When Lasana Bandele performed at his first Reggae Sunsplash in 1990, he already
had one hit single behind his name. The Storitela, who had already been making waves
locally, was now reaching a larger audience.
Bandale, who hails from the Parish of St. James in Jamaica, started writing poems and songs in
1972. A student of Catadupa All-Age School, he went on to spend three years at the Jamaica
School of Music and one year at the Jamaica School of Drama.
Writing in Jamaica's "Daily Gleaner, "journalist Balford Henry says, "Lasana Sees only the
purpose in music...his songs are favorites of these who love what we call 'message music.' " And
there are many messages in the songs which bandelle has penned over the years.
He recorded and released his first single "Hanging Locks," in 1974, followed by "Send
Us Home" in 1976. During the next three-year period he studied at the Jamaica School of Music
and his poems were heard frequently on JBC-Radio's "Groundings."
The man from Catadupa became caught up in the world of music and fashioned his roles as songwriter,
singer, poet and musician - playing guitar, piano, flute, and congas. Following his sojourn at the
Jamaica School of Music, he began working as a composer, arranger and producer.
In 1978 he released his third single, "Changes," and spent a year writing "Music News" for JBC-Radio.
The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission awarded Bandele a Bronze medal in 1980 for his poem "Mad
Dogs," and a Certificate of Merit in 1981 for his poem "Prison."
In 1981 he began arranging music for other artist, including Merlin Jones. A year later he was appointed
Mananging Director of Truth and Rights Production Limited, a production company that produced music
for budding artist.
In 1984, Bandele formed Storitela Music Limited and Storitela Publishing, and began producing his own
songs. After the success of his first single on his own label, "Living in Shacks" in 1989, Bandele produced
his debut album, "Storitela," which included the his single, along with "Big City," "Subway Blues," "Break
Free," "Bird Land," "Waiting Inside," and the title track, "Storitela."
Says Dermott Hussey, Music Journalist, "Lasana Bandele is an original whose words and music succeeds
beautifully because it is what exciting music does best, it surprised us with the delightful discovery of
places where we have never been..."
OFFICIAL LASANA BANDELE WEBSITE
