Chris Dawkins - Rastanaut

Chris "Earl Tutu" Dawkins originally released this LP in 2011.  Its packed with soul, all done in Chris' unique style. 

These are the original inlay notes. 

Hit Babdcamp to buy.

https://chrisdawkins.bandcamp.com/album/rastanaut

I started playing guitar at my fathers Baptiste Church in West Yorkshire at the age of 15 in 1976.
Within 2 years, during the summer of 1978 some young members of the church including myself formed a band called FREEDOM. During this tim EMI reps from London came to the church to hear the band as they had been made aware of us via Gospel Concerts we had performed at. My father Pastor Dawkins and Brother King an elder at the church turned the reps from EMI away saying the children would not be playing the devils music. As you can guess, I hid my passion for playing guitar from my father, sneaking out of the house, to play gigs and record.
Coming home from a gig one night, I was welcomed by the sight of my belongings in black bin bags, I had been found out.

My first experience of studio environment came about from my friendship with a truly gifted musician by the name of Richard Dover who as young man, took me under his wing and taught me that music did not have to be put in specific boxes, that you can be inspired by all genres, and to express the feelings from the heart.

Music then had to take a back seat, as I became a dad at the age of 19 and worked within the social care arena. The untimely passing of my beautiful daughter Natasha at the age of five months brought me back to my guitar, a welcome release from the heartbreak and pain I was experiencing.

I commuted to London on a regular basis and built contracts which opened up avenues for me in the music industry. I toured Europe with Lonnie Liston-Smith who was a former keyboard player with Miles Davis and my passion for playing was well and truly ignited. I joined the grpup Detrimental in 1994 and played festivals,toured and had the opportunity to play live on TV and be interviewed on Radio 1 by John Peel. I had amazing opportunities throughout my career and being part of the groups ‘Nightmares on Wax’, ‘Bedlam Agogo’ and ‘LSK’ as well as having unforgettable experiences of working with talented artists such as Jack Johson, Finlay Quaye, Jimi Tenor and Juliet Roberts.

In 2001, I spent time in LA, working alongside the respected music producer David Holmes on the soundtrack to Oceans 11. I had the opportunity to work with David again on the soundtrack to Buffalox Soldiers, with Joaquin Phoenix.

The death of my father in 2011 at the age of 87 inspired me to complete my debut album

Enjoy
Chris (Earl Tutu) Dawkins