Maimon

Maimon was born of Jewish-Moroccan parents who left North Africa just prior to his birth. They lived briefly in Paris where their son was born, and continued on a journey that led them to Canada, where they settled in a tightly-knit, Moroccan-Sephardic community in Montreal. Maimon began playing guitar at the age of eleven. He played mostly rock music as a teen, influenced by artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. In 1979 his world was blown wide open when a neighbor turned him on to Bob Marley’s Kaya. It reminded him of the Moroccan trance-music he heard as a child. He was home. Maimon found himself writing song after song, playing with local musicians, and learning reggae from Jamaican artists in Montreal. It was clear that his talent and passion were destined to converge in his own reggae band, and in 1989 he formed Geoulah (Redemption in Hebrew). His original songs were inspired by Jewish spiritual teachings, coupled with the everyday experiences of urban youth. Geoulah’s explosive first album, Soul Deliverance, was released in 1995. On the momentum of that debut’s success, Maimon moved to Los Angeles where he saw his music and opportunities grow.