The Rootsman Explained

The Rootsman
Background:	non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth Name:	John Leo Bolloten^[1]
Birth Place:	Brighton, England
Origin:	Bradford, England
Genre:	Reggae
Years Active:	1985–2000s
Label:	Third Eye
Associated Acts:	Muslimgauze

John Leo Bolloten, also known as The Rootsman, is a musician and DJ based in Bradford, England.^{[2] [3]} Bolloten is also a social documentary photographer.^[4]

Early life

Bolloten was born in Brighton. He moved to Scotland at the age of nine.^[5]

Music career

Bolloten's musical career began when he was living in Edinburgh, Scotland and taught himself to play guitar in 1978 at the age of 13 and formed his first punk band. After 3 concerts, he decided that being a guitarist in a band was not for him and he retired from that aspect of the music business. He moved to Bradford at the age of 18 in 1983.^[5] He worked for over two years in the local Roots Record Shop, where he began to be known as 'Rootsman'.

Starting off making roots reggae in 1985, he began to incorporate African, Middle Eastern, Asian, trip hop and electronic dance music elements into his experimental dub music.^{[6] [7]} In the mid-1990s, he started his own Third Eye label, and went on to work with artists such as Muslimgauze, Alex Paterson, Soulfly, Junior Delgado, and Dub Syndicate.

In the late 1990s, Bolloten converted to Islam, and his music took on an increasingly spiritual quality.^[8]

His 2002 album New Testament featured guest vocals from Sandeeno, U Brown, Earl 16, Mike Brooks, and Daddy Freddy.^[9]

Photography

Bolloten is also a social documentary photographer.^[10]

Discography

• City Rockers EP (1994)
• "Koyaanisqatsi" (1994)
• "In Dub We Trust" (1995)
• "International Language of Dub: The Rootsman Remixed" (1995)
• Natural Born Thrillers EP (1995)
• "Authorised Versions" (1996)
• Mother of Nature EP (1996)
• Pass the Chalice EP (1996)
• "Into the Light" (1996)
• City of Djinn" (with Muslimgauze) (1997)
• "Out of the Darkness: The Rootsman Remixed" (1997)
• "Rebirth" (1997)
• "Third Eye Dimensions" (1997)
• "52 Days to Timbuktu" (1998)
• "The Final Frontier - The Rootsman Remixed" (1998)
• "Union of Souls" (1998)
• We Come Rough EP (1998)
• Imitator EP (1999)
• "Realms of the Unseen" (1999)
• "Return to the City of Djinn" (with Muslimgauze) (1999)
• Versions of the Unseen EP (1999)
• Old School New School (with Daddy Freddy) (2000)
• "Roots Bloody Rootsman" (2001)
• "Al Aqsa Intifada" (2002)
• "New Testament" (2002)
• Joy and Sorrow EP (2003)
• Showcase EP (2003)
• "Walk with Jah" (2003)
• "Intifada", "Intifada Dub" b/w (with Celtarabia) "Valley of the Kings", "Valley of Dub" - Partial Records 10" (2014)
• "Fittest of the Fittest", "When the Eye Opens" b/w "Only Jah", "Exodus" (Vibronics Remix) - Partial Records 10" (2015)

External links

• • Bolloten's photography site

Notes and References

1. Web site: WALK AND TALK . ASCAP . American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers . July 12, 2023.
2. Zitty, Volume 22, Issues 24-25, 1999, p. 214
3. Book: Bogdanov. Vladimir. Ellingham. Mark. All Music Guide to Hip-hop: The Definitive Guide to Rap & Hip-hop. 22 September 2014. 2003. Backbeat Books. 9780879307592. 88.
4. [Amateur Photographer]
5. [Amateur Photographer]
6. Huey, Steve "The Rootsman Biography", Allmusic. Retrieved 3 December 2018
7. Anderson, Rick "New Testament Review", AllMusic. Retrieved 3 December 2018
8. Partridge, Christopher (2005) The Re-Enchantment of the West Vol. 1: Alternative Spiritualities, Sacralization, Popular Culture, and Occulture, T & T Clark International,, pp. 179–183
9. Dordor, Francis (2001) "New Testament", Les Inrockuptibles, 30 November 2001. Retrieved 3 December 2018
10. Big Issue in the North. September 2019.