Judah Eskender-Tafari
Ronald Merrills otherwise known as Judah Eskender-Tafari with his captivating melodic voice, delivers the positive message of faith, hope and charity through music.  His new release titled Redemption Time is featured on the Shine Your Light, compilation CD.  He first realized his talent when he meet Munaire Smith while at camp.  Smith thought the young Merrills how to play box guitar and he naturally developed his vocals as he played on the stringed instrument.  As a youth growing up in Jamaica, Eskender enjoyed listening to music by artists like Delroy Wilson, Ken Booth, Bob Marley, John Holt, Burning Spear, and Dennis Brown, Smokey Robinson, Luther Vandross, and Stevie Wonder, to name a few.
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. (Gen. 49:10) The Hebrew meaning of the word Judah is praise Jehovah. It is evident that Judah represents the spiritual faculty that corresponds to accumulation or increase in the mental; this is prayer and praise. (Meta.)
Driven by his musical craft, he sang harmony and background vocals with a group called Captive Lion.  Later on, he teamed up with one of Jamaica’s leading reggae bands of that era called the Generation Gap Band and played rhythm and bass guitar as well as lead vocals.  He is best known as a member and one of its’ top vocalist of the orthodox faith, The Twelve Tribes of Israel.
Eskender performed on Twelve Tribes stage show for two years before making his first record for Coxsone Dodd, producer for Studio One label in Jamaica.  It was entitled Jah Light.  He went on to make other hit songs such as; Rastafari Tell You, Always Trying, and Just Another Day.  He also re-recorded Danger in Your Eyes and made much more music, some of which is waiting to be released.  He has worked with some of Jamaica’s top musicians like Pablo Black (keyboard), Bagga Walker (bass) and Sowell (lead guitarist), vocally backed superstars like Dennis Brown, Freddie McGregor, Fred Locks, Judy Mowatt, and many other Twelve Tribe of Israel artists.  He toured and performed in Trinidad, America with Denroy Morgan (I’ll Do Anything For You) and England’s No. 1 hit singer, Ossie Gad (Picture on the Wall.) Some of the venues include the Twelve Tribes of Israel Ball in U.S.A. and in Canada, the celebration commemoratimg the visit of H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie 1st of Ethiopia to Canada.

ORTHODOX RECORDING & PUBLISHING CO.

Contact:: Roy McPherson 202-526-4952

Floyd Reed (718) 740-1640

www.orthodoxmuzik.com
His humble demeanor is a reflection of his orthodox lifestyle and learning from the great organizer, Dr. Vernon Carrington otherwise known as prophet Gad who thought him how to read the Old Scofield Study Bible one chapter a day with a clear conscience and a open mind, also The Metaphysical Bible Dictionary, and Philosophy & Opinions of Marcus Garvey. Of course, all praises to Jah.
Home | Company Profile | Contact Us
Artists | Links | Products | Albums | Orthodox Showcase