Dred I Dread is a Minneapolis, MN based Reggae Band. The Band features talented musicians that come from Jamaica, New Orleans, Minnesota and Turkiye. The diverse heritage of these band members echo in the sound of Dred I Dread.

Chronology

• 1998 - Dred I Dread was formed in Minneapolis.
• 1999 - Dred I Dread was chosen "Best Local Reggae Band" by City Pages Magazine.
• 1999 - The debut CD "Listen to the Revolution" was released in early March 1999. The CD was produced by International Reggae Keyboardist Tony “Asher” Brisset, one of the founding members of Black Uhuru. 
• 2000 - Dred I Dread was named "Best Reggae Band in Minnesota" by the members of the Minnesota Music Academy. 
• 2001 - Dred I Dread was named "Best Reggae Band in Minnesota" by the members of the Minnesota Music Academy. 
• 2008 - Dred I Dread released their second album named "A Piece of Americana".
• 2009 - Dred I Dread released third album "Tribulation" .
• 2010-2011 - Rawle G is back and Dred I Dread Family is back on track!
• 2011 - 2014 Band is producing new music and working on the highly anticipated 2015 album produced by Saunjay Kerr (Humba) of J'Island Records. Album features Dred I Dread crew and Tony “Asher” Brisset, Earl Chinna Smith.
• 2015 Coming in the Cold Tour Part I - Kingston, Montego Bay and Negril, Jamaica
• 2016 - Launched our latest album Listen to the Evolution!
• 2017 Coming in the Cold Tour Part II - Kingston, Montego Bay and Negril, Jamaica

The Dred I Dread Team

Peewee Dread (vocals) - Dred I Dread is fronted by New Orleans native Peewee Dread.  “I sing for the love of the music,” says Peewee.  He has been singing from his childhood. Peewee is the solid voice of Dred I Dread incorporating his Creole-Caribbean style into Reggae and Hip Hop.




Rawle G (vocals, drums, percussion)  - Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Rawle' moved to New York City in 1986 to follow his dream of making a living in music. In New York City, he immersed himself in a variety of sounds, including ska, reggae, and hard rock. Rawle' became a staple in the NYC music scene with the bands: Extra Sausage, the Band Droidz, and Oly Gungu Fiest, who toured across the United States opening for Junior Reid. Leaving New York in 1998, Rawle' moved to Minneapolis and set about turning the Reggae scene upside down in town by forming Dred I Dread. 


Serdar G (guitars, vocals) - Serdar is originally from Ankara, Türkiye. Fascinated by the Blues music, he moved to US to pursue music. He has played in well known Reggae,Calypso and Soca Bands. Some of these bands include Cyril Paul and the Calypso Monarchs, Iroots, Shangoya and two time Minnesota Music Awards winner Dred I Dread. Serdar opened for The Wailers, Yellowman, Israel Vibration, The Meditations, Itals, Culture, De La Soul and many other international acts.



Paul Kammeyer (bass) - Paul studied jazz and classical music at the University of St. Thomas.  During college, Paul started playing out with several different groups, including KGB, Morning Star, Green, and Zion Tribe.  He joined Dred I Dread in March, 2007.


 

Teddy Longbar (drums) - Teddy is the heart of the riddim section of Dred I Dread. He has developed quickly to become an authentic Reggae drummer after working with Rawle G during last couple years. 

Alex Cole Jr. (keyboards) - Alex Cole Jr. is an artist and musician from Minneapolis, MN. Along with fronting his own band, he's been a member of Dred I Dread since 2000.  With his vast knowledge of Reggae music he's a valuable player, switching between instruments with ease.  He also is also a successful artist, selling paintings in his unique style of spray paint stencil art.

Dred I Dread/ Press

“Mainstays in the Upper Midwest reggae scene for nearly a decade, Dred I Dread came out of the gate fast with its 1999 album "Listen to the Revolution," produced by Black Uhuru's Tony (Asher) Brisset. The socially conscious and ethnically diverse septet -- led by New Orleans native Peewee Dread with a team of immigrants and local natives -- finally has a new album, "A Piece of Americana." It features six studio tracks and two songs recorded live at Mayslacks, including covers of "I Will Survive" and Black Uhuru's "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner."”
Chris Riemenschneider - Star Tribune


“Dred I Dread, featured Peewee Dread on vocals, who featured a giant purple hat on his head and a voice that sang with an obvious love for the music. Rawle G, the drummer from Kingston, gave us some fun interludes, talking happily from his nest of drums perched at the back of the stage. Everyone seemed so happy to be playing: the keyboardist, Eric Lilya, was hopping around with his hands somehow managing to stay steady. Floyd, the saxophonist/hand drummer, pulled out the air trombone during a song. He punched the slide out with so much conviction that my ears created the sound. These musicians with so much enthusiasm converged with their gifts in 1998 to form the band. In their first year, they were hailed as the “Best Local Reggae Band” by City Pages. While they sang the line “rumors of war,” it sounded right as Bush’s attention turns to Iran and Lebanon.”
Helen Blodgett - How was the Show

“Incorporating variety of styles including but not limited to reggae Dred I Dread falls into the general category of hybrid on Liston to the Revolution (Rapidfire). What they lack in definition they make up for good old-fashioned youthful energy and remind me a bit of bands that emerged from the fringes of reggae into the pop marketplace a few years back. Fishbone and Busboys.”
Chuck Foster - Beat Magazine

“There' s nothing to dread...just a hot rhythm to tread”
Aaron McAdams - Daily Iowan

“``We have a really rich musical tradition in the band,'' Rawle said. ``It's like being a baby with an old soul,'' PeeWee said. ``When you see us play together you instantly know why we're a band. We really stick together; we're really tight.`` PeeWee said they want to continuously evolve. ``Every time the audience thinks they know who we are, we will be doing something else,'' he said. Rawle said the band's goal is to be internationally recognized, hopefully in five years or so. ``We hope to connect with our audience, and keep up the following. We want to see how it goes, and depending on the response, we'll go from there,'' PeeWee said. As far as breaking down barriers in Minnesota, PeeWee said ``We stuck our foot in the door and dared them to close it.``”
Autumn D. Parker - Winona Daily News