"You Don't Ha Fi Dread To Be Rasta," declares Orthodox Issachar echoing the Morgan Heritage song. Rastafarian does not mean ganja and dreadlocks. People need to be more educated in this matter.”
 
The Montreal reggae musician is spreading the gospel of Rastafari through his music, starting with his debut album Great and Marvelous, and continuing with his latest, He Created Everything. Issachar seamlessly blends reggae, gospel and chant to explore the spiritual themes inspired by his faith.
 
“Rastafarian came first in my life and then the music followed,” says Issachar (eye-sa-char), who grew up in Montego Bay, Jamaica, before joining his father in Canada as a boy to continue his education. His spiritual schooling however came from Sam Cooke, Bob Marley, Skeeter Davis, Michael Jackson, Grace Thrillers, Dennis Brown, Burning Spear and Bunny Wailer among others.
 
“I would best describe my music to people as spiritual. My message is based on the Bible, inspired by speeches from Haile Selassie, Marcus Garvey and other great leaders, as well as what life as taught me.”
 
Great and Marvelous was precisely drawn from these influences as heard in the songs High Priest, We are Called, Fear Jah, and Trust in the Lord. The album ranges from the gently devotional to rocking tunes. Most recently Issachar has been collaborating with The Twelve Tribes of Israel's New York branch with the single, Dem Gone, which appears on the Shine Your Light compilation CD. To him Rastafari and music go hand-in-hand.
 
“True Rastafarians are followers of Jesus Christ and Haile Selassi I,” he says to dispel the stereotypes of ganja and Rasta’s’. “In others words, to be born again. It is not a hair or food doctrine. It is the way of true Christian life.”
 
Issachar's vision is to create music that joyfully celebrates life and uplift others. On stages in United States, Canada, the Caribbean as well as Africa, New Zealand and England he has been spreading the message: “Open up your heart, let Jah love in.” Amen. Learn more about Issachar at www.orthodoxissachar.ca.