True Born African: The Story of Winston Flames Jarrett

True Born African follows Winston "Flames" Jarrett, who tells us in his own words about his life as one of the Founding Fathers of Reggae music. We travel to his old neighborhoods in Jamaica, a reggae festival in California, and his new home in Seattle, Washington, sharing stories about the music and the philosophy that have kept him going for six decades in the music business.

This is the story of a man who rose from the poverty of Kingston's ghettos to achieve international musical success. Winston's voice graced numerous number-one hits on Jamaican radio as a backing vocalist for Alton Ellis & The Flames in the 1960s. Making his start in Ska music, he was one of the first musicians to record the new styles of Rocksteady and Reggae. When Alton Ellis migrated to England, Winston Flames became leader of the group now known as Winston Jarrett & the Righteous Flames. He met Haile Selassie I (Ras Tafari) in Jamaica in 1966 and remains a devoted member of the Ras Tafari movement. A singer, songwriter, producer, arranger, writer; now in his 70s, this pioneer and mentor to several generations of reggae musicians has recorded 20 albums and continues to tour the world.