Christafari
Genre: Reggae
Official Web Site
Christafari Bibliography: (click on each album cover to view tracks and Christafari lyrics)
Christafari Biography Mark Mohr and Christafari are trailblazers, continually pioneering the genre of Gospel reggae in the U.S. and throughout the world. With their blend of traditional roots and contemporary dancehall reggae, they proclaim a positive message of hope and salvation to this generation. After 15 years, Mark Mohr and Christafari are still standing strong with music that was once considered by some to be just a "fad" or "novelty." Refusing to be limited to one musical market, their compositions appeal to listeners in the Reggae, CCM, Gospel/Urban, World, and Latin markets alike.
CHRISTAFARI HISTORY
Christafari was founded in 1989 by songwriter, producer, and lead vocalist, Mark Mohr. Raised in a Christian family, Mark strayed from his Godly upbringing and, during his teens, became involved in hard drugs and alcohol. As an answer to many prayers, the Lord delivered Mark from his addictions at a Christian camp at the age of 17. After serious prayer, God impressed on his heart to start the first Christian reggae band in America.
"The best advice I was ever given was to go to Bible College so I could be theologically and doctrinally sound," says Mark. He studied at Biola University in Los Angeles, majoring in Christian Education. During his years at Biola, the group began to take shape as Mark wrote songs for Christafari's first and second albums. Now an ordained Pastor, Mark has spent over fifteen years ministering and performing, bringing a unique brand of gospel reggae to nearly every state and some twenty countries around the world.
AWARDS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
In 2004, Christafari recieved three awards for Album of the year, Best Artist/Group, and best Producer from the Urban Gospel Industry Awards (July 17th). The band's dynamic performance in Sweden in 2003 landed them a Concert of the Year nomination from the Connection Awards. Christafari was nominated for the 2002 Marlin award for International Artist of the Year. Their album, Word Sound & Power, was also nominated for four Marlin Awards in 2000 and Their Gravity release was nominated for two Marlin Awards in 2004. In 2005, Mark Mohr and Christafari were nominated for Album of the Year, Artist/Group of the Year and Producer of the Year.
Christafari received a Dove Award nomination in 1996 and were nominated for Reggae Album of the Year by the Tamika Awards in 1997. Their videos have been in heavy rotation on BET, Caribbean Rhythms and many other programs. All of their albums have held strong positions on the Billboard Magazine charts, with their fourth endeavor WordSound&Power debuting at #9 on Billboars Top Reggae Albums Chart.
Mark Mohr and Christafari have been featured on CNN Headline News, MTV News, MTV Brazil, The Family Channel, TBN, BET, The 700 Club, TBS, and the Day 7 show with Greg Laurie. Their music has landed two movie soundtracks including the Sundance Film Festival Selection, "Naturally Native." They have also been featured in such publications as Billboard, CCM Magazine, Reggae Report, and The Beat. There is no doubt Mark Mohr and Christafari are recognized as one of the main forces in American reggae and Gospel music.
"Their music is beyond that of Bob Marley." - Makeda Dread, 91 X
TOURING
Springbreak 2002 found Mark Mohr and Christafari at the Fun in the Son Festival in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, performing with TobyMac, Chevelle Franklyn, Stitchie, Grace Thrillers, The Love Circle, and many others. They also performed at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, partnering in ministry with InTheBible.com, Snowboarders for Christ, and YWAM. The group spent New Years' Eve 2001 in London, England, sharing the stage with multi-platinum artist Kirk Franklin before an overflow audience of 15,000, bringing in the new year with praise to the most high--Christafari style.
The band's serious touring experience began in the Summer of 1995 as a featured act on the Reggae Sunsplash Tour, North America's premier reggae tour, traversing 46 cities and performing before more than a quarter of a million people. They have played many of the country's most prestigious venues like the Greek Theater and Irvine Meadows, sharing the bill with such top names in the reggae industry as Aswad, Bunny Wailer, Lucky Dube, Big Mountain, Burning Spear, Pato Banton, Dennis Brown, Freddie McGregor, The Wailing Souls, Sister Carol, Capleton, Stitchie, Israel Vibration, Culture, Buju Banton, and Wayne Wonder.
"They were a great bunch of guys to have on the road. They were very professional, very cooperative, and very appreciative of the fact that we had them on the road. I've nothing but praises for Christafari in terms of their professionalism and the kind of people they are. I would definitely consider them for another Sunsplash tour." Reggae Sunsplash Tour Producer Wayne Sinclair
In 1997, the band's live performance received a tremendous reception at Reggae on the River - the "World's Greatest Reggae Festival," where Mohr had the privilege of baptizing three new converts in the river. Mark Mohr and Christafari have also been featured on festivals such as the Bob Marley Festival Tour, and the Renegade Festival (2000).
"Christafari is one of the most entertaining live acts in Jah Kingdom." - The Beat Magazine, Tom Orr
In Washington DC, on the steps of our nation's capitol, Christafari ministered to their largest audience to date - a crowd of over half a million. Additional performance highlights have included touring with DC Talk & Geoff Moore, Extreme Experience with Evander Holyfield, the Chicago Reggae Festival, the 1997 Presidential Inaugural Ball, the National Indigenous Olympic Games, the St. Kitts Music Festival with Kool & The Gang and Maxi Priest, the Nashville Music Awards, festivals such as Creation East & West, Kingdom Bound, Cornerstone, and Sprit West Coast, and even the main amphitheater of the Olympic Village during the 1996 Olympic Games. Christafari has also shared the stage with such artists as Sixpence None the Richer, Kirk Franklin, P.O.D. and Jars of Clay.
Over the years, Mark Mohr and Christafari have been a Gospel and Reggae Music ambassador to the world, visiting some 32 nations on 4 continents including Aruba, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Curacao, Germany, Grand Cayman, England, Finland, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, The Netherlands, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts & Nevis, Suriname, Sweden, Trinidad & Tobago and Uganda.
THE NAME
Pronounced CHRIST-AH-FAR-EYE, in Greek, the original language of the New Testament, Christafari is the name given to "a group of people who collectively represent Christ."
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