Joseph Montgomery Fennel was born in Tulsa, OK, the beginning of his improbable journey to becoming a Jamaican roots rocker. Fennel grew up listening to reggae music and even as a child he fell early under the spell of classic artists like Bob Marley and Burning Spear. By the time he was a teenager, his parents began taking him on regular visits to Jamaica, which only intensified Fennel's interest in the music and, over time, his interest in Rasta culture as well. Back in the States, now living in Arkansas, and now calling himself Joseph Israel, he began to emulate the music he loved and formed the roots band Kepha in 2000. The group built a loyal fan base and self-released a CD before folding. Israel then formed the Lions of Israel, and the new band began opening for Jamaican acts touring through the area, including a show for Ziggy Marley, where the Lions of Israel (and Israel in particular) caught the ear of Marley's bassist, Chris Meredith.
© 2010
