From roots reggae to dancehall, Oral’s playing carries the unmistakable heartbeat of Jamaica, with an instinct for groove that is uniquely his own. 

He first held sticks while playing in his high school band (Ocho Rios High) before moving into the hotel circuit along the north coast of Jamaica. After graduating from the Edna Manley College of the Visual & Performing Arts, Oral built a diverse and meaningful career spanning from the heart of Jamaica’s live music scene to the pulse of festival stages across the globe.

He has toured and recorded with some of reggae’s most respected and influential artists from Marcia Griffiths to Mortimer. As one of the founding members, he currently holds the drum-throne in Tarrus Riley’s Blak Soil Band, helping to shape the sound of one of reggae’s most respected acts. 

His approach can be described as disciplined, fluid and unorthodox. He’s a drummer’s drummer who can lock into a pocket and lay down infectious grooves. A left-handed mastermind, whose style and set-up gives his playing an expressive and distinctive edge—honouring his Jamaican roots and heritage while carving out his own unique path.