Marty Dread
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Martin Charles Hennessey best known as Marty Dread (b. 1969) is a Reggae artist who lives in Maui, Hawaii.
Marty Dread was born in the Bronx, New York. He is named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. When Marty was eight years old, his father died and his mother moved the family to Maui, Hawai'i. The change from concrete jungle to botanical jungle was great, but Marty was quick to adapt to the laid-back ways of his new island home.
Among the current artists and groups Marty Dread has either sung with or fronted for include: Steel Pulse, Third World, Ziggy Marley, Black Uhuru, Maxi Priest, Messenjah, Pato Banton and country singer Willie Nelson.
In 1994, Marty launched his own record label, Five Corners Music, with the release of "Versatile Roots" - an album that includes a duet with Kris Kristofferson.
After sharing a concert bill with Marty Dread, Kristofferson offered to lend a hand in the studio, resulting in the song, "Reggae Blues".
Marty Dread's popularity got another boost in 1996 with the release of "Reggae for Love" which sold four times as many copies as Marty's earlier recordings.
In 1997, Marty Dread released his first live album, "Marty Dread Live!" (recorded on the Big Island of Hawaii) and made two successful tours of California, including stops at the legendary House of Blues in Hollywood.
One of the songs on Marty Dread's 1999 release, "Reggae Suite", was recorded at the House of Blues when Marty Dread opened for the legendary reggae group, The Wailers.
In the year 2000, Marty Dread released his fifth album, "Keiki Reggae" (aka Reggae for Children) with music tracks that include school children from throughout Maui County and a special appearance by reggae great, Pato Banton.
"Keiki Reggae" was nominated for "Best Reggae Album of the Year" at the 24th annual Na Hoku Hanohano awards in Honolulu by members of the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts.
In December 2001, Marty Dread released his sixth album, "On The Beach". In May 2002, "On The Beach" was nominated for "Best Reggae Album of the Year" at the 25th annual Na Hoku Hanohano awards in Honolulu. One of Marty's songs that he sung on the song includes Hawaiian lyrics that his friend, Frank Munden helped to write on the song "Mahalo and Praise".
