Popular Reggae Superstar Gramps Morgan Declared Ghanaian After DNA Test . . . Read More

Morgan stated on the Asaase Breakfast Show on April 26 to Kwaku Nhyira-Addo, "I have taken a DNA test and I am a native son."
Gramps Morgan, a reggae icon, has stated that a DNA test he conducted indicates he is Ghanaian.

Morgan, who was recently in Ghana, performed alongside Shatta Wale at the Nima Salafest on April 24.

Morgan stated on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday, April 26 to Kwaku Nhyira-Addo, "I have taken a DNA test and I am a native of Ghana."

"I am happy; I even took a DNA test to determine that I am 52% Ghanaian, 48% Nigerian, and 2% from other places."

"When I see that, it's really something special for me to comprehend and get an opportunity to reconnect with data and facts about our origins in Africa. "It's as if a mother had a child without the father's knowledge," Morgan said.

Regarding Gramps Morgan

Roy Morgan, a member of the internationally renowned reggae ensemble Morgan Heritage, was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised with his parents and 29 siblings in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Gramps is one of the seventeen sons of the legendary Denroy Morgan and was affectionately named "Grampa" on the day of his birth by an aunt who observed his remarkable resemblance to his grandfather.

The name "Gramps" would accompany him from childhood into adulthood and serve as his stage name as well.

At the age of nine, he became a member of the family ensemble Morgan Heritage. Morgan Heritage has released over ten albums containing numerous songs, such as "Down By The River," "Don't Haffi Dread," and "I'm Coming Home, to name a few.

They have sold millions of albums and continue to acquire worldwide popularity. Denroy Morgan had predicted that one day, each member of the group would embark on their own path to solo prominence.

Gramps is currently enjoying the triumph of his long-foreseen solo career after more than a decade of touring and performing with Morgan Heritage.

Gramps, an accomplished vocalist, keyboardist, and performer, published his debut single as a solo artist, "Wash The Tears", on his own Dada Son Entertainment label. In 2009, after the success of "Wash the Tears," Gramps released his debut solo album, Two Sides of My Heart – Vol. 1.

Gramps embarked on a tour with a number of well-known musicians in order to introduce himself as a solo artist and meet his admirers. He performed on the wildly successful "Evolver" tour with John Legend and India Arie, as well as the "Soulbird" tour for India Arie.

On the "Rasta Got Soul" tour, he continued to tour with Tarrus Riley, his sibling Peetah Morgan, and as the opening act for his longtime friend Buju Banton.

"Wash The Tears" was written, composed, and produced by Gramps, and it debuted at number eight on Italy's Top 20 Singles Chart. Multiple hit recordings from the album earned Gramps three 2010 International Reggae and World Music Awards for Best New Entertainer, Best Song ("Wash The Tears"), and Best Crossover Song ("Therapy" featuring India Arie).

In addition, he was nominated for Reggae Artist of the Year at the 2010 Soul Train Music Awards and won Album of the Year at the sixth annual Excellence in Music and Entertainment Awards.

Gramps' work and collaboration with reggae superstar Buju Banton on "Before the Dawn" would pave the way for his highest achievement to date. "Before the Dawn" won the award for Best Reggae Album at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2011. Gramps is credited as co-producer, primary vocalist, and songwriter for "Try Life"

Gramps is currently recording his second studio album, scheduled for release sometime in 2011. In 2012, he intends to release Two Sides of My Heart – Volume 2, an album inspired by R&B and country music.

Gramps is also working on a techno/dance-infused album to further display his musical versatility. In addition to the recordings, Gramps is scheduled to tour the United States during the summer of 2011 and has plans to tour Europe with his brother, Peetah Morgan.

Gramps stated, in regards to his upcoming endeavors, "We don't want to be predictable in the music; we want to keep it interesting and fun as well."

Gramps founded the organization Music Orchestrating Miracles (MOM) out of a desire to assist those in need around the globe.

In remote areas of Africa, MOM collaborates with various medical organizations to distribute mosquito nets, malaria medication, HIV test kits, and water purification tablets, among other resources.

Additionally, the organization participated in a number of fundraising concerts for the people of Haiti and, more recently, Japan. MOM has been in operation since the beginning of 2010 and continues to make progress in alleviating human distress caused by poverty, disease, and natural disasters.

Now that he is settling into the success and solo stardom of which his father dreamed, Gramps stated, "I just want to give people new music and let them know that everything is going to be alright."

He added, "Because everyone has problems, I want to reason with my supporters and get personal with them. My music is about heart-to-heart healing. This was always my father's intention; each of us is on a voyage to express ourselves musically.