THE DREAD AT THE CONTROLS BAND

Name: Errol Carter
Alias : Errol Flabba Holt / Roots Radics Band
Instrument: Bass
Band Leader

Errol Flabba Holt has been playing music from early childhood days. He was inspired from listening to the radio and started off singing but gravitated towards instruments namely the bass guitar. Errol is self-taught and creates his own style and explores mostly reggae.

Errol has experienced many great hits such as night nurse by Gregory Issacs and many many more hits after hits. He has been affiliated with artistes such as Barrington Levy, Mikey Dread, King Yellow Man, Sugar Minott and Beres Hammond just to name a few. He also played on three of Bunny Wailers Grammy albums.

At present Errol is touring with the group Isreal Vibration and is currently in the studios recording on Mikey Dread’s next upcoming album known as “Backstage Pass” which he created.

Name: Franklyn Waul
Alias : Bubbler
Instrument: Keyboard

Bubbler currently resides in Jamaica and has been in the music industry since the mid seventies. He is capable of playing the keyboard and electric bass but primarily plays the keyboard. Franklyn has been an integral force in Reggae music, both as a keyboard player and producer. Professionally he has recorded with most of the top recording artist of Jamaica, Internationally he has toured with Sly and Robbie, Lloyd Parkes and We the People Band and now Mikey Dread.

His recordings with Mikey Dread started with the 1978 release of ‘Dread at the Controls’, Mikey Dread’s first album. He is credited on thousands of Jamaica’s Recordings. He is currently in the studio recording with Mikey Dread and rehearsing with the rest of the band for an upcoming European tour.

Tony Asher has been in the music industry since the early 70's. He started off playing the Congo Drums at the institute of Jamaica along with well-known drummer Desi Jones. He then moved on to playing Steel drums tutored by Trinidadian Kelvin Hart. He then gravitated towards playing the keyboards and has been doing so since.

Tony has been mainly a studio musician and recorded many hit songs for artistes such as Mikey Dread, Yabbi U, Half Pint, Junior Reid, Sugar Minott, Red Rose (Tempo- King Tubby’s), Black Uhuru, Johnny Osbourne (Water Pump etc.), Bunny Wailer, Yami Bolo, Beres Hammond, Dennis Brown, Tristan Palmer, Jah Thomas, Linval Thompson, Gregory Issacs, Capleton, Charley Chaplain, General Trees, Sassa Fras, Exterminator productions and Ras Record.

Apart from making several hits for top recording producers, Asher also produced songs with artistes such as Frankie Paul and Jennifer Laura.

Name: Lenford Richards
Instrument: Guitar

Lenford and Mikey Dread has been friends since school days in Port Antonio. He is one of the top Guitarist in Jamaica and an integral part of the Burning Spear Band, touring and performing locally and internationally. Albums to his credit include ‘Live in Paris’ ‘Mek wi Dweet’, ‘People of the World’ and ‘Jah Kingdom’.

He has been playing the guitar for over thirty years is self-taught and has toured all over Europe. Lenford has played for artistes such as Mikey Dread, Rita Marley, Shakka Demus and Pliers and at present he is with Lloyd Parkes and We the People Band.

He will be touring with Mikey Dread as Guitarist with the Dread at the Controls Band.

Name: Lloyd Richards
Alias : Richard Ace Junior
Instrument: Drums

"Junior" was a drumming prodigy at age 7. At the young age of 11 Junior was featured on the ITT sponsored program, Big Blue Marble. He has played many concerts in Jamaica including the One Love Peace Concert.

Currently involved in music production and engineering. Has recorded and performed with artists including Mikey Dread, Rankin Joe, The Gladiators, Indigo Girls, Ky-mani Marley, Blues Traveler, Marcia Griffiths among others. He has also recorded and performed with his dad and brothers as the Sons of Ace. Releasing four albums and presently working on a fifth.

Recently contributed songs to the soundtrack of the movie "In Her Shoes" starring Cameron Diaz.

Junior has been permanent member of the Dread at the Controls band since 2001.

Press Clip of the young Richard Ace Junior

Name: Bruce Zimmerman
Instrument: Saxophone

Bruce, primarily a jazz musician, influenced by such artists as Roland Kirk and Mark Russo, he sought out and studied under local jazz great Hollis Gentry.

Bruce played in reggae bands for 8 years before being invited to audition for the San Diego-based band Skanic. His jazz influence and reggae background is apparent in the richness, texture and depth. Bruce also plays with the popular Oingo Boingo tribute band Dead Man's Party.

Bruce is a session musician playing regularly with Mikey Dread and the Dread at the Controls Band on several festivals.

Name: Andrew Stoch
Alias: Drew
Instrument: Trombone

Drew is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist producer, engineer and musician at the young age of 25.  Classically trained on several instruments including piano and trombone, he has been involved in the prestigious
Palm Beach County Symphony Orchestra and the world renowned University of Miami Jazz Band.  

After honing his skills throughout youth and
college, Drew was the principal songwriter, keyboard and trombone player for the now defunct reggae/ska group The Monjees, sharing the stage with The Skatalites, King Django, Against all Authority, The Slackers, The Alkaholiks, James Brown, Vivian Green and many others.

He has assisted in many capacities under multi-platinum producer/engineer David Kennedy including Wu Tang Clan member Raekwon and British songstress Santessa.  Drew has played with reggae artist like Mikey Dread, Kashief Lindo, Marcia Griffiths.  His versatility of genres and styles has made Drew one of the most sought after producers in the urban music hotbed of Miami.

Currently Drew is recording on Mikey Dread’s next upcoming album “Backstage Pass”

Name: Headley Bennett
Alias : Deadly Headly
Instrument: Saxophone

“Deadly Headly” has been in the music industry since age 14. He learned to play clarinet at the Roman Catholic Alpha boy’s home in Kingston. Coming from a classical Background at Alpha, Deadly Headly also explored Pop, a little calypso singing, Ska, Rock Steady and at present Reggae and dancehall. Upon leaving Alpha at the age of 17, Deadly Headly taught himself how to play the Saxophone and has been doing so since.

Deadly Headly’s fist recording ‘Sheaks Twist’ was done with Christopher Blackwell way back in the sixties and shortly after composed and arranged the instrumental track ‘Joy Ride’ with Treasure Isle. But among the biggest of hits are ‘Full Up’ now known as “Pass di Dutchie”, I’m in a dancing mood sang by Delroy Wilson, and ‘I’m gonna go back home’, sung by Bob Andy, all done by studio one. Other hits include Bob Marley’s first recording song known as ‘Judge Not’ followed by ‘one cup of coffee’ and many others along with Bob Marley’s last album ‘It is survival.’

Deadly Headley has recorded with ninety percent of Jamaica’s top reggae artists such as Gregory Issacs, King Yellow Man, Bunny Wailer, Ritta Marley, Junior Reid, Jimmy Cliff and Lee Perry. The Jamaican Government also gave him an Order of Distinction award in 2005.

Apart from making several hits for top recording producers, Headly also did three albums for himself, namely thirty five years from alpha, Poolside Reggae and Victory. He had also recorded several of Mikey Dread's albums including World War III, Dread at the Controls and SWALK. Currently Deadly Headly is in the studios recording his distinguished Saxophone Jamaican Style on Mikey Dread's next upcoming album known as “ Backstage Pass ”.