Donnie "Dread" Cyrus - Lead Vocals and Bass
"Chizzy" Chuck Kristan - Drums
"Dr." Drew Dauer - Keyboards and Vocals
"King" Danny Bubien - Guitar and Vocals
Now entering their eleventh year, The Freedom Band is a name that has become synonymous with the 1 professional reggae sound and performance in Western Pennsylvania and the Tri-State area. Comprised of members Donnie "Dread" Cyrus, "Chizzy" Chuck, Dan Bubien, and Drew Dauer, the band maintains a level of performance and musical experience that is unparalleled by any of it's peers. In 2008, FREEDOM remains on the cutting edge, incorporating both the latest reggae sounds and vibes into their performance as well as all the classics that everyone knows and loves.
In fact, the band prides itself in being able to cater to any type of crowd - from a Summer backyard pool party max'd out with 75 people to festival audiences of thousands. Ask anyone - our track record speaks for itself.
Freedom regularly performs at numerous popular venues in the Tri-State area such as Redfin Blues, PD's Pub, Shadow Lounge, Spice Cafe, Paparazzi's, Kelly's Riverside Saloon and Fox Chapel Yacht Club (just to name a few). In past years, Freedom played as the weekly house band at Rosebud (3 consecutive years), The Attic (2 years) and Nick's Fat City 'Reggae Thursdays (4 years). In addition, the band continues to devote much of it's schedule to playing various private parties and corporate events when that special island flavor is needed to make the event 'just a little bit different than the norm...
Past Festival appearances include Three Rivers Arts Festival, Surgefest, M-Squared, Niles' Rib Burn Off in Ohio, the Multicultural Festival in Parkersburg, West Virginia, Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival, and the Autumn Leaf Festival at Clarion University. Other appearances include IUP, W & J College, PSU, University of Pittsburgh, WVU, Robert Morris College, Chatham College as well as various charitable events in the community.
On a larger scale, the Freedom musicians have opened for such international reggae artists as Dennis Brown, Burning Spear, Jimmy Cliff, Eek-A-Mouse, Third World, Andrew Tosh, UB-40, Pato Banton, Mad Professor, Steel Pulse, The Wailers, Yellowman and Ziggy Marley. In 2005, Freedom had the pleasure of opening for reggae legends THIRD WORLD at Hartwood Acres in front of a crowd of 15,000+!
For its excellence in performance, Freedom and its musicians have been awarded "Best Reggae Musician," "Best Reggae Vocalist" and "Best Reggae Performance" awards over the years by the Pittsburgh City Paper publication, and "Best Reggae Performer" Award from Sheridan Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Division (WAMO).
Experience the sounds of FREEDOM....
" The Divine has come to you in love through so many forms: mother, father, wife, husband, children and friends. The same love comes to you in the form of the Master to elevate you to the level of divine love, which is also your own nature."
"Do you know the relationship between your two eyes? They blink together, they move together, they cry together, they see things together and they sleep together, EVEN THOUGH THEY NEVER SEE EACH OTHER...Friendship should be just like that!!!
Your aspiration is your motivation, your motivation is your belief, your belief is your peace, your peace is your target, your target is heaven. Life is like hell without FRIENDS. Thanks for being my FRIEND!
" Whether or not we realize it, each of us has within us the ability to set some kind of example for people. Knowing this, would you rather be the one known for being the one who encouraged others, or the one who inadvertently discouraged those around you?"
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