Willis, 

                        Eric “Bingi Bunny” Lamont, Winston “Bo Pee” Bowan, Earl “Chinna” Smith  Keyboards - Gladstone “Gladdy” Anderson, Ansell Collins, Winston Wright, 

                        Franklin “Bubbler” Waul,  Earl “Wire” Lindo, Peter Ashbourne, Robert Lynn  Harmonica – Jimmy Becker 

Horns - Dean Frazer, Ronald “Nambo” Anderson, Junior “Chico” Chin, Glen De Costa  Percussion –  Uzziah “Sticky” Thompson, Noel “Skully” Simms, Sylvan Morris, 

                         Herman “Bongo Herman” Davis,  Leroy “Mabrak” Mattis, Ras Midas  

     Sylvan Morris, one of the most acclaimed Reggae music engineers and arrangers in Jamaica, worked with Ras Midas on all recordings except Reaching Out and Fire Up.  

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7” Singles

“Kude-A-Bamba” (1976) for Harry Johnson on Mango Records/Island Music (USA)

“Kude-A-Bamba” (1976) for Harry Johnson on Cancer Records (JA, WI)

“Trouble Town” (1977) for Harry Johnson on Harry J’s Records (JA, WI)“Good Old Days” / “Dub Universal” (1978) for Harry Johnson’s Jay Wax Records (JA, WI)

“Jah Jah Same Love” (1979) for Harry Johnson’s Harry J Records (JA, WI)

“Can’t Stop Rastaman Now” (1979) for Harry Johnson’s Jay Wax Records (JA, WI) and 

     Warrior Records (CA, USA)

“Let The People Go” / “Version” (1979) for Harry Johnson’s Jay Wax Records (JA, WI)

“Let The People Go” / “People’s Dub” (1980) for Harry Johnson’s Jay Wax Records (JA, WI)

“Let’s Go Dancing In The Rain” (1980) Portland Records (JA, WI)

“Exile Skank” (1980) for Harry Johnson’s Roosevelt Records (JA, WI)

“Can’t Stop Rastaman Now” (1982) on Disc AZ International (France)

12” Disco Mixes 

“Kude-A-Bamba” with I-Roy (1979) for Harry Johnson’s Jay Wax Records (JA, WI)

“Kude-A’Bamba” with I-Roy (1979) for Harry Johnson on Black Swan Records and 

     Island Records (UK)

“Trouble Town” with I-Roy (1976) for Harry Johnson’s Harry J Records (JA, WI)

“Trouble Town” with I-Roy (1977) for Harry Johnson’s Harry J Records and 

     Virgin Records (UK)

“Good Old Days” with I-Roy (1979) for Harry Johnson’s Jay Wax Records (JA, WI)

"Good Old Days" with I-Roy (1979) Tribes Man Records (UK) UNLICENSED RELEASE*

“Natty Dread Surprise” (1979) Tribes Man Records (UK) UNLICENSED RELEASE*

“Rain And Fire” (1979) for Harry Johnson on Warrior Records 

“Can’t Stop Rastaman Now” (1979) for Harry Johnson’s Harry J Records (JA, WI) and 

     Warrior Records (CA, USA)

“Let The People Go” / “People’s Dub” (1980) for Harry Johnson’s Jay Wax Records (JA, WI)

“Can’t Stop Rastaman Now” (1980) Nocedicoco: A Goody Music Reggae Line (Italy)

“Can’t Stop Rastaman Now” / “Burning Revelation” (1982) Disc International AZ (France)

“Can’t Stop Rastaman Now” (1984) Celluloid (France)

“Good Old Days” / “DJ Version” / “Good Old Dub” (Jan. 2019) Tribes Man Records (UK) 

     UNLICENSED RELEASE*

"Good Old Days" / "Melchizedek" (Feb. 2019) Roots Vibration Records (Belgium) 

“Let The People Go” / “Rain And Fire” (May 2021) Roots Vibration Records (Belgium)

Songs on Compilations

“Trouble Town” (Disco Mix) on REGGAY ROOTS (1977) Harry J Records (JA, WI)

“Rastaman In Exile” on REGGAE PARTY FROM JAMAICA (1983) Disc AZ International (France)

“Good Old Days” on 12 THE HARD WAY (1988) Tribes Man Records (UK) UNLICENSED RELEASE*

Albums

“Cover Me” (1974) for Harry Johnson’s Harry J Records (JA, WI) and Trojan Records (UK)

“Reflections” (1975) for Harry Johnson’s Harry J Records (JA, WI) and Island Records (UK)

“Kude-A-Bamba” (1978) for Harry Johnson on Island Records (UK)

“Rain & Fire” (1978) for Harry Johnson’s Harry J Records (JA, WI) 

“Rastaman In Exile” (1980) Disc AZ International (France)

“Stand Up Wise Up” (1984) Celluloid Records (France)

“Stand Up Wise Up” (1988) JML Records (U.S. release)

“Loving Vibration” (1998) JML Records (CD)

“Confirmation” (2000) JML Records (CD)

“Reaching Out” (2006) JML Records (CD)“Fire Up” (2010) JML Records (CD)

"Rastaman In Exile" (2016) JML Records (CD; remixed and remastered with bonus track)

"Existence" (2022) JML Records - release date (late 2022) to be announced

Digital Download & Streaming Only

“No Bread Live” (15 January 2020) JML Records

“Trouble Town Live” (30 June 2020) JML Records

“World Block Party” and “World Dub Party” (20 January 2021) JML Records

*UNLICENSED RELEASE: These releases were not authorized by or licensed from Harry Johnson or Ras Midas. These releases, all on Tribes Man Records (U.K.), are undisputed infringements of International Copyright Laws by Lloyd Coxsone, owner of Tribes Man Records. Legal action is pending.