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BIOGRAPHY

Internationally known record producer Michael Goldwasser has gone from being a teenager playing in clubs all over New York City to ruling the Billboard Reggae Charts. He founded his record label, Easy Star Records, in 1996, and while many other independent labels have come and gone, Easy Star has become a leading independent reggae label, adapting to changes in the industry and continuing to flourish.

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Michael is the mastermind behind a unique musical genre -taking classic albums and re-imagining them as reggae. His production Dub Side of the Moon, a reggae version of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, is one of the best-selling independent reggae releases of 21st Century, and has been praised by Pink Floyd guitarist/vocalist David Gilmour himself. Likewise, the members of Radiohead are all fans of his album Radiodread, a reggae version of their classic OK Computer. His album, Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band is an adaptation of the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper album, and it not only held the #1 spot on the Billboard Reggae Chart upon release, but it was the first reggae album to crack the Billboard Top 200 in over two years. Easy Star’s Thrillah, a complete reggae version of Michael Jackson’s Thriller album, also shot right to the top of the reggae chart.  

 

Michael has written, produced, arranged, and played on many of Easy Star’s releases, and has worked with some of the biggest names in reggae including Matisyahu, Steel Pulse, Third World, Luciano, Sugar Minott, Toots & the Maytals, Sister Carol, The Meditations, Ranking Joe, Frankie Paul, Morgan Heritage, Israel Vibration, Horace Andy, Sister Nancy, and Half Pint.He also produced Zion Crossroads for acclaimed blues artist Corey Harris, and the self-titled Hatikva 6 for Israel’s leading reggae band.  In 2011, Michael did a dub version of top-selling U.S. reggae band Rebelution’s entire album Peace of Mind.  He has done remixes for diverse artists such as Yoko Ono, Kelly Clarkson, Janelle Monae, Jason Mraz, Marina, Umphrey’s McGee, Rebelution, and Tommy T of Gogol Bordello.

 

In recent years, Michael has been producing for and writing with multiple Grammy-winner Jason Mraz, including the album Look For The Good. He co-wrote two of the songs and is preparing a full dub version of the album.  In 2021, Michael, Jason, and the band reconvened to record more material, some of which wound up on the deluxe version of Look For The Good, including a Sade-inspired version of the worldwide smash "I'm Yours".

 

Michael also produces/writes/plays as Goldswagger, his r&b/soul/funk alter-ego. The Goldswagger single “I Can’t Wait” featuring Maya Azucena has received radio play all over the world and his self-titled album went to #1 on the UK Soul Chart.  He also has a co-write on Grammy-nominated group Southern Avenue's lastest album, Be The Love You Want, released on Renew/BMG in 2021.

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Michael's latest albums are Ziggy Stardub with the Easy Star All-Stars, a reggae take on David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust album, and the soon-to-be-released No Ordinary Dub by Sailor Jane, a Jamaican look at Sade.

RECENT CREDITS

PRODUCER

  • "Damn That Frequency" (Remix) - Dhani Harrison (H.O.T./BMG, 2024)
  • "No Ordinary Love" - Sailor Jane (Sailor Jane Enterprise, 2023)
  • Ziggy Stardub - Easy Star All-Stars (Easy Star Records, 2023)

  • "90s Kids (Remix)" - Jax (Atlantic Records, 2021)

  • Look For the Good Deluxe - Jason Mraz (BMG, 2021)

  • "Lucky (feat. Emily King)" - Jason Mraz (BMG, 2021)

  • "Make It Mine (Ska Version)"  - Jason Mraz (BMG, 2021)

  • Look For the Good - Jason Mraz (BMG, 2020)

  • "Heat" (Remix) - Kelly Clarkson (Atlantic Records, 2019)

  • Elementree LivityProject - self titled (ELP, 2019)

  • "Orange Trees (Remix)" - Marina (Atlantic Records, 2019)

  • "I Like That (Remix)" - Janelle Monae (Atlantic Records, 2018)

  • "Have It All (Remix)" - Jason Mraz (Atlantic Records, 2018)

  • "Constellation" - Rebelution (Easy Star Records, 2018)

  • Ground Heights - (self-titled 2018)

  • "Testify (Remix)" - Goldswagger (KID Recordings, 2017)

  • "High and Dry" - Easy Star All-Stars feat. Morgan Heritage (Easy Star Records, 2016)

  • "Macaroni Rascals/Mega Big Wave" - The Shipwrecks (Raised Fist Records, 2016)

  • "Hate To Be the One" (remix) - Rebelution (87 Records/Easy Star Records, 2015)

  • "Deep Summer" (dub) - John Brown's Body (Easy Star Records, 2015)

  • "Sunny Dub" - Toots & the Maytals (Notable Music, 2014)

  • The Hip Abduction - self titled (Single Fin Records, 2013)

  • Easy Star’s Thrillah – Easy Star All-Stars (Easy Star Records, 2012)

  • Peace of Mind: Dub – Rebelution (Controlled Substance, 2012)

  • “Mi Zeh” – Michael & Shimrit Greilsammer (2B Vibes, 2011)

  • “Ask the Dragon (Remix)”– Yoko Ono (Shifty Entertainment, 2011)

  • Double Edge – New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble (Brixton Records, 2011)

  • “Everybody Wants To Be A Cat” – Michael G & Easy Star All-Stars (Disney, 2010)

  • Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band - Easy Star All-Stars (Easy Star Records, 2009)

  • “More Than Dub (Remix)” – Rebelution (itunes exclusive, 2009)

  • “Turn and Dub (Remix)” – Umphrey’s McGee (itunes exclusive, 2009)

  • “Lifers (Remix)” – Tommy T (Easy Star Records, 2009)

  • “Put Down Your Guns" - Hatikva 6 featuring Anthony B (Hed Arzi, 2009)

  • “Light Up” - Hatikva 6 (Hed Arzi, 2009)

  • “Back In the High Life Again” - Easy Star All-Stars (Expansion Team Records, 2008)

  • Until That Day (EP) - Easy Star All-Stars (Easy Star Records, 2008)

  • Zion Crossroads - Corey Harris (Telarc Records, 2007)

  • Hatikva 6 - Hatikva 6 (Hed Arzi, 2007)(Israel)

  • Radiodread -E asy Star All-Stars (Easy Star Records, 2006)

  • Dub Side of the Moon - Easy Star All-Stars (Easy Star Records, 2003

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PRODUCER / WRITER

  • ""Ascent" - Matisyahu (Perception Records, 2024)

  • "Move Into The Light" - Southern Avenue (Renew/BMG, 2021)

  • Goldswagger - self titled (Mital Music, 2016)

  • “Wherever I Go” - Michael & Shimrit Greilsammer (2B Vibes, 2011)

  • First Light – Easy Star All-Stars (Easy Star Records, 2011)

  • Taking Over – Rasta Power (Hi Fidelity, 2010)

  • Easy Star Volume Two: Dancehall Culture - Various Artists (Easy Star Records, 2002)

  • “Nah Bow Down" - Sluggy Ranks (Guidance Records, 2000)

  • Easy Star Volume One - Various Artists (Easy Star Records, 1998

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ORIGINAL COMPOSITIONS/PRODUCTIONS

Featured in Film, Television, Press

  • The Gambler (2014) -starring Mark Wahlberg

  • Goodbye Solo (2009)

  • Humboldt County (2008)

  • Cassandra's Dream (2008) –directed by Woody Allen

  • Failure To Launch (2006) –starring Sarah Jessica Parker & Matthew McConaughy

  • Access Hollywood (NBC)

  • Best Week Ever (VH1)

  • Big Bang Theory (CBS)

  • Claws (TNT)

  • CSI:NY (CBS)

  • Daily 10 (E!)

  • Dr. Who (BBC)

  • Ghost Whisperer (CBS)

  • Guiding Light (CBS)

  • Hawaii Five-0 (CBS)

  • Lipstick Jungle (NBC)

  • Medium (NBC)

  • Prison Break (Fox)

  • Room Raiders (MTV)

  • Smash (NBC)

  • True Hollywood Story (E!)

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mg with bass photo credit jay velarde.jp
mg with guitar photo credit jay velarde.
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