ONXYZ

The Last Chapter of Funk

ONXYZ (ONYX) is a band of musicians that specializes in soul, funk, rock and “reggae music,” which gained recognition as Detroit's first reggae band. The band has the characteristic "sledgehammer sound" (hard-driving bass guitar and drums) of years ago, but has added a new mix composed of an electrifying fusion of funk, World Beat, rock and pulsating dance-hall style reggae rhythms. ONXYZ also has a new look–-a combination of male and female vocal and instrumentalist members. The band's show is high energy with contemporary and African dance movements, cover tunes as well as their original music and sound which blends funk and contemporary R & B into a reggae tinted sound that is their unique own musical trademark.

ONXYZ, under the direction of founder, KAS, has recorded and released many CD/Albums, including their mega hit, 45 and their 12-inch hit single, "Dread Wave." The band has toured the Mid-West, East Coast and Canada and performed with many of the major acts in the Reggae, Funk and World Beat Category. Some of these acts include Black Uhuru, Steel Pulse, The Wailers, Jimmy Cliff, Judy Mowatt, Sugar Minott, Ohio Players, DeFunkt, Was Not Was, Miriam Makeba, Inner Circle and Chaba Fadela and recently Shabba Ranks.

ONXYZ was awarded the Metro Times (Detroit) "Hall of Fame Award" in the Reggae Category, and for "Honorable Mention" in the World Beat Category. The group is mentioned in several issues of Reggae Report; a recent issue of Billboard Magazine; and has been featured in numerous past issues of the Metro Times, Detroit Free Press; Chicago Reader, New York Village Voice, and The Baltimore Sun. The Minneapolis Twin Cities Reader; and many, many other major newspapers throughout the Midwest and East Coast, (e.g., Iowa City, IA, Bloomington, IN, Washington, DC, and Champaign, IL) has featured stories about ONXYZ in their pages.

ONXYZ is heralded as one of the most explosive sounds in music. Formed as ONYX in 1978 in Detroit, Michigan the band quickly became the premier band in the Detroit metro area. They are considered by most to be one of the most exciting original, highly versatile and polished bands to emerge from the motor city. Carrying on the great musical tradition of such giant rock and roll innovators as Bob Marley and the Wailers, Prince, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix and others, they have developed a loyal following in every city they have played. ONXYZ has performed in major rock venues; festivals; bars; discos; clubs; and the Midwest college circuit from Iowa City, Iowa (Cabes/Oasis) to New York City (CBGB's) to Chicago (Tuts) to Bloomington, Indiana (Bluebird) to New London, CT. (Reggae Lounge) to Minneapolis (The Uptown) to Champaign, Illinois (Mabel's) to Baltimore, Maryland (Max's).

ONXYZ is currently involved in several projects. A new compact disc featuring brand new songs and material is scheduled for release in 2008, and after this project is completed, the group plans to release another compact disc in 2008, entitled, "The Best of ONXYZ". An early member of the New York based Black Rock Coalition; the band has toured nationwide at major outdoor festivals as part of the BLACKAPALOOZA TOUR. The band also gave three  funked-up splendid performances at the  Annual Washington DC Reggae Festival.

Members of the band include: KAS, keyboards; and alternating vocalists and musicians: Saloma Powell and Olutayo Shirly Hackwood, vocals; Raka Sankofa and Ray Parrot, drums; Tahara Yakini, congas; Faruq Z. Bey, saxophone; Ginus Khafani, bass guitar; and Ronald Smith, guitar. Also appearing with the band are guest performers, dancer, Yetunde Sonya and Dub Poet, Ibn Pori. Together these talented group of well-trained musicians and performers natured on Detroit's rich rhythm and blues tradition and history deliver a powerful show-stopping live performance with a style and sound all their own that is full of color; sound; dance; movement; showmanship and inspiring music.

ONXYZ live is a spectacular musical stage show of beautifully crafted and arranged reggae, funk and world beat songs. ONXYZ's shows are an entertainment highlight of the outdoor music festivals in the United States, and a definite crowd pleaser. It is an electrifying fusion of about 50 percent dance rhythms, rock, funk, reggae, metal, dub and messages of social-political change and spiritual upliftment. The music performed by ONXYZ is simply incredible live.

ONXYZ DISCOGRAPHY

1. DANCE LITTLE CHILDREN DANCE, 12 inch single,

    Solar Sundanese Records, 1979.

2. WE CAME TO ROCK YOU, 12 inch single,

    Solar Sundanese Records, 1980.

3. DREAD WAVE, 12 inch single,

    Solar Sudanese Records, 1981.

4. BODY ROCK, (as Virginity) 12 inch single,

    Sutra Records, 1986.

5. WOMB MUSIC, CD, Popp Records, 1987.

6. SHAKE-UP YOURSELF, CD, Popp Records, 1988.

7. RIGHT NOW! CD, POPP INC, 1994.

8. YOU GOT SOUL, CD, POPP INC,  2007

9. THE BEST OF ONXYZ, CD, POPP/POPPMusic.net, 2008

NATIONAL ACTS ONXYZ HAS OPENED FOR

Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois

Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan

Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

ONXYZ SHARED THE STAGE WITH

STEEL PULSE

BLACK UHURU

BRIDES OF FUNKENSTEIN

INNER CIRCLE

DENNIS BROWN

JUDY MOWATT

OHIO PLAYERS

JAH MALLA

JIMMY CLIFF

THE WAILERS

WAS NOT WAS

MARCIA GRIFFITH

MIRIAM MAKEBA

PARLIAMENT/FUNKADELIC

SOME VENUES ONXYZ HAS PLAYED

Negril, Chicago, IL

Tuts, Chicago, IL

The Wildhare, Chicago, IL

Exedus II, Chicago, IL

Cross Currents, Chicago, IL

Watering Hole, Chicago, IL

The West End, Chicago, IL

Museum of Science & Industry, Chicago, IL

The Uptown, Minneapolis, MN

Mabels, Champaign, IL

Raffaelle's, Champaign, IL

McGreevy's, North Brook, IL

Crow's Mill Tavern, Springfield, IL

AirWaves, Carbondale, IL

Gabes/Oasis, Iowa City, Iowa

The Stablizer, West Lafayette, IN

Bluebird Club, Bloomington, IN

The Wetlands, New York, NY

C. B. G. B.'s, New York, NY

ONE's, New York, NY

The Gas Station, New York, NY

The Peppermint Lounge, Orange, NJ

Max's on Broadway, Baltimore, MD

DC Reggae Festival, Washington, DC

The Safari Club, Washington, DC

Pillum's Place, Detroit, MI

State Theatre, Detroit, MI

Industries Club, Detroit, MI

Bookie's Club, Detroit, MI

Madison Theatre, Detroit, MI

Alvin's, Detroit, MI

MORE VENUES ONXYZ HAS PLAYED

Royal Oaks Theatre, Detroit, MI

Cobb's Corner, Detroit, Mi

Jamaican Club, Detroit, MI

Second Chance, Ann Arbor, MI

Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, MI

The Pointe/Hop, Grove Pointe, MI

Electro Music Cafe, Royal Oaks, MI
Reggae Ambassadors WorldWide

Convention, 1994, Grand Rapids, MI