California based reggae artiste, Money Done Red has high hopes for his latest single, “Jah Live Forever,” an inspiring tribute to the Supreme Divine Power.
“The inspiration behind this song is my deep respect for God. This song expresses my heartfelt gratitude and respect for Almighty God and is intended to inspire others to recognize and respect His eternal presence and guidance in our lives,” said the artist, whose real name is Astill Franklin.
The initial response to the song was so overwhelmingly positive that he funded the production of a video for the project, which has since been viewed hundreds of thousands of times.
The artist grew up in the Washington Gardens area and later attended Dinhill Technical High School in Linstead, St Catherine.
He became interested in music at an early age through his parents’ Bob Marley record collection.
“I was deeply moved by Bob’s powerful message of love, unity and redemption. His iconic voice and legacy inspired me to pursue a musical path and I began writing and singing songs with a passion to make a difference,” he said.
He renamed him Money Donred, a nickname given to him by his godson, Brandon.
“Red symbolizes wealth and prosperity and Money Dong represents my growth and evolution as a recording artist,” he said.
The artist’s Rastafarian values and overall lifestyle emulate those of his favorite artist, Bob Marley.
“I want to carry on Marley’s legacy and spread love, positivity and inspiration through my music, and carry his spirit into new generations,” he said.
He is currently working on an EP titled “Jah Live Forever” which features seven inspirational tracks. Aside from the title track, other tracks with positive titles include “Thanks and Praise,” “Come Together,” “Humble Yuhself,” “Do Right,” “Confusion,” and “Found a Joy.”
