"The Harder they Come"

"The Harder they Come"

Author: Henry K Productions May 2, 2024 Duration: 27:22

Listen to the Original Rootsland Podcast on your app of choice to subscribe and hear the entire Kingston to Cali Series.

On the debut Episode of Rootsland's "Kingston to Cali" Host Henry K meticulously details the significance of 1973, a landmark year that saw the release of 'The Harder They Come', a film that not only popularized reggae but also painted a vivid picture of the socio-economic struggles in Jamaica. The episode highlights how this film and its soundtrack, featuring legendary artists, helped to illuminate the realities of life in Jamaica, bringing awareness to issues of social justice and the human condition.

The narrative takes a deeper dive into the symbiotic relationship between reggae and the American counterculture, particularly as it relates to the Grateful Dead and their followers. Henry discusses how reggae’s messages of unity and resistance found a welcoming audience among California’s hippie community, who were disillusioned by the commercialization of rock music. Additional Commentary by Roger Steffens and Jesse Jarnow

Produced by Henry K in association with Voiceboxx Studio Red Hills, Jamaica

Visit our website ROOTSLAND NATION Reggae Music, Podcast & Merchandise

Listen to the Original Rootsland Podcast on your app of choice to subscribe and hear the entire Kingston to Cali Series.

Osiris Media The Leading Storyteller in Music

Special thanks to Rogers Steffens, Lance Linare, Jenje Dennis, Jesse Jarnow and Rich Mahan, Dan Sheehan

Intro by Kim Yamaguchi

"Mixed up Moods" Jacob Miller "Pablo's Satta" Augustus Pablo

"Concrete Jungle " The Wailers "The Harder they Come" Jerry Garcia Band

"Johnny Too Bad" The Slickers "The Harder they Come" Jimmy Cliff


Tracing a rhythmic line from the Caribbean to the Pacific coast, Kingston to Cali "Reggae's Journey West" is a six-part audio documentary from Henry K Productions. It maps the profound migration of a sound, beginning in the neighborhoods of Kingston and finding a powerful new expression within California's "CaliRoots" movement. Rather than a broad overview, this podcast grounds itself in specific decades, starting with the 1970s. It explores a pivotal cultural moment when segments of the American counterculture, seeking authenticity beyond commercial rock, first connected with the soulful vibrations coming from Jamaica. Each episode in the series acts as a chapter in this ongoing story, examining the artists, scenes, and social currents that carried reggae across borders and generations. You'll hear a blend of musical analysis, historical context, and cultural commentary, piecing together how an island genre cultivated a deep, lasting roots system on the West Coast. The narrative built across this podcast is one of adaptation and resonance, showing how the core messages of reggae were translated and sustained thousands of miles from their origin. It’s for anyone curious about the paths music travels and how communities form around a shared beat.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 7

Kingston to Cali  "Reggae's Journey West"
Podcast Episodes
"One Big Family" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:14
On the Season 1 finale of Kingston to Cali "One Big Family" Caliroots has grown to be a dominant sub genre of Reggae because they built their brand on the successes and accomplishments of the Jamaican music industry. The…
"Loving (What I Got)" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:05
On Episode 5 of Kingston to Cali, "Loving (What I got)" We explore why Sublime stood out from the other ska/punk bands of the era, and how an aspiring reggae singer from ghettos of Kingston helped them achieve their firs…
"Under Mi Sleng Teng" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:54
On this Episode of Kingston to Cali, "Under mi Sleng Teng" we travel from Japan to Cali before heading back to Kingston, as we trace the amazing origin story of Jamaica's first digital dancehall hit. We are off to Caliro…
"On the Beach" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:54
Tonight on Kingston to Cali, We head back to 1968, and it makes total sense that a show which traces the Journey of Reggae from Kingston to Cali, has an Episode titled "On the Beach," a song not only central to the growt…
"One Step Beyond" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:08
On Episode 2 of Kingston to Cali, "One Step Beyond" we explore the legacy of Cali’s early reggae festivals and how they evolved from "concerts" to "communities." Family friendly events, exposing new generations to roots…
Kingston to Cali "Reggae's Journey West" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:12
Listen to the Original Rootsland Podcast on your app of choice to subscribe and hear the entire Kingston to Cali Series."Kingston to Cali: Reggae's Journey West" This 6 episode limited podcast series Presented by Henry K…