Face The Music Bios
Meet Mutti Lewis!
Mutti Lewis has been a true philanthropist, a man who believes that Love will survive all the perils and obstacles of life. As naive as it may sound, he’s hoping for a better tomorrow and for this to become a reality. He knew that he must be a part of the struggle and a part of the change. As he always says, "the greatest commandment is to love thy neighbors as thy self."
Mutti is no stranger to poverty or political violence, and yet he has never let that hamper him from believing in all the possibilities that life has to offer. He came out of Jamaica to America at a young age, just out of high school, in the early eighties, searching for the American dream. He believes that in the land of opportunity, the possibilities are enormous. "Its all up to you what you decide to become and how far you intend to go," he once said in an interview with one newspaper. He came in search for his piece of the pie. "The same dream most of us came for," he said.
As a boy, he formed a band in high school with some of his friends out of Glendevon, Montego Bay. They were very dedicated to the music and pledged that instead of going to college, they would pursue a musical career. They had staged several successful concerts on their own and sold out concert halls and churches by doing their own promotion. In those days, they would hang their own banners, make and distribute their own flyers, and he would laugh about how they would drive around in their friend’s old beat up car with loud speakers on top to announce their events. They would stop at nothing. They played live on Radio West, as the radio station was named in their little town in Jamaica. That was the day when Montego Bay was becoming the second city on the island, and this was their first time to get a feel of stardom. He ended up playing on the same stage with one of his favorite artists, Muta Baruka, the dub poet. From there, his intention was to take his music and the band to an international level, which was what started his journey to America. He soon found out that it was easier said than done. Though he wrote several beautiful songs for other artists/ groups that were worth listening to, with movie sound tracks to his credit, he still realized that he was only a pebble in a lake Michigan. Anyhow, that didn’t stop or damper his spirit. He worked hard to get where he is going doing several add jobs, not losing sight of his reason for coming to the land of opportunity. As a entrepreneur, he started several businesses on his own, dabbling into such things as real estate etc...
Still realizing his mission, never giving in to peer pressure or get intertwined into the social fabric of society that so easily robs you of your dreams, he continues to push against the wind, hoping to reach his mountain top. Mutti started his own record label Gravity Bridge Records in 1997; produced and co- produced a host of songs which some are now getting air played around the country and the world. (Regularly frequenting the Music Choice and Yahoo air waves.) With a couple of albums to his credit. Love Will Survive was the second album that was released on his label produced by him, Wendy (Wexley) and Butch Taylor. This opened up several doors that allowed him to play the same stage with some of the biggest names in the reggae music business. Some of these names are: Toots And The Matals, Steel Pulse, Burning Spear, just to name a few. Pursuing his musical journey, he realizes that no man is an island. A quote from one of his songs is, “How great it would be to see each one reach one each one teach one, every man love and respect each other.”
When hurricane Ivan hit the island of Jamaica and Grenada, Mutti, a true philanthropist, was there doing concerts with other musicians and friends, giving a helping hand to aide the victims of the storm (Katrina) and other disasters; to him there was no difference. As always, trying to lend a helping hand, he also used his Laundromat as one of the drop off points for clothing, water, canned food, etc. as need be. He continued preaching his message of peace and love using music as the catalyst.
Unfortunately, Lewis has become one of the victim of sub prime loans and predatory lending (just like hundreds of thousand of Americans across the U.S.A) and is losing his home to foreclosure. That was when he decided not to give up without a fight and formed an organization called Help Us Save Our Homes with other philonthropists and musicians. He hoped to use music as the ammunition and catalyst to wage a war against injustice on the less fortunate ones, disregarding to race, gender, religion, color or creed. It was during this time that he met Bill Kadish, who himself was going through the same ordeal in which he almost ended up losing his home. It was through this ordeal Kadish gained his experience, defended himself in court through a long and lengthy court battle, and prevailed in the end. Kadish then turned his situation around, and by keeping his promise he made to the Lord, he went out on the limb to help the less unfortunate ones by digging into his own pocket at times to help those that are in distress of the sometimes horrific experience of the remodification process. It was no surprise when one newspaper referred to him as “The Foreclosure Crusader." He has helped to save approximately eighty seven homes today without any federal money or help from local government. It was at one of his work shops that Lewis' and Kadish’s paths had crossed eachother. As Lewis has put it in prospective in his native tongue, not taking anything for granted, respecting mother earth; the sun moon and stars, and most of all, the THE MOST HIGH GOD who has created them all, he knew it was for this specific reason in his life that they have met. Mutti stated, "because it is for the people and the cause.”
With the same vision in mind, both being philanthropist and a desire to help the less fortunate ones, after several meetings and brainstorming formed what is now called “Face The Music –Foreclosure Aid”. They hit the ground running, putting together, and hoping to produce some of the biggest concerts, and shows across The U.S.A., with intention to make a difference. As Mutti has stated, "I'm hoping that all the good hearted people out there will join us, himself and Bill Kadish, to make this a reality, and that the people will support our efforts of making a difference. The entire world is hurting right now, its not only in America but also across the globe... and it only takes a spark to get a fire glowing."
Mutti Lewis believes that music is the universal language and that it has a power of speaking and touching every heart.
“We hope that the world will join us in making this place a better place for all of us.”
JAH Guide and Protect
ONE LOVE
Mutti Lewis