Jah Gumby
One of Hawaii’s deepest diggers and most progressive reggae producers. Jah Gumby, or Ryan Murakami, has worked extensively with artists of all walks, from low-key soulful roots singer Mr. 83 to world-renowed ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimbukuro, the in-demand Ichiban Horns powerhouse trio and longtime partner-in-vibe Kali Navales, who helped launched Father Psalms Studio in Gumby’s own home in 2003.
Instagram / YouTube / Father Psalms Studio
What happens when a young kid from Pālolo Valley collects and trades hip hop tapes at age five, discovers Gregory Isaacs at age 12 (then buys every release Isaacs ever made), learns to play almost every instrument, forms a punk band with his friends at 15 (soon morphing into legendary roots group Ooklah The Moc), amasses a vinyl collection of thousands of reggae rarities (rivaling only that of his father’s massive jazz collection), studies music theory under unsung hero and fellow Pālolo resident, guitarist Jimmy Funai, opens his own recording studio at the turn of the millenium to produce hundreds upon hundreds of original riddims?