Nashville’s resident reggae star, Gramps Morgan, is back with a blast of summertime love, dropping his new album, Positive Vibration, today (July 23).
Marking the Grammy winner’s first album in nine years and featuring collaborations with Shaggy, India.Arie and more, the album mixes the all-good vibes of Caribbean soul with a dash of Nashville relatability, aimed at lifting up a nation in turmoil. Morgan says he was inspired to preach the gospel of togetherness following COVID-19 and racial injustice protests.
“Even though we have been physically distanced this past year due to COVID-19, we’ve seen people come together like never before,” he explains. “My hope is that through this music we can bring people together that wouldn’t normally come together and spread more love along the way.”
Fifteen tracks include the first single, “If You’re Looking For Me,” and also feature Morgan’s father (reggae star and co-founder of New York’s Black Eagles) Denroy Morgan, as well as his son, Jemere Morgan. A Nashville native since 2012, Gramps Morgan moved to town after falling in love with Music City following a performance at the historic Ryman Auditorium while on tour with India.Arie, and thinks of his unique project as “a soundtrack to celebrate both love and Music City.” “If You’re Looking For Me,” especially, conjures sonic images of everyone from Toots Hibbert to Kenny Chesney, both of whom Morgan cites as inspirations.
“I grew up listening to soul and reggae music,” he says. “But when we would make Sunday dinner– we called it ‘rice and peas day’ — all we listened to was old reggae and country songs. I developed a great appreciation for country music and always wanted to create music that celebrated both reggae and country.”
Positive Vibration Track Listing:
1. Positive Vibration (Johnny Reid / Tyler Cain / Gramps Morgan)
2. If You’re Looking For Me (Johnny Reid / Morry Trent / Morgan)
3. Float Ya Boat Ft. Shaggy (Johnny Reid / Morgan / Tyler Cain / Orville Burrell)
4. Water In My Whiskey (Johnny Reid / Morgan / Jodi Marr)
5. Paradise Ft. India.Arie (Johnny Reid / Jodi Marr / Miku Graham / Michael Shand)
6. A Woman Like You (Johnny Reid / Brent Maher)
7. Secret To Life Ft. Denroy Morgan & Jemere Morgan (Johnny Reid / Morgan)
8. Money (Johnny Reid / Morgan)
9. Rumnesia Ft. Lybran (The Rum Boss) (Johnny Reid / Morgan / Lamon Cousins)
10. Runaway Bay (Johnny Reid / Morgan / Michael Shand / Miku Graham)
11. My Love (Johnny Reid / Morgan)
12. The Peacock (Johnny Reid / Morgan / Miku Graham / Michael Shand)
13. Islander (Johnny Reid / Jodi Marr / Miku Graham / Morgan)
14. Conkytonk (Johnny Reid / Morgan / Jodi Marr)
15. All About Love (Johnny Reid / Gramps Morgan)