HE is revered as the man who combined Christianity with Rastalogy (philosophy of Rastafari), the man who, over 33 years ago, founded the Twelve Tribes of Israel organisation.

He is Vernon Carrington, but for the thousands of the Twelve Tribes of Israel members worldwide, he is the Prophet Gad. Last Friday evening, the diminutive spiritual leader gave non-members, observers, well-wishers and the media a rare glimpse of himself.

The dignified Twelve leader made his presence felt when he took to the dance floor. Prophet Gad was sitting quietly in the front rows until one of the best brass sections in the country began playing up a storm. Obviously, the Prophet Gad found the team of horn players comprising Egbert Evans, Dean Fraser, David Madden and Nambo Robinson irresistible. After some three minutes of energetic dancing, at times with two beautiful empresses, the Prophet Gad reclaimed his seat to loud applause.

November 2 is always a special day in the life of the Rastafari community, and this year was no exception. So, on Friday last, Rastafarians celebrated the 71st anniversary of the coronation of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie I.

But, this time around, the Twelve Tribes organisation took the opportunity to mark the occasion with the launching of the Orthodox Records and Publishing Company.

So, while the Nyahbinghi House was dancing and chanting to akete music at Pittsfour, Montego Bay, Twelve members on the 18th floor of the Hilton Hotel (Kingston), were savouring the sweet reggae sound of some of the artistes in the organisation.

The main feature of the launch of Orthodox Records, was the official release of its two debut CDs titled, Great And Marvellous by Orthodox Issachar and Got To Leave This Place by the Dan Hutson(who passed away earlier this year) and the Seers.

"It's really members of the organisation (Twelve Tribes) coming together to form a company to do commercial business because the organisation itself is not doing anything like this," explained the CEO of the company, Horace "Sangie" Davis, himself a member of the Twelve Tribes of Israel and a recording artiste from as early as 1959.

He was a member of the group, Melody Enchanters, which recorded two songs for Chris Blackwell's Blue Beat label,

Davis admitted that over the years, "we've had products, but never enter the commercial market." He said he is in the process of shopping for a distributor for his products.

"We have over 500 artistes in 14 countries. Right now we have CDs coming out of America that I produced for the musicians there who are members ... from England and as far as New Zealand," enthused the Twelve Tribes' bandleader and musical director who wrote Bob Marley's Wake Up And Live; Marcia Griffiths' Where Is The Love; Judy Mowatt's Let's Dance; Nadine Sutherland's Young One Like Me as well as Starvation and Sophia George's Girlie Girlie.

The audience was richly entertained by a number of the artistes on the label. Among the more exciting ones were Orthodox Issachar, The Seers, George from George's Wine fame, Sydney Reuben Salmon from New York and Simon Dan from London.

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