GROUNDATION has performed in over 35 countries on 5 continents taking the main stages at world  renown reggae festivals including Germany's Summer Jam, France's No Logo, and Brazil's Republica  do Reggae. The group has released 10 studio albums to critical acclaim and their 2003 release Hebron  Gate has made many industry lists of the greatest reggae albums of all time.  

GROUNDATION's latest studio album, One Rock keeps their sound and legacy moving ever forward  with 9 powerful songs featuring complex arrangements, moving melodies and lyrics that touch on the  human condition, the human spirit and the state of the world. Always a group to respect their elders, on  this album GROUNDATION makes history once again collaborating with the legendary reggae vocal  groups Israel Vibration, The Abyssinians and The Congos.  

More than two decades into a storied career, GROUNDATION has helped define American roots  reggae, while building a large and loyal following in Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand,  and the US where they have been a consistent major headliner and festival attraction for the last 18  years.  

GROUNDATION formed in 1998 when Stafford started a roots reggae/jazz fusion group with fellow  students at the Jazz Performance program at Sonoma State University. Stafford’s interest and  knowledge of the reggae genre led to him developing and offering a course he taught at Sonoma State  called “The History of Reggae Music.” Reggae legends like Joseph Hill of Culture and historical icons  like Abba Melchezadek (Haile Selassie’s private secretary) amongst others came and shared their  personal experiences with the classes.  

GROUNDATION’s first two albums, Young Tree and Each One Teach One, established their unique  roots sound, while also commencing collaborations with foundational reggae artists. Each One Teach  One features the vocalist Marcia Higgs and the Nyabinghi drumming master Ras Michael.  In 1999, while in Jamaica, Harrison met the legendary studio engineer Jim Fox, who did extensive  production and recording for RAS Records, including their most iconic releases. This was the  beginning of a longstanding relationship between GROUNDATION and Lion and Fox recording  studios. Subsequently Fox re-mastered Young Tree and Each One Teach One and he recorded and  mixed Hebron Gate (2003) the album that solidified their unique and jazzy approach to their music.  Fox has continued working with GROUNDATION on their subsequent releases helping to shape their  sound on We Free Again (2004), Upon The Bridge (2006), Here I Am (2009), Building An Ark (2012) 

and A Miracle (2014). Together they built a catalog of genre-bending, deep, progressive roots reggae  music.  

GROUNDATION’s visual artwork has also had a consistent look and feel headed by Giovanni Maki,  Stafford's childhood friend. Giovanni has created the album graphics and visual designs for  GROUNDATION from the group’s inception.  

They have had a number of personnel changes over the years, but with Harrison Stafford at the helm,  GROUNDATION continues to bring reggae into new worlds. Their album, The Next Generation  (2018) opens with a full jazz big band (featuring 12 horn players). This album won Reggae.fr's “Best  Roots Reggae Album of 2018,” This award was voted on by over 16,000 media members, musicians,  producers and fans. 

Following tours throughout Europe, South America and the United States in 2022 in support of their  new studio album One Rock, GROUNDATION returned to the road in 2023 after the release of  Dreaming From An Iron Gate, a reimagining of their 2003 release Hebron Gate which saw the group  performing the entire album from front to back thrilling fans throughout Europe, North America, and  Brazil. The journey continues in 2024 and beyond as GROUNDATION spreads their message of hope  and music to the four corners of the world. 

Accredited Artist and producer, E.N Young has produced over 950 songs out of his own Imperial Sound Recording Studio in San Diego, California for some of the biggest artists in reggae. This includes his own albums, the latest release being “Stay Humble” in Oct. 2021 and “No Compaint” in Feb. 2021. E.N has brought a top-ranking energetic show to stages across the US and more plans to tour and connect positive energy to all people in 2022. E.N Young has been a frontline soldier for Roots Reggae music his entire life, joining world music band Stranger in 2002 after having an eclectically musical childhood. After four studio albums, E.N dove into his solo career, rendering his first album Luck & Chance No More under his own Roots Musician Label by 2010. Roots Musician Records, as well as E.N Young’s Imperial Sound Recording Studio, has become a mecca for roots reggae artists ever since. As for production credits, E.N Young has worked with current headlining acts, like Steel Pulse, Pepper, Rebelution, Stick Figure, Slightly Stoopid, Trevor Hall, Million Stylez, Alborosie, Sizzla, Lutan Fyah, Don Carlos, Mykal Rose, KBong, Iya Terra and beyond. E.N’s most recent accomplishments include culminating over 3.2 million plays for “Ease Your Mind”, a single he featured on for Philadelphia band Kings and Comrades, as well as solidifying an inclusion on Spotify’s ‘Reggae Party’ editorial playlist for his latest solo single, “Queendom”. With much on the horizon, E.N Young continues to scout for collaborative talent whilst progressing in his own musical ventures. He has brought a top-ranking energetic show to stages across the US and more plans to tour and connect positive energy with all people in 2022. Written by: Kristy Rose (Top Shelf Music)