Band Bios

Rocket and Gizzae Current Members:

Brian “Rocket” Rock on Bass/Lead Vocals
Isaiah Rock – Keys/Vocals
Frankie Parker – Trombone/Percussion/Vocals
Martindale Olive – Guitar/Vocals
Josue Soundtrack – Keys/Vocals
Mello Francis – Drums

Gizzae has been tearing up the Chicago Reggae scene since the 90’s. Before that, they were The Dallol Band which split into several bands. Gizzae and Baaro were featured bands at the World-Famous Wild Hare in Chicago and co-owners of the club.

The band’s first CD was Rocket, Clem Julien, Asrat Selassie, Dereje Makkonen and Ruphael Woldemariam. Sadly, Dereje and Asrat have passed on but their legacy will always be their family, music and the club.

Ruphael is an extremely talented artist and currently plays drums for Teddy Afro and Ziggy Marley when needed.

Clem has moved on to other projects and bands.

Other members of the band through the years include the extremely talented Ralph Mote on keys. Ralph was a huge part of the Roots Like a Lion CD production, and he is currently with The Hurricane Band.

Kehali Makkonen played lead guitar for many years and is still on the scene producing new reggae music.

Destiny, TK Pivonka was a force with the band. She’s currently touring with Sneezy, a funk band as the sax player.

Paul Cox took up keys for the band for a few years and currently manages the marketing, bookings, and website for the band as he left Chicago for sunny Florida.

Jason (JahSon) Litwin played percussion for years with Gizzae and still is a part of the reggae scene playing gigs as an independent.

Djate lent his amazing lead guitar skills to the band for years and we thank him for his contributions.

Sty Larocque took over drums for a couple years and is currently touring with other bands

There have been so many people that have shared the stage with Rocket and Gizzae – We thank them for sharing their gifts with us and the audiences.

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Gizzae has been a band going on over 30 years and we thank all the fans, family and supporters of their music. We’re still going and looking forward to bringing reggae music to your town or festival.

Brian “Rocket” Rock – Singer/Bass – Born in Roseau, Dominica before the Bob Marley days of reggae, Brian Rock grew up listening to the exotic sounds of local musicians from the streets and beaches of his homeland. As reggae developed and soon became popular, Rock was already playing any instrument he could land his hands on. Writing, composing and arranging music was what came next.

“I was always eager to learn how to play music, different types of music, then different instruments.”

Rock began singing and performing in the US with several bands in the 70’s and was doing odd jobs during the day to make ends meet. The gigs started coming more often, and the drive to make it professionally took over.

Working as an accomplished bass player and singer enabled Rock to work with: Bruce Springsteen, Rolling Stones, Judy Mowatt, Culture, Moja Nya to name a few. “The 70’s was a wicked time to be playing”

Rocket was touring with Moja Nya at the time, playing gigs alongside Dallol, which housed Ruphael, Asrat and former Gizzae keyboardist DJ.

Eventually Dallol split up and started forming a Chicago based band named Gizzae. Rocket was asked to come and play drums and to possibly sing. As it all worked out it was Rock moved over to bass and was singing the lead. He also has written most of Gizzae’s original music, but he would never tell you that. “It all just came together”

Rock has been pulling double-duty singing and playing bass for the last 30 years with Gizzae and wouldn’t have it any other way.