Roots Alley Collective

The Roots Alley Collective: The Evolution of Reggae

Program

Java (Augustus Pablo)

Them Belly Full (Bob Marley)

Love and Hate (Dennis Brown)

Love and Affection (Pressure)

and More...

About the Artists

Roots Alley was a 2023 Nominee of the Boston Music Awards, and in January of 2024, they released the album, “Greater Cause Riddim”!!  It is available on Amazon, Spotify, and Apple Music…

Roots Alley is the youngest Caribbean band in Massachusetts and they are dedicated to promoting live Caribbean music like reggae, soca, calypso & dub.  

The core band is comprised of:

Shaquan “Shaq” Gabriel (on drums), 

Christoff Glaude (on electric bass), 

and “RJ” Walters (on keyboard).  

We also have two special guests today, Sean Acker and Jahriffe.

Shaq was born in Vieux-Fort, Saint Lucia, and he comes from a musical family.  He grew up in the Steel pan culture here in Boston and New York. Side note, Happy Independence Day Saint Lucia!! He started playing drums at age 11 in the “Branches Steel Band,” led by Carl Smith.  He has played numerous times with “Adlib Steel Orchestra,”  and he has won the Panorama competition many times under the leadership of Andre White. 

Christoff also comes from a musical family.  He is representing Saint Vincent. He started playing bass at age 11 in the band called “So Amazing.” He attends Berklee College and Music and both of his parents did as well.  He is an educator at Boston Public Schools.  

RJ grew up in Barbados, and he is a graduate of the Boston Arts Academy, where he now teaches.  He also went to Berklee College and Music  He specializes in keyboard and turntables, and he has toured both nationally and internationally.

Either individually or collectively, these members have also worked with other renowned artists such as “Perfect Giddimani,” Nui Raza, Lyrikal, Anthony B., Zion I Kings, Sizzla, Lutan Fyah, Iba Mahr, Marlon Asher, Rebecca Zama, Glen Washington, Mighty Mystic, Elan Trotman, Angelina Jordan, Isiah Sharkey, Victor Provost, Jeffery Osbourne, and many many more…