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| Tribal
Nation has been performing in and
around the US for over 6 years, in
both electric and acoustic settings
to fit any occasion. Tribal Nation
offers a crucial mix of hot dance
inspired reggae and funk music, delivered
in a different style. The Tribal Nation
show rocks with a funky reggae flavor
creating a natural environment for
those who like to catch some positive
lyrics and feel a jazz inspired funky
reggae beat. Whether you like to listen
or be out on the dance floor, Tribal
Nation is a hit. Tribal Nation is
composed of seasoned musicians from
three of the more popular reggae and
funk bands, with former members of
the Killer Bees, Root 1, and the Gingerbread
Men, joining together with Tribal
Nation's veteran musicians to form
a powerful musical mixture that will
definitely keep you on the dance floor.
The majority of Tribal Nation material
is original, drawing from the combination
of four singer/songwriters. Each artist
shares an array of songs, creating
a mix that explodes with the distinct,
funky, reggae style of Tribal Nation.
The vocalists create tightly woven
harmonies that are full-bodied and
sweet. Bubbling keys and rhythmic
guitars, pumping intertwined leads,
alongside two hot saxophones, a mesmerizing
trumpet, and a wailing trombone fashion
the melody of the music. Bass and
drums set a rootsy, reggae pace. |
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Willette Wallace |
Vocals |
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Willette T. Wallace, a native East Texan,
was born in Marshall, on October 31, 1957.
She was the second of four siblings;
completed her education in Marshall;
and has three sons, Sevon, David, and
Rashad. She relocated to Austin,
Texas in 1984. Willette hails from a
family of music. Her mother, who
worked as Dean of Girls at the local
high school, had the voice of an angel;
and her father, who was an educator,
was a successful saxophone player
throughout East Texas. Willette pursued
an interest in singing at a very young
age. She sung in the church choir,
school events and even sung a few
unforgettable times with her father's
band. She also began piano lessons at
the age of 4. Willette never envisioned
placing her voice in flight professionally
until she became involved with Comfort
Ministries from Austin, Texas and is a
featured soloist on their entitled CD
"In Troubled Times God Can Give You
Peace Of Mind." There, she discovered
her dimension…her true passion…singing!
In November 2001, she produced her first
demo CD entitled "My Story…Willette…with
love". Her voice captures love at its
best with a clarity that is reassuring,
nurturing and peaceful to the soul.
She is in her element and any genre
fits her like a glove. |
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| Mike
Franklin | Keyboard
and Vocals |
| Mike
Franklin grew up surrounded by music.
He began with a rhythmical start
as a drummer at the age of five
under the guidance of jazz artist
James Polk. Winner of his high school
talent contest, Mike pursued playing
the guitar for various pick-up bands
during his college years. One of
the founders of former Austin-based
- Moving Parts, an established funk/reggae/jazz
band, Mike brought it in hot, opening
for such notables as Larry Carlton
and The Neville Brothers. Firming
his lean towards the reggae, Mike
was instrumental in forming One
Nation. With Tribal Nation, Mike
now shares his incredible talent
from the keyboards. |
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| Dwayne
Jackson | Bass
and Vocals |
| Dwayne
“Dee” Jackson is originally
from Dallas, Texas. He graduated,
in 1993, from the Texas School for
the Blind. While attending TSB, Dee
played the violin and received first
place in UIL competition. He also
won second place in the State Regionals
for playing jazz on the drums. Playing
the bass guitar, Dee traveled with
the TSB Jazz Band to Europe and Canada.
Dee’s many talents include a
fabulous voice, song writing, keyboards,
and guitar. With Tribal Nation, Dee
plays the bass, his face, and often
sings as the lead-vocalist. Dee also
performs as D-Madness and has opened
for Roots and Black-eyed Peas. D-Madness
has shared stages with DJ Crush, DJ
Logic, and John Scholfield. On any
given night in Austin, you can find
Dee onstage, sometimes with 2 or 3
gigs a night. |
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| Diane
Causey | Sound
Technician |
| Diane
has worked as a sound technician
for 12 years. She is an amateur
musician and dancer herself, who
is interested in all types of music,
especially those with a strong groove.
Reggae has been a favorite style
of hers since a very early age,
and she has focused on mixing Dub-style
reggae in her professional career
as a sound mixer. This allows her
to stretch artistically by performing
as an integral part of the band
through the use of special effects,
samples, and mix-trickery. Diane
has mixed in the studio on several
CD and television projects, but
has mostly honed her skills mixing
live and on the road for bands such
as Austin-based Tribal Nation, Root
1, Tchiya Amet, The Killer Bees,
Bigga Rhythm, Urban Roots and many
others. |
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| Hoppy
Hopson | Drumset |
| Hoppy
Hopson was born in Lubbock, raised
in Fort Stockton, Texas, and started
playing drums in 1967. Hopson cut
his teeth, playing in country &
western bands throughout West Texas,
such as Joe and Johnny Stout and the
Country Squires, Cold Chisel with
Gene Dunn, Blaine Wilson, and Steve
Ham, Earl White and the Show Band
from Midland, Texas and the legendary
Sons of the Pioneers. Hopson toured
the West Coast and Canada with California
band, The Brothers and Sisters Band.
Hopson even played a stint with world-renowned
musician and performer, Jerry Lee
Lewis. In 1988, Hoppy moved to Austin
and joined Spy vs. Spy, a Killer Bee
spin-off band featuring guitarist
Malcolm Wilborn and keyboardist Stanton
Hoffman. The Spies merged with reggae
veteran band Pressure to form Spies
under Pressure. The Killer Bees reunited
in 1995 with Hopson on the drums,
until Michael E. was no longer able
to perform. |
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| Eddie
McNames | Trumpet |
Eddie
was born in San Clara, CA and has
been playing the trumpet for 20
years now. He spent 7 years as a
founding member of Gingerbread Men
from Austin, Texas. In addition,
he has recorded with Blue Construct,
Teratoma, Gibb Droll Band, and Tchiya
Amet.
Eddie says he’s currently
on a search for the meaning of life.
He likes being able to live in Austin
and play with world class musicians.
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| Wallace
Hawkins |
Trombone |
| Wallace
Hawkins, an Austinite, began his career
at the early age of 13. He toured
nationally with some of the greats:
Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Killer
Bees, Johnny Taylor, and Tyrone Davis.
Wallace has also played with Jay Williams
Tribe, One Nation, and UZ2BZ. A multi-talented
musician, Wallace has been instrumental
in lending his expertise and professional
knowledge to enhance the sound of
the Tribal Horns. |
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| Melvin
Wilburn | Tenor
Saxophone |
| Melvin
Wilburn, originally from Oklahoma,
came to Austin in 1968 to study
electrical engineering at UT. Bitten
by the music bug early in 1972,
he played saxophone in the funk-soul-R&B
band start-up Jus Walkin’.
This spun-off to become Steam Heat
and later was named Extreme Heat.
In 1977, Melvin met up with Jay
Williams to organize one of Austin’s
early funk units called Spur of
the Moment. Continuing along the
funk avenue, he later joined Jett
Express. From 1982 to 1986, he dedicated
his talents to The Earnest Needom
Jazz Group, where he really had
a chance to hone his sax chops.
At the same time, Melvin started
another project with Jay Williams.
The Jay Williams’ Trio turned
into a long running engagement at
Trudy’s Texas Star Café.
The band soon became a 10-piece
band called the Jay Williams Tribe,
who provided a diverse mixture of
funk and reggae. In 1989, Melvin
put his energy toward reggae with
the Kaya band and later played with
Tchya Amet at Reggae on the River.
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| Mark
Wilson | Baritone
Saxophone |
| Inspired
by Boots Randolph and the Pink Panther,
Mark Wilson started playing Tenor
Sax at age 12 in San Angelo, Texas.
At 13 he switched to the Baritone
Sax and two years later played his
first professional gig with a local
R&B band. He was a music major
at Sam Houston State University in
1979 and was a founding member of
Prison City Slammers, the party band
of the 80's, in and around Huntsville,
Texas. During those years, Mark had
the opportunity to take the stage
with many great Austin bands and after
a year with The Usuals in Houston,
moved and made Austin his home in
1985. Mark joined Not For Sale and
with Rabid Cat Records, made their
first U.S/European album in 1986.
He played baritone for Alejandro Escovedo's
Orchestra, Wajumbe, House in Orbit,
Dino Lee, Atlantic Soul Revue, and
still plays with Ted Roddy's King
Conjurer Band. He recorded with many
other bands as well - Poi Dog Pondering,
The Shoulders, Killer Bees, Bad Mutha
Goose and the Humpty Dumpty Horns,
and Retarded Elf. In 1991, Mark began
recording and touring with Burning
Spear in Europe, Japan, Brazil, the
Caribbean and the U.S. Mark played
tenor on Grammy-nominated recordings
- Jah Kingdom-91, The World Should
Know, Love & Peace - Live in 1993,
and Rasta Business-95. His tenor can
also be heard on Burning Spear's Living
Dub. Vol. 2 & 3, Reggae on the
Rocks - 10th Anniversary, and Island
Records - Burning Spear Anthology.
Currently, Mark plays with several
bands, including Bob Schneider. Mark's
influences are Gerry Mulligan, Saxa,
Dean Frasier, Fela Kuti, Tommy McCook,
Rolando Alphonso, Nick Brignolia,
and King Curtis. |
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