First of all, tell us a little about your childhood.
I was raised in a Christian household in the Palos Verdes peninsula of California. I accepted Christ at the age of five, and for as long as I can remember I have always been fascinated with music. I remember writing my first song at the age of 9, it was called "Get it, Got it, God." Although I never truly learned to play an instrument skillfully, for as long as I can remember I have had a knack for writing songs and composing music in my mind. My childhood is full of pleasant memories, but in my preteens I became more of a prodigal. By the time that I had reached my teens I became a rebel in every sense of the term, and ended up using virtually every drug on the market, selling drugs, and getting mixed up with gangs and premarital sex. It was in my mid-teens, and after a visit to Jamaica I became enticed by Rastafarianism and its spiritual attempt to justify the use of marijuana. Right before I turned 18, however, this prodigal son finally returned home while at a Christian camp. From that day on I have never touched drugs, and within two weeks I started Christafari.

What inspired you to start playing and performing music?
The Lord Jesus Christ is my sole and soul inspiration. I felt him impressing
on my heart to start the first Christian reggae band and take His message
around the world, ministering to those who are lost as I once was.

What are the goals of your ministry?
To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ clearly through music, the spoken word and our lives, as illustrated in the Holy Bible, in order to win souls for Christ's kingdom in accordance to His Great Commission. To edify and build up the local and universal body of Christ by providing biblically sound original reggae and world music. To be pioneers in reaching the world through world music.

What are a couple things about you that not too many people know?
That I am a white American who does not speak in a Jamaican accent in my day-to-day life. I picked up the accent through my fourteen mission trips to Jamaica and my various other ventures throughout the Caribbean. Although I often sing in Jamaican patois, I only use it in conversation when I am with Jamaicans or on the island.

Who are some of the different musicians, both Christian and secular, who have influenced your music?
Although I am in the Christian music industry and am friends with many
artists, I don't really listen to your typical CCM singers. The only Christian artists that I really listen to are the artists on my label-like Sherwin Gardner, Monty G, and Tiko and Gitta. Since my record company, Lion of Zion Entertainment, has released 17 Christian reggae/world music albums and this is my favorite style of music, I pretty much listen to my own
stuff. However, I have always admired the music and heart of Keith Green. On the secular side of things, I love Zap Mama, Gigi, John Brown's Body, Cultura Profetica, Steel Pulse, Aswad, and anything reggae by Bill Laswell or Hi-Fidelity.

How much of a part does the Internet play in your music and/or ministry?
A great majority of our work is done on the internet. Back in the early
'90s we were one of the first bands to have our own website, and as the Internet has grown so have we. We have a massive list of email subscribers, and our store at Lionofzion.com and Christafari.com sells over 100 Christian reggae and world music titles-the largest selection in the world. Our website is also very interactive, and we have seen many salvations from writings in our FAQ section and on our forum.

How does worship fit into your ministry?
Our first album was Reggae Worship, and ever since we have incorporated at least one worship song in each of our live performances. But I don't worship in the traditional way, and CCM worship doesn't usually satisfy my appetite. I think that the true emphasis in worship should be in the lyrics, and the attitude of your heart and not the musical style. However, I find that my times of worship are far less contrived when the musical genre is reggae, world music, or anything out of the ordinary. In Revelation we see an image of heaven with people from every tribe and nation singing to God in their own tongue. Yet the great majority of what I see promoted today is simply the westernization of Christianity. I want to see this change and hope to give American believers a global perspective of Christ.

What is your favorite song of your latest album?
My favorite song on our June 2003 Gravity album is probably "Hiding Place." Having recently suffered a tremendous loss in my life, I had come from a place of brokenness and pain. But while coming from this place of pain and sorrow and entering the gates of victory I penned "Hiding Place"-as inspired by Psalm 32, where King David says, "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."

Any tour dates planned in the Midwest this year?
I hope so. A summer tour is being booked now.

If you could tour with your choice of any artist or group, who would you choose?
I would do a Christian reggae festival tour with arts and crafts, jerk
chicken and traveling hippies following us around with their DJs/MCs selling hemp necklaces. The ultimate lineup would be Christafari, Sherwin Gardner, Tiko & Gitta, Monty G, Richie Righteous and Youth Exodus.

And finally, if there were one piece of advice you could give to the president of the United States during these difficult times, what would you tell him?
Pray daily, seek the counsel of an even-tempered group of individuals who are wiser than you, and read Revelation thoroughly and always try and stay friends with and protect Israel.