About the Author

Doctor Dread was born and raised in the Washington, DC area. Upon first hearing reggae music in 1972 he became completely enthralled by Jamaican culture and the tenets of Rastafari. This was reinforced when he became a deejay on the DC-area progressive radio station WHFS, where he first took on the moniker of Doctor Dread (his real name is Gary Himelfarb). He next founded RAS Records, which was responsible for distributing and producing reggae artists from Jamaica to every corner of the earth. Doctor Dread forged very intimate relationships with the artists of Jamaica and to this day remains committed to the culture and people of this country he has come to call his "true home." He also founded his own line of Jamaican food items, Doctor Dread's Famous Jamaican Jerk Products, which include seasonings, potato chips, and peanuts, with many more products in the works. He is the author of The Half That's Never Been Told: The Real Life Reggae Adventures of Doctor Dread.

Reviews

Impassioned and engaging.--BooklistA heartfelt tribute to Caribbean roots music and those who keep it alive.--Kirkus ReviewsIn 1972, Gary Himelfarb...heard reggae music for the first time and fell in love. He embraced the music...with a passion that he matched with a genuine curiosity about Jamaican culture and sincere friendships with musicians there....There is a sweetness and sincerity to the best parts of the book....Dread's serious case of 'reggaemylitis' gave him some remarkable experiences.--Publishers WeeklyThe book is a tale of business, family, ethics, health, and survival...an entertaining read.--Washington City PaperA gem...Real music heads will truly enjoy this book....For anyone who is a fan of Reggae music, this book is a must-have.--Baltimore TimesA nice read...hilarious and spellbinding.--Caribbean LifeDoctor Dread may just prove to be as gripping a storyteller as he was a record producer. In this revelatory vignette-filled offering, he bends the rules with an unorthodox literary style, unveiling a torrent of chronicles that are spontaneous, colorful, richly authentic and brazen. This is a unique work on many levels. Doctor Dread does offer new and intimate insights into the legends of Jamaican culture....Highly recommended.--Jamaica GleanerFull of heart and soul as well as photos from many of the author's greatest moments, it is a must for anybody interested in reggae music and its cast of characters or the music business in general.--ReggaevilleThis book should be on the shelf of any serious lover of reggae...Not only is Himelfarb a great storyteller...he is also a talented writer.--FDRMXAn inside perspective of the reggae music phenomenon...[Dread] explains how his decision to form the RAS label came at a tragic but important moment in music history, as the death of Bob Marley in 1981 led to a market eager for the earthy sounds of reggae. Dread also relates fine portrayals of legends like Philip 'Fatis' Burrell, the many Marleys, Freddie McGregor, and Bunny Wailer.--InsightsThis easily readable memoir does far more than chart the label's ebbs and flows....Delightfully candid and brutally honest, this is a must-read for all reggae fans.--MOJO Magazine (UK)Hugely compelling page-turner....a no-nonsense tome that gives intimate portraits of Jamaican music's most colorful characters, and sheds light on the individual world view of Doctor Dread, with many 'twilight zone' incidents, lots of confliction, and a good deal of redemption too....Recommended reading for all reggae fans.--Riddim Magazine (Germany)Absolutely not to be missed!--HotMC (Italy)