Biography

" Grammy Award Winning Reggae Singer-songwriter. "




The Rise of Yami Bolo



International star Yami Bolo has been recording and performing "Jah-centered" cultural reggae since the 1980s. Bolo believes that he has been divinely called to make himself and his entourage revolutionary soldiers of the Almighty on a mission to spread their message of love, peace and hope to the entire world with their performances and recordings. He is particularly interested in uplifting the youth songs that warn against violence such as "Gun War." Born Rolando McLean, Yami Bolo's earliest musical influence was church music; he began performing at age 11. He got his big chance when he hooked up with Sugar Minott and his Youth Promotion organization. Minott was impressed by Bolo's sincerity and eventually allowed him to record special promotions for traveling DJs — none of the many tracks he recorded with Minott were ever released. While associated with Minott, the adolescent Bolo would spend much time hanging out at Jamaican studio listening to roots beats and learning about recording. Later, Bolo performed with Stur-Mas and Third World. As an independent artist, Bolo signed with Techniques in the mid-'80s and released three singles. He then went on to cut one LP with Junior Delgado and another with Augustus Pablo before recording the solo CD He Who Feels it Knows It for Heartbeat in 1989. In the early '90s, he was signed with Taxi Records and also to Paisley Park Records as a songwriter. Throughout the duration of the nineties Bolo recorded for the RAS and VP labels, as well as issuing 1991's He Who Knows It Feels It and 1992's Up Life Street on Heartbeat.

Yami Bolo, called "the freshest Roots and Culture artiste springing out of the pack in Jamaica today "has torn up crowds as far away as Canada, Japan, Europe and the United States and is not stopping. Yami Bolo's magical voice speaks directly to the heart, his singing style has been passionately compared to "a cry out in the wilderness" inspiring strength, joy and hope. Born Rolando Ephraim McLean on October 1, 1970, raised in Kingston 13, Bolo became exposed to music at an early age through the church, which his grandmother always insisted that he attend. His early attraction to music was further encouraged by his grand mother's gift of an accordion and a trombone.

Yami Bolo's first professional training in the music industry occurred while he was a member of Sugar Minott's Youth Promotion Crew of the 1980's, which was instrumental in the careers of such great singers as Garnett Silk and Tenor Saw, among others. Yami Bolo's first major stage show was at the St. Andrew Technical High School, where at the tender age of 13, he performed his emotional hit single "When A Man's in Love" still a favorite in the dance clubs today, and from which KRS-1 sampled his hit "Take It Easy." Since that time, Bolo's musical career has led him on a series of regal adventures. He has worked with top producers including Augustus Pablo, Coxson Dodd, Lee Perry, Winston Riley, Clive Hunt, Sly and Robbie, among others.

In 1987, at the age of 17, he was invited on tour with Augustus Pablo's prestigious Rockers crew and in 1994 created an indelible impression on the Japan Splash tour leading to a unique collaboration between established Japanese superstar, Kazafumi Miyazawa (Miya). The "Miya-Yami Project" garnered the "Best Music Video '94" title in Japan making Bolo the proud recipient of Sony's Silver Grand Prix Award and their album "Love Is Dangerous" became one of the best selling reggae albums in Japan with sales topping in excess of 500,000 copies. The single "Brothers Unite" was voted Best Reggae Single 1994. Bolo remains true to the spirit of reggae when, in speaking of his work, he states "the singer is but the instrument. It's the Almighty at work." Yami Bolo's commitment to conscious lyrics is evident throughout his music, he is determined to spread the love and happiness of his spiritual strength through exploring his multiple roles as singer, songwriter and musician. This is exemplified on Yami Bolo's over nineteen albums. Yami Bolo recently appeared in the movie "Life and Debt" and his single "Worldwide Corruption" is featured on the soundtrack released by Tuff Gong/Universal. Yami BoloYami Bolo's talent has been long recognized by fellow artists, recent collaborations with Ghetto Youths Damian and Stephen Marley include the No 1 Jamaica-hit single "Still Searchin;" "She Needs My Love;" and "Stand A Chance" for the Motown-released Grammy Award-winning "Halfway Tree" album.

Collaborations with Capelton "Put Down the Weapons"; Jack Radics "The Puppet Master"; Josey Wales and Charlie Chaplin "Do Good" exemplify Bolo's militant commitment to the youths whose "coming of age" under current economic and social conditions require the love of their fellowman and a redefined reverence for the highest moral standards, have lead to popular radio hits in Jamaica. "Freedom" co-written by Yami Bolo and Snow was produced by Dave Kelly for Atlantic Records. A collaboration with Wyclef Jean “The Eulogy” and vocals for “Three Nights In Rio” Mad Lion on Yami Bolo's original "Take It Easy" will soon be released. Yami also produced the Firewalker rhythm track on Kymani Marley's Grammy-nominated album "Many More Roads." "Jah Made Them All," "Jah Jah Give Me True Love" and "Be Still Babylon" are anthems which embody Bolo's love for the Creator and his devotion to Jah Rastafari. Bolo's adaptation of Madonna's "La Isle Bonita" transformed the song to subtly celebrate Jamaica's own beauty and romantic vision, another favorite of Jamaica's radio waves. Yami Bolo has written three soundtrack songs for CTW's Sesame Street and Cartoon Network's "Big Bag." he also wrote an perform on the sound track for film (Our Song).

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Concerts & Tours

Trinidad & Tobago

California

England

Japan

New York City

Colorado

Jamaica

Available for bookings: E-mail: Yami@YamiBolo.com | Phone: 718-809-4917




















NEWS & PRESS RELEASES

Discography

"Exclusive Albums, Singles, Compilations, Features, Duets, Unplugs"

Ministry


1. Ecrire Pour
2. Love Jah Everyday
3. Richard Corry
4. Buss Off Head
5. War And Guns
6. Put Down Your Weapons
7. Curly Locks
8. Rasrafari Is Life
9. Do Good
10. Jah Jah Loving
11. Culture Taking Over
12. True Love
13. Puppet Master
14. Willow Tree
15. Run For

Play Album

Ilights / CD 2005


Rebelution


1. Empress I Love You
2. Pray
3. Good Must Conquer Evil
4. Sanctify Yourself
5. Ethiopia
6. Liberation
7. Talk 'Bout Slavery
8. Accident
9. Do No Evil
10. Hail The Conquering Lion
11. Crownation Glory
12. Safeguard
13. Y Mas Gan
14. Binghi

Play Album

Zion High Productions / CD 2003 US


Forces of Nature Volume Two


1. Righteousness - Jah Mali
2. Brimstone And Fire - Jah Mali
3. Jah Is The Solution
4. Jah Is The Solution
5. Super Market - Jah Mali
6. Every Man's Burden - Jah Mali
7. Wept Not
8. Pick & Choose - Yami Bolo ft. Cutty Ranks
9. Never Let A Good Thing Go - Jah Mali
10. Heart Full Of Love
11. What Going On - Jah Mali

Brickwall Records / CD 2002 US Jah Mali And Yami Bolo


4 Rebels


1. Blessing - Luciano
2. Moving Out Ah Babylon - Luciano
3. Black Man King - Luciano
4. More Love - Anthony B
5. My Story - Anthony B ft. Robert French
6. Conquerer
7. Cool It Down
8. Hotta Fire
9. Thou Shall Not Kill - Sizzla
10. Legendary - Sizzla
12. Have Your Own - Sizzla

VP Records / VINYL LP 2001 US


Healing of All Nations


1. Haile Selassie (Disco Mix)
2. We Need Love
3. We Need Version
4. Jah Is Holy
5. King David
6. African People
7. World Peace
8. Healing OF All Nations
9. Secret Babylon
10. Trigga Happy Kid
11. Trigga Happy Version
12. Jah Is My Shepherd
13. Shepherd's Version
14. Mystery Babylon
15. Gidion Getting Hotter

Roots Foundation / DBL VINYL LP 2001 US


Warmonger


1. Joanna
2. Warmonger
3. Show Me
4. Call Me
5. African Woman
6. Star Of Love
7. Mind Games
8. Maximum Freedom
9. Spread Jah Love
10. Mr. Big And In Crime

Play Album

Jet Star Records / CD 2000 UK


Freedom And Liberation


1. Love My Woman
2. Becuse I Am Black
3. Curley Locks
4. Trample
5. When A Man Is In Love
6. The Man Who Loves You
7. Rise Up
8. My Lover
9. Freedom And Liberation
10. Pretty Baby
11. Boogie On Reggae Woman - Yami Bolo ft. Robbie
12. Worldwide Corruption

Tabou 1 Records / CD 1999 UK Yami Bolo & Sly & Robbie


  Jah Love


1. Put Down The Weapon
2. More Than Gold
3. Traitors & Vampires
4. Curly Locks
5. Non Stop Loving
6. Gun War
7. Jah Love
8. Do Good
9. What's Going On
10. Buss Off Head
11. Puppet Master
12. We Better Unite
13. Highway Robbery

Play Album

VP Records / LP CD 1998 US


No Surrender / Say A Prayer


1. Say A Prayer
2. What Have I Done
3. Black Slave
4. His Majesty
5. Jah World Order
6. No More Dividing
7. Bloodshed
8. No Surrender
9. Children On The Streets
10. You Got To Be Loved
11. Equal Rights
12. We Better Unite

Jet Star Records / Record Factory / I.M.A.J. / LP CD 1998 UK Say A Prayer (1999)


Wonders And Sign / Widsom Cry


1. Wonders And Sign
2. I Love Jah So
3. Wisdom Cry
4. Guiding Light
5. Horizon
6. Crazy
7. Isn't She Lovely
8. This Is The Way
9. Jah Love Is The Solution
10. Weep Not
11. Lady In Love

Super Power / T.P. Records / LP 1997 CD 2000 US Wisdom Cry (1998)


Born Again


1. Trample The Dragon
2. Warmonger
3. Clean Up Your Front Yard
4. Born Again
5. Be On Good Terms
6. Jah Is Ruff
7. Happy Sings The Blues
8. Love Jah Today
9. Talk About Drugs
10. Domination

Play Album

RAS Records Inc. / CS CD 1996 US


Star Of Love


1. Show Me
2. Call Me
3. Joanna
4. African Woman
5. Warmonger
6. Jah Jah Love
7. Maximum Greed
8. Mr. Big In Crime
9. Star Of Love
10. Mind Games

VP Records / VINYL LP 1995 US


Rebel Sold  


1. People Of South America
2. The Whole World Fighting For Peace
3. Officials Are Like Locust
4. Singing Up Life Street
5. I Don't Know Why
6. Glock War, Gun War
7. Music Make Me Groove
8. In Love With A Rasta Man
9. Nature Boy
10. Never Stopping
11. So Softly Love
12. Jah Jah Give Me Love

Mercury / CD 1995 JPN


Love Is Dangerous


1. Love Is Dangerous
2. 神様の宝石でできた島 - Miya
3. Just Say I Do
4. Life Line
5. Love Is Dangerous (Remix)
6. Just Say I Do (Remix Version)
7. 神様の宝石でできた島 (Remix)

Sony / CD 1994 JPN


Fighting For Peace


1. People Of South America
2. The Whole World Fighting For Peace
3. Officials Are Like Locust
4. Singing Up Life Street
5. I Don't Know Why
6. Glock War, Gun War
7. Music Make Me Groove
8. In Love With A Rasta Man
9. Nature Boy
10. Never Stopping
11. So Softly Love
12. Jah Jah Give Me Love

Play Album

Real Authentic Sound / Dreadbeat / CD 1994 US|GER


Yami & Lloyd Hemmings


1. Struggle In Babylon
2. Dub
3. Jah Is Gonna Break It Up
4. Falling Babylong Dub
5. Bowl Must Full
6. Poor Man Problem
7. Africa For Africans
8. Fight This War - Lloyd Hemmings
9. Fret Not Thyself - Lloyd Hemmings
10. Who Rule - Lloyd Hemmings
11. Haile Selassie I (Forever Dub) - Lloyd Hemmings
12. Straight Up - Lloyd Hemmings
13. It Is Because I Am Black - Lloyd Hemmings

VINYL 1993 JAM


Cool And Easy


1. Joe The Boss
2. Be Still Babylon
3. I'm A Survivor
4. History Here I Am
5. La Isla Bonita
6. Just Us Two
7. Girl With Brains
8. Love Me Tonight
9. Just Us Two
10. Cool And Easy

Tappa Records / VINYL 1993 JAM


Up Life Street  


1. Blood A Run
2. Iniquity Worker
3. Greedium
4. Pretty Looks
5. Mama Cries
6. Life Is A Song Worth Singing
7. Let Your Love Light Shine
8. Jah Jah Loving
9. Pretty Black Eye Girl
10. Time Heals All Broken Hearts

Play Album

>Heartbeat Records / Leggo Records / VINYL LP CD 1991 US|JAM


Who Knows it Feels it 


1. King's Birthday
2. Who Knows It, Feels It
3. Get Up And Dance
4. Let Me Be Your Man
5. You Are My Lady
6. Dance Hall Music
7. Lady In Love
8. Turbo Charge
9. Your Love Is Amazing
10. Twilight Time
11. Timing Is Right
12. If You Love Me
13. Get Up And Dance (Mix)
14. Get Up And Dance (Album)

Heartbeat Records / Observer / LP CD 1991 US|JAM


  Jah Made Them All  


1. Jah Made Them All
2. Big Yard Dub
3. Reggae Ambassador
4. Zion Mall Man Dub
5. Haughty Eye
6. Two Mile Dub
7. Poverty and Brutality
8. Poverty Dub
9. Tell Me Why Is This Fussing and Fighting
10. Kidd Lane Special

Greensleeves Records / Rockers / LP 1989-1990 UK|JAM


Ransom


1. The Ransom Of A Man's Life
2. She Loves Me So
3. Take Time To Know
4. World Of Confusion
5. What Make The World Taste Good
6. Jah Is Life
7. Definitely Not
8. Star Time - Fun Time
9. Memories
10. One Has To Be Real Strong

Greensleeves Records / Shanachie / LP CD 1989-1990 US|UK


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