Michael Eaton's "Confess" Pays Tribute to Rastafari and the Roots-Reggae Movement

An understated player in New York’s competitive reggae scene, Michael Eaton has quietly built a catalogue of songs for his Easton Music label, based in Staten Island. He produces most of the company’s songs, but steps out periodically as an artist.

Confess, a song he released two years ago, is back on the market. It pays tribute to Rastafari and the roots-reggae movement that emerged in Jamaica during the heady 1970s.

“Is a timely song dat deal with roots an’ culture which is what we know from birth. Plus, di music need a lot more culture songs,” said Eaton.

While it has the one drop feel synonymous with roots-reggae, Confess features a rock guitar solo played by American musician Alex DeVito. It was Eaton’s idea to add that sound, in a bid to broaden his market.

Eaton is originally from St. Ann parish in rural Jamaica, which is also the birthplace to roots icons Bob Marley and Burning Spear, as well as Grammy-winning deejay Shabba Ranks.

Like many Jamaicans from the country, Eaton moved to the capital Kingston where he came of age during the 1970s, a time of political and social turmoil in their country. It was then that he discovered Rastafari.

After giving the music business a break, Eaton returned to the fold four years ago and has worked with Sydney Salmon, a Jamaican singer based in Ethiopia. To date, their partnership has produced two singles — Oh Lord and Trees.

Eaton plans to record more songs with Salmon later this year.