In the album “Keiki Reggae, Positive Sounds for the Youth,” Marty Dread sends upbeat messages and affirmations through music to lead keiki on the path to making conscious choices in their lives.

Last year around Christmas time, my good friend Marty Dread, Hawaii’s Reggae Ambassador and longtime Lahaina entertainer, sent me a video of a song he recorded many years ago titled “Reggae Christmas.” Now, it’s Christmas 2021, and I find myself still singing, “So, we’re having a Reggae Christmas, here in Hawaii, we’re having a good time too.” With this tune in my head, I reached out to Marty to find out a little more about how the song and video came about.

“This song, Reggae Christmas, has a very cool story,” said Dread. “In 2000, I released a fun-loving collection of uplifting and positive songs for children to listen to titled ‘Keiki Reggae, Positive Sounds for the Youth.’ The Reggae Christmas song was worked on by various schools all over Maui County. The video followed with Maui school children playing on the beach showing what it would be like to have a Christmas without snow. It was a really fun video shoot, and to this day, people rave about the energy that was captured on tape by Maui resident and multi-Grammy Award winner Bob Rock, who was able to record the children singing live, giving the video a heartfelt energy. These days, I still run into participants on the Reggae Christmas video, now adults, who tell me, ‘Hey, I sang on your Christmas video.’ “

“The Keiki Reggae album contains positive messages and uplifting themes about listening to your parents, staying in school, as well as the amazing song Reggae Christmas. I worked with youth choirs from the West Side and various schools all around Maui County, and had lots of children singing throughout the whole project. Some of the other track listings include ‘Laws of Nature’ with Willie Nelson, which discusses protecting nature for future generations; ‘Rain’ with Lei’ohu Ryder; “Never Give Up,” which is about sticking to your goals, and much more.”

“Keiki Reggae, Positive Sounds for the Youth,” which parents overwhelmingly like, contains songs that are fun, witty and musically bring joy with many good messages — much needed in today’s challenging times. It not only creates appreciation for music in keiki, but it also cultivates the audiences of tomorrow.

It can be found on Google Search, Amazon, Deezer, CD Baby, and iTunes. To find the Reggae Christmas video, go to Marty Dread YouTube.com, enter Marty Dread Christmas, and have yourself a very Merry Reggae Christmas!