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====== Christafari ======

Reggae

As a rebellious drug addicted youth, Mohr found an affinity for reggae music and became a marijuana grower and Rastafarian after a visit to Jamaica in 1986. He became well-versed in reggae music and learned Jamaican patois, the dialect prevalent in most reggae music. In 1989 the seventeen-year-old Mohr stopped using marijuana and committed his life to Jesus at JH Ranch, a Christian camp. Two weeks later at another Christian youth camp, Mohr wrote and performed his first gospel reggae song "Give Me Everything I Need" at a talent show. The bass-player that day said "so you're no longer a Rastafarian, you're a Christafarian." The name stuck. Initially called the "Christafarians" Mark was backed by the "Steadfast" crew for his first few shows (September and October 1989). Eventually Mohr shortened the name to "Christafari," (pronounced Christ-a-far-eye) and pieced together his own band members.

In 1993 Mohr enrolled in Biola University and received his ordination in 1997.

Christafari's first album, //Reggae Worship//, reached the Billboard charts and created a buzz in the industry, garnering the attention of DC Talk's tobyMac, who signed the group to [[Gotee Records]]. Their second album, //Soulfire//, became an early success for the fledgling label. Their third album, //Valley of Decision//, also for Gotee, spent 32 weeks on Billboard's top 15 chart and also placed among the top 10 of the magazine's "Top Reggae Albums" chart.

//WordSound&Power// marked Christafari's departure from Gotee and the birth of Mohr's Lion of Zion Entertainment record label. The album was nominated in four categories in the 2000 Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards. Christafari then released //DubSound&Power//, the band's first dub album and arguably the first Christian dub album ever recorded. After this the group released //Palabra Sonido Y Poder// (//Word Sound & Power//), the group's Spanish debut that featured the single "El Amor De Mi Vida" (No. 1 in 11 Latin American Countries). After this Christafari released //Gravity// (2003), //Gravitational Dub// (2004), and their first children's album //Reggae Sunday School// (2005). 2007 Marked the release of Christafari's //To the Foundation//. Christafari toured 180 shows in 20 countries in promotion of //To the Foundation//.

In early 2009 the group headed back into the studio to record their 20th anniversary album //No Compromise// with subsequent tours in Europe, Latin America and the USA. In late 2009 the band went back into their studio the "Zionic Sounds Dub Lab" to record their second Spanish album, //Reggae De Redencion//. This project was released in mid-2010. In late 2011 they released two dub albums: //Majestic Heights in Dub// and //Dub Shots//. They also released //Gospel Reggae Praise//, a compilation project.

In 2012, Christafari released //Reggae Worship: A Roots Revival//, their first worship album in almost 20 years. This breakthrough album once again catapulted them onto the Billboard Charts. The CD debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Reggae Chart, No. 10 on Billboard's Christian Albums Chart and No. 39 on the Independent Albums Chart. Nearly nine months after this album was released, Christafari jumped to No. 1 on the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart. This marks the first time in Billboard's history that a Christian artist has secured the top spot. The band was also featured on ABC Family's The 700 Club, and TBN filmed a live concert appearance in Hawaii for a special broadcast.

Each of Christafari's subsequent full-length albums, //Reggae Christmas//, //Greatest Hits Vol. 1//, //Greatest Hits Vol. 2//, //Anthems//, //Hearts of Fire//, and //Original Love// have all hit the No. 1 position on the Billboard Reggae Charts.

In 2009 Christafari started their own film company called "Rank and File." The group now has around 80 music videos on YouTube including hits like "Hosanna," "Oceans," and "Here I am to Worship" that have millions of views. Ever since the band decided to become full-time Musicianaries (musical missionaries) in 2012, they have had a busy schedule ministering around 125 times a year on every inhabited continent. So far Christafari has performed in 35 countries, 46 states, at 2 Olympic games, and before the president of the United States.

The band's 2017 album //Hearts of Fire// entered the Billboard Reggae Albums chart at No. 1, their third No. 1 album on the chart.

On April 13, 2018, Christafari released the studio album //Original Love// (Lion of Zion Entertainment) which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart. This is the group's seventh consecutive album to debut at No. 1. Subsequent albums were //99.4.1 (Reckless Love)// and //Dub Supreme// in 2018 and 2019 and their long anticipated //Musicianaries: At Any Cost// (2020). The group has visited around 25 nations per year touring these albums.

===== Discography =====

| 19?? | (first demo) |
| 1991 | Tribal Warning |
| 1993 | Reggae Worship Featuring Christafari Volume One | [[Frontline Records]] |
| 1994 | Soulfire | [[Gotee Records]] |
| 1996 | Valley of Decision | [[Gotee Records]] |
| 1999 | WordSound&Power | Lion of Zion Entertainment |
| 2000 | Reggae Worship: The First Fruits of Christafai | Lion of Zion Entertainment |

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==== Tribal Warning====

1991 Independent

  - Machete
  - Armageddon
  - Jericho
  - Righteousness


"This is Christafari’s second demo called //Tribal Warning// which was released in 1991. This is our very first manufactured cassette. We had only 1000 pressed at Rainbow Records."

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==== Reggae Worship Featuring Christafari Volume One ====

1993 [[Frontline Records]] (FLD 9440)

  - Once a Man Twice a Child (Born Again)
  - Selah
  - Majesty
  - I Holy One
  - The Blood of Jesus
  - Daniel 7:13-14
  - Ancient of Days
  - Jah is I Light
  - Jah Yard
  - Jesus First
  - Lord I Lift Your Name on High
  - Wisdom
  - Psalm 136

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==== Soulfire ====

1994 [[Gotee Records]] / Epic Records Group (EK 67625)

Mark Mohr (Tansoback) - Raggamuffin & singing, percussion\\
Erik Sven Sundin (Earthman) - Lead vocals\\
Jaibo Culture (James Pach) - Lead vocals, keyboards\\
Bill (Painta Man) Kasper - Guitar
Lyndon Barrington Allen (Iron) - Bass, vocals, keyboards\\
Ken (Mr. Mention) Yarnes - Drums, additional drum programming
Dennis Soley - Flute\\
Johnny Guerrero - Saxophone\\
Barry Green - Trombone\\
Joey Ko - Trumpet

Anointed - Backing Vocals on "Crucified"\\
Donna McElroy - Backing Vocals on "Inside Burning," "Sitting and Watching (Fly Away)," and "Spirit Cry"\\
Mark Heimermann - Backing Vocals\\
Vicki Hampton - Backing Vocals on "Inside Burning," "Sitting and Watching (Fly Away)," and "Spirit Cry"


  - Listening (4:33)
  - Thanks and Praise (Interlude) (0:11)
  - Selah (5:17)
  - Christafari (5:04)
  - Soulfire (4:05)
  - Inside Burning (4:01)
  - Niyabinghi (Interlude) (0:13)
  - Sitting and Watching (Fly Away) (5:16)
  - Give a Little One Love (4:50)
  - Uhuru (Interlude) (0:15)
  - Come Children (5:30)
  - Spirit Cry (4:33)
  - DJ Intro (0:56)
  - Boomerang (3:42
  - Wha? (Interlude) (0:11)
  - Crucified (5:01)

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==== Valley of Decision ====

1996 [[Gotee Records]] (7013825883)

Mark Mohr - Lead vocals, drum programming, backing vocals, percussion, raggamuffin chat\\
Erik Sven Sundin (Earthman) - Lead vocals, backing vocals\\
Bill (Painta Man) Kasper - Lead guitar, rhythm guitar\\
Johnny Guerrero (Spragga) - Saxophone\\
Ken (Mr. Mention) Yarnes - Drums

Lyndon Barrington Allen - Bass, backing vocals\\
Rob Ray - Keyboards\\
Tommy (Musa) Smith - Percussion\\
Reid Waltz - Drum programming, backing vocals\\
Marky Rage - Keyboards, backing vocals\\
Scott Blackwell - Drum programming\\
Tim Akers - Drum programming\\
Joey Ko - Trumpet\\
Douglas Moffet - Saxophone\\
Sam Levine - Saxophone\\
Barry Green - Trombone\\
William Huber - Trombone\\
Chris Dunn - Trombone\\
Emily Sundin - Backing vocals\\
Joe Freel - Backing vocals\\
Vanessa Mohr - Backing vocals\\

  - Valley of Decision (6:04)
  - Can't Stop (4:58)
  - Untitled (0:08)
  - Best Friend (3:23)
  - Dinghi (Interlude) (0:37)
  - My Eyes (4:29)
  - Modern Day Pharisee (4:31)
  - Surrender (3:58)
  - Set Me Free (4:07)
  - Freedom Dub (3:58)
  - Conquering Lion (Intro) (0:48)
  - Jungle Inna Babylon (5:02)
  - Keep On Looking Up (3:34)
  - Live This Life (4:52)
  - Big Dance (Interlude) (0:44)
  - Time (5:12)
  - Him Die Fi Yuh (5:13)
  - Untitled (0:29)
  - No Puedo Dejar (Can't Stop Spanish) (4:50)

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==== WordSound&Power ====

1999 Lion of Zion Entertainment (LZD-6510)

  - Blood and Fire (5:13)
  - Consuming Fire (Outro) (0:12)
  - Soon Come (Intro) (0:16)
  - Thief in the Night (5:33)
  - Love of My Life (5:50)
  - Intentions (5:01)
  - Emancipation Proclamation (5:13)
  - My Radio (Intro) (0:10)
  - My Stereo (5:02)
  - Selassie Say (Intro) (0:40)
  - Why You Ago Look? (3:32)
  - Among the Dead (Outro) (0:49)
  - Hallelu-Jah (Intro) (0:12)
  - Food for the Hungry (4:44)
  - Warriors Chant (Intro) (0:40)
  - Warriors (4:37)
  - Onward Christian Soldiers (Outro) (1:45)
  - Talawa (Lift Him Up and Edify Him Daily) (5:19)
  - Render Your Heart (It's Only What You've Done for the Lord) (4:04)
  - Cry No More (5:32)
  - For My Father's Sake (3:13)
  - Roaring Lion (Outro) (1:02)
  - WordSound&Power (4:23)
  - No Water Can Out This Fire (Outro) (0:47)

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==== Reggae Worship: The First Fruits of Christafari ====

1999 Lion of Zion Entertainment (LZD-6511)

This album is a re-release of their first album with some new material and previously unreleased earlier recordings.

  - Live It - Intro (0:30)
  - Preach the Gospel (4:08)
  - Jah is I Light (5:15)
  - The Blood Of Jesus (6:02)
  - Selah (Original Version) (4:40)
  - Majesty (5:16)
  - Jah Yard- Interlude (0:48)
  - Jesus First (3:44)
  - Tribal War - Interlude (0:23)
  - Armageddon (4:54)
  - Daniel 7:13-14 - Interlude (1:10)
  - Ancient of Days (5:14)
  - Lift Him Up & Dub It Up Daily (5:21)
  - Lord I Lift Your Name On High (4:32)
  - I Holy One (6:33)
  - Wisdom (6:28)
  - Once a Man & Twice a Child / Born Again (3:51)
  - Preach The Gospel - Instrumental (4:09)
  - Higher Meditation (0:50)

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//(...to be continued...)//

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===== Links =====

  * [[https://christafari.com/|Christafari's Official Website]]