Northern California-based reggae group
Groundation were formed by guitarist/singer/lyricist
Harrison Stafford, keyboardist
Marcus Urani, and bassist Ryan Newman in 1998. The rest of the band personnel has fluctuated. As of 2009, it included a horn section consisting of David "Diesel" Chachere (trumpet), Kelsey Howard (trombone), and
Dr. Jason Robinson (saxophone), as well as percussionist
Mingo Lewis, Jr. and singers Kim Pommell and Stephanie Wallace. The group's newest member was drummer Te Kanawa Haereiti.
Groundation self-released their debut album, Young Tree, on their own Young Tree label in 1999. Each One Teach One followed on July 31, 2001. The disc featured guests
Ras Michael and Marcia Higgs.
Hebron Gate, released January 21, 2003, included
Don Carlos and
the Congos as guests.
Don Carlos also appeared on
We Free Again (November 16, 2004), along with
Apple Gabriel. In 2005,
Groundation released the dub album
Dub Wars. After the appearance of
Upon the Bridge on October 17, 2006, the band not only toured internationally as usual, but, for the first time, also performed in the eastern half of the U.S. The domestic release of
Here I Am on August 18, 2009, also heralded a round of American tour dates. ~ William Ruhlmann