Reggae music has never stopped evolving, but for millions of people from around the world it’s still defined by the songs of Bob Marley and the Wailers. The Wailers have performed with international acts such as Sting, Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, as well as reggae legends Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and Burning Spear. Their most recent collaborators include Kenny Chesney, Eve, Jason Mraz, and Colbie Caillat. The anchor of the band is Aston “Family Man” Barrett, who in addition to being Marley’s most trusted lieutenant, played on countless other classic reggae hits throughout the seventies. The authenticity he brings to the Wailers’ sound is indisputable, and yet today’s line-up combines old-school know-how with lead vocals from one of Jamaica’s most exciting new singers. Koolant joined the Wailers soon after his cameo appearance in the film "Made In Jamaica." Like Marley, Koolant spent his formative years in the Jamaican countryside. He was raised between Bath and Wilmington, some thirty miles outside Kingston. “It’s been a wonderful experience, singing with the Wailers because so many of Bob Marley’s songs are still relevant to what’s happening right now. They are of the times,” Koolant says. “Bob Marley was a prophet, and it’s a honor to be part of that." Yet there’s a great deal more to the Wailers than reliving the past—the Wailers have succeeded in turning a fresh page and, led by their charismatic new singer, they’re ready to make history once more.
