Tribal Nation is a currently operational band playing reggae and funk in the Austin area. It is composed of members that were formerly part of Root 1, the Killer Bees, and other Austin reggae groups.
Members of Tribal Nation have also played with The Neville Brothers, Black Uhuru, Widespread Panic, Larry Carlton, Big Game Hunter, The Itals, Mutabaruka, Taj Mahal, The Mighty Diamonds, Michael Rose, and Sly & Robbie. They know their stuff!
Dwayne Dee Jackson plays keyboard and guitar, sings some lead vocals and writes some of the songs.
Eddie McNames is the trumpeter. He played with Austin funk legends the Gingerbread Men and can be currently seen with Bigga Rhythm, and with local jazz man Carl Settle's group, Blue Construction.
Hoppy Hopson, the drummer, was born and raised in Fort Stockton, Texas. Hopson cut his teeth playing in country and western bands throughout West Texas. In 1988, Hoppy moved to Austin and joined Spy vs. Spy, a Killer Bee spin-off band.
Jay Williams, a native New Yorker, has been playing music professionally in Austin since 1977. Jay started playing with Jett Express. He was then called to play guitar for the One Nation band. From there, he went to play for the Killer Bees and Root 1.
Mike Franklin began with a rhythmical start as a drummer at the age of five under the guidance of jazz artist James Polk. Mike opened for such notables as Larry Carlton and The Neville Brothers. Firming his lean towards the reggae, Mike was instrumental in forming One Nation.
Mario Vela, from Laredo Texas, began with Afro-Brazilian music. Other projects include: One Nation, The Presidents, Dogon Sirius, Killer Bees, The Gingerbread Men, Bigga Rhythm, and others.
Melvin Wilburn, originally from Oklahoma, played saxophone in the funk-soul-R&B band start up of Jus Walkin', which was a spinoff into what was soon to be Steam Heat, later called Extreme Heat. In 1977, Melvin met up with Jay Williams to organize one of Austin's early funk bands called Spur of the Moment.
Wallace Hawkins, an Austinite, toured nationally with some of the greats: Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Killer Bees, Johnny Taylor, Rufus Thomas, Tyrone Davis, and Joe Tex. He is the band's horn player.
Diane Causey is sound technician for the band.
Tribal Nation has a CD, Our Thing.
Visit their website for music clips, tour dates and contact information.
