UMOYA Reggae-Music Homepage

About UMOYA

UMOYA (Swahili for "unity") is part of a new generation of reggae-bands who hold true to the original spirit of reggae-music, yet, by blending it with other musical influences, have found their own unique form of expression. The band's musical variety spans the spectrum from traditional heavyweight roots-reggae to lovers-rock to contemporary dancehall-styles, while maintaining a continuity of sound. In 1993, the CD-Maxi "Hey You" received massive airplay in Germany, Poland and Belgium and turned UMOYA into the most popular and successful reggae-band in Germany during a whole decade.

Comprised of an interesting mix of musicians from Jamaica, England, Germany, and Portugal, UMOYA was formed in 1982 and began opening for acts such as "Steel Pulse", "Black Uhuru" and "Burning Spear". Throughout the years the band has continued to woo European audiences and has released multiple CDs, cassettes and vinyl-albums, as well as appearing on several compilations. Their new CD "Two Decades" (2004) is going to have a massive impact on the European reggae-scene, and while taking the genre to new heights, UMOYA keeps the universal flame of timeless reggae alive.

Musicians:

Junior (Jamaica): vocals
Trevor (Jamaica): vocals & percussion
Achim (Germany): percussion & vocals
Jörg (Germany): bass
Claus (Germany): drums
Guido (Portugal): keyboards & vocals
Thomas (Germany): mixing console

Curriculum Vitae:

1982	year of foundation
1984	first concerts
1988	shows in smaller venues, opening-act for "Steel Pulse" and "Burning Spear"
1989	shows in smaller venues, TV-Show at private German Broadcaster RTL, "Sunsplash Festival" at Loreley/Germany, Headliner at "Rheinkultur Festival"/Germany
1990	Support-Act for "Black Uhuru" and "Twinkle Brothers", Tour in Germany and in France
1991	Tour in Germany with "Macka B." & "U-Roy", "Summerjam Festival" at Loreley/Germany, Recordings with "Mad Professor" at Ariwa Studios/London
1993	"Hey You"-Tour in Germany, TV-Shows at German Broadcasters SAT1, MDR, SR & WDR, Position 75 in the official German Radio-Charts (Media Control), Position 2 in "WDR Schlagerrallye", Position 25 in the official German DJ-Charts, Opening-Act for "The Wailers"
1994	"Summerjam Festival" in Wildenrath/Germany, "Sound of Frankfurt"-Festival, Concerts in Belgium and the Netherlands, Position 4 in the Belgian Radio-Charts, Position 7 in "WDR Popsession", Position 4 in "WDR Schlagerrallye"
1996	"Spirits of Reggae"-Tour in Germany
1997	CD-Track "Love & Respect" enters Position 1 in the official Spanish Charts, Tour in Spain
1999	"Summerjam Festival" Cologne/Germany, "Chiemsee Reggae Summer"/Germany
2004	20th "Live"-Anniversary, new CD "Two Decades"