St. Louis鈥� musical range is vast. Along with hip-hop, rock 'n' roll and blues, music lovers can find reggae among the region鈥檚 celebrated, masterfully played genres.
And just in time for 314 Day activities, Tevin Rice is making sure reggae comes front and center.
Rice, known as the Gold Giraffe onstage, is hosting and performing at . He told St. Louis on the Air that his love for reggae music was born when he was a child watching his father and uncle perform and teach music.
鈥淢y dad is such a huge spiritual influence on me. He brought me up in the church [and] he pioneered Christian hip hop,鈥� Rice said. 鈥淚 remember as a kid knowing the songs by heart and seeing his beat machines and record players in the living room 鈥� he really invested in my dream, my music and my flow.鈥�
鈥淚f St. Louis Had A Beach鈥� is not only the name of Rice鈥檚 314 Day weekend show. It鈥檚 also the name of one of his songs. He says the concept came to him in a dream, which eventually came true.
鈥淓verything [was] just so peaceful. There was a lady that was there but she felt like my lady,鈥� Rice said. 鈥淲hen I met my wife, Drea Vocalz, it just all came to fruition. Like, 鈥楽he鈥檚 the one!鈥� and it was just a line of, 鈥楬ey, if St. Louis had a beach, it would be you and me.鈥欌��
Rice鈥檚 beach-themed event features local acts Tre G, Leethal the Poet, Nic@Nite and . All the music performed has the Gold Giraffe touch 鈥� it was either written or produced by Rice.
Rice said: 鈥淓verybody that's on this show are not just my creative friends, but they're like my life friends. These folks were at my wedding, you know? But we just happen to make music and we're inspired by each other.鈥�
For more on 鈥淚f St. Louis Had A Beach,鈥� reggae鈥檚 place in St. Louis鈥� music history and Tevin Rice鈥檚 thoughts on St. Louisans who 鈥渄on鈥檛 get out of St. Louis enough,鈥� listen to St. Louis on the Air on , or , or by clicking the play button below.
Related Event
What:
When: 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. March 15
Where: HeyDays HQ (3139 Olive St., St. Louis, MO 63103)
鈥�鈥� brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. The show is produced by , , , and . Roshae Hemmings is our production assistant. The audio engineer is . Send questions and comments about this story to talk@stlpr.org.
