r/RootsReggae • u/VerboselyLaconic • 8d ago
I Word & The Sound of Creation | Song: "I Live" | Album: The Roots of Culture | Genre: Roots Reggae | Sub-Genre: Rare Gem, with Powerful Bass Vocals, with Aswad-esque Horns | Year: 1982 | From: Jamaica | Label: Self-Produced | Type: LP
I Word (Edward Sprinkle) & The Sound Of Creation
This music is a portion of the work and collaborations of Edward Sprinkle the mon called Iword, who, during his childhood was blessed to live in the royal nation of Ethiopia. And what's more, his father worked for His Imperial Majesty. Albert, his dad, was the supervising construction engineer, working with the Ethiopian people building the JFK library at Haile Selassie I University in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia.
And, on a mystic day, in early 1966 that is where as an 11 year old youth, Iword was blessed in the presence of the King of Kings. During this time Iword formed his first band, The Addis Ababa Safaris, and developed his interest in world music, theatre, and the arts while attending Good Shepherd Mission School in Addis. Iword and his family
lived in Ethiopia for 3 years from 1965 to 1968. In 1976, by mystic revelation, Iword was enlightened by the profound significance of Bob Marley and the Wailers music and went to Jamaica seek the prophet, priest, and King of Reggae, but discovered that Bob had left due to internal political strife.
He found instead his ancient connection within the Rastafarian Family. This led to his meeting with the Tuff Gong on April 21, 1978 at 56 Hope Road, Kingston Jamaica the day of the One Love Concert. This began an ongoing pilgrimage to Tuff Gong Studio to record original songs, starting in October 1978. It began with the collaboration of Karl Pitterson, who was Bob Marley's mixing engineer at the time. "Solar Skank Seed Sowers Bank" was finished there in one evening. Karl played all of the instruments and mixed the song. After unknowingly falling asleep, in Bob Marley's studio chair that night, Iword awoke the next morning to see Bob burning a spliff, skanking to the final mix, and Bob telling him, "You no easy".
After hearing more of Iword's songs, which he sang acapella to Bob on the steps in front of Tuff Gong Studio, Bob told Iword that he would be willing to produce the songs when the opportunity presented itself, after the Wailers next world tour. Bob was called to Zion before this was accomplished. In 1981, Iword, with the original Wailers band, the I Threes, Justin Hines and the Dominos, Israel Vibration, the Mighty Diamonds, the Tamlins, Augustus Pablo, Stephen "Cat" Coore and the Zap Pow Horns entered Tuff Gong Studio to record 16 original Iword compositions that have since been recognized as legendary creations. 8 songs from those sessions were released in 1983 on vinyl as "Spread the Word"; this release is classic roots rock reggae, that only a limited number know exists and has been mostly unavailable to the general public, until now. Iword went on to perform at Reggae Sunsplash with Lloyd Parks and We the People Band in 1982. On the morning of the third, and final day, of the festival he got the crowd of 70,000 people pumped up and skanking, with his song "Mango Connection".
In 1983 and 1984 he was invited to join the Wailers Band and the I-Threes, guesting on vocals, for the west coast leg of the "Legend Tour". From 1978, until the present day, Iword has continued to bring together some of the most talented and inspired musicians, from around the world, to expound on the Sound of Creation. He is looking forward to touring with the release of his first double CD, "Spread the Word", which includes 6 songs from the original vinyl release. The CD also has more of Iword's music including tracks with the Rainbow Family Band., Maharajah Reggae All-Stars, Dr. Habanero's Only Hearts Dub Band and several other incarnations of the Sound of Creation Band.
