Louisiana's first funkin' reggae rock band plays music for the soul.When dealing with radio and press The Uppressors are often faced with the same question. 'What's a Reggae group doing coming from the bayou.' Well the answer's quite easy....Louisiana's rich musical culture is derived from many musical styles that have migrated here from all over the world. The African Rhythms that once filled the south during slavery have spawned styles such as Blues, Jazz, Dixie Land, Zydeco, to many others including Rock-n-Roll. Bob Marley himself has said he was influenced by the New Orleans music that he used to catch on his AM radio due to the AM frequency's un-controlling ability to travel far across the water. The signal would skip in and out often coming through on the Upbeat. This is what Marley said inspired the change to Reggae from the earlier Rock Steady Jamaican style. New Orleans being the largest trade city in our area garnished the credit but it was from the small bayou cropping towns that these musicians brought forth the music that helped to inspire Reggae music.' When I was a kid my father introduce me to Reggae music' say's vocalist/lyric writer RuDog, ' I remember hearing Bob Marley, Toot and the Maytals, The Meters, The Neville's beginning with their Wild Tchopatoulas debut, Peter Tosh, Scratch Lee Perry, and one of my earliest influences Jimmy Cliff. This music captured me, I don't know why but I made since out of it, I couldn't help it my timing is different and it seems that Reggae and dancehall feels the best to me.'As I grew older and wore a 10' Mohawk and leather I have always kept a reggae song or two in my set. As the music fad changed from punk to heavy metal I still heard Reggae in the music of the Sex Pistols, The Clash, to Led Zeppelin and Judas Priest.In 2002 Rudog, bassist Jerry 'Bondo' Martin, and Keyboardist Jah'n Lefort set out to play Reggae along with the music that sprouted the roots of Reggae including Soul, R&B, and Funk. The band hooked up with different musicians until finding natures perfect mix. The three along with guitarist Johnny Boy Lisi and drummer Alabama Dave make up the core of the group. When playing 'LIVE' there is a revolving door of back up singers and percussionist that perform with The UPpressors.The sub tropical climate of south Louisiana further lends itself to The Uppressor's inspiration. We have the palm trees, the humidity, the water, and the mighty hurricane. Much like a third world country we also have the oppression of a crooked government, poor schooling, poverty, racism, and above all a high rate of illiteracy. On the bayou where The UPpressors are from there is only one road in and one road out and if you go too far left or right you're in the water. Music is our culture and there has been more musical styles invented in Louisiana then any other place in the world. 'We're proud to play Reggae music and if we can bring a little piece of the stress-less island feeling to our audience then we're playing the music right' say's RuDog.Early in 2005, The UPpressors released their debut recording 'Fire Brain.' The band's first full-length recording that mixes Reggae and Rock with a southern influence. The record is filled with music with a message such as 'Mary Of Magdala' which questions the woman's roll in today's church society, 'Exile' which is a tribute to all of the political prisoners around the world, to 'Ten Miles To Kings Town' an autobiographical song about the bands struggle through tribulations that many of today's young people experience.The Uppressor's 'The White Star Legion' recording is scheduled for release later this year. The band has played many festivals and club dates in and around Louisiana, including the Grand opening of Blue Guitarist Tab Benoit's club and The Voice Of The Wetlands Festival in October 2004. They have been featured on KLRZ (100.3 FM). That set can be downloaded at www.theuppressors.com.

MEET THE BAND:RuDog (vocals) Rudog was born in Raceland, Louisiana and grew up going back and forth between Larose and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He has always been a scene maker beginning with promoting shows around the area where he lived to promoting shows all over the United States while owning and operating the successful award winning Thunderbird Management Group. He has worked with and studied from many of his musical idles in which today he draws his inspiration including Jr. Wells, Raful Neal, Tabby Thomas, Henry Gray, Eddie Bo, George Porter Jr., and Cyril Neville. Rudog's deep admiration for these forefathers of roots music has allowed him to get an up-close personal look into music history. He is a producer/engineer who has worked on two Grammy nominated roots recordings. He has always been closely related to social movements including anti-censorship organizations and the environmental organization Voice of the Wetlands. The Uppressors give Rudog the platform to express his opinions, wisdom, and wit. Johnny 'BOY' Lisi (guitar & guitars) New Jersey Born Guitarist Johnny Boy Lisi had a close call as first chair to the speed metal band Megadeth in the late eighties but it was his stint as the guitarist for Louisiana Swamp Blues Legend Tabby Thomas that connected Lisi and Rudog. Whether it be on stage at the Roxy re-uniting with his speed metal band, playing low-down blues in some southern juke joint with Louisiana legends, or on stage with his own bands Delta Funk and the Uppressors it is his deep knowledge of technique and tone that separates him from any other guitar player. Johnny has three records out with his band Delta Funk and he is the guitar player on Tabby Thomas's Hoodoo King Recording. Johnny Boy may be new to the New Orleans scene, but he is quickly becoming highly rated as the one to watch. Jerry 'Bondo' Martin (bass) Nick named 'Bondo' because of his amazing ability to hold it all together even in the toughest situations, Jerry is the go to guy in the band. He is the link to the future of our music. He continues to listen to new bands and advance in new styles when the rest of the band has chosen to stop at a certain point. His thick tone is rich in flavor and potent in groove and his ability to play many different instruments and styles makes him an asset to The UPpressors. Jah'n Lefort (keyboards) A Classically trained piano Guru, a poet, writer, historian, and one of the most intellegient people that you may ever meet. John Lefort is our Mozart. He grew up playing music from bands such as 'Yes' and 'Pink Floyd' and it is from that inspiration that he creates the stir it up vibe, that deep exodus groove, and takes you straight into the natural mystic of The UPpressor's sound. Alabama Dave (drums) Dave also comes to The UPpressors via John Lisi's Delta Funk. Just as Zepplin had the bombastic John Bohnam he brings to the Uppressors the right to rock. He provides backing vocals and that loose back beat and when mixed with the Bondo's bass playing creates the real Jamaican sound