(St. Lucia - Roots Reggae)

Taj Weekes is an enigma...Born and raised on the island of St. Lucia, Weekes grew up the youngest of ten children in a family where music was ever present. "We were always singing and playing in my house. My father was an incredible singer... we took that from him." By age five, Weekes was singing in church and by the age of nine, he and his brothers had formed a band, playing in local talent shows, the town hall or parish centers around the island. Weekes grew up blissfully unaware of category or genre - to him, great music was, and still is, great music no matter what the style. "My musical influences were quite varied, 'cause the radio stations played all kinds of music. There were no formats, so we grew up listening to everything from reggae to calypso to classic rock and classical music.

Even today Weekes' music defies category... an amalgam of roots style reggae with a hint of afro-folk, rock, and jazz. Essentially, Taj Weekes is a poet who sings to the rhythm of all that has come before and all that stretches out before him... life, his life... from his own unique and complex perspective. People around the globe are responding to the authenticity of Weekes’ spirit and his commitment to illuminating the plight of the voiceless and the oppressed. Weekes’ non-profit organization, They Often Cry Outreach (TOCO), demonstrates this commitment through improving the lives of disadvantaged children in the Caribbean and beyond through music, soccer programs and more.