Mountain Lions International - Orfordville, Wisconsin
“Making this World a Better place to Live” is the mission of the Mountain Lions International.
Sierra Leone West Africa, Wisconsin USA, and Mexico are the homelands of this culturally diverse group of musicians who met in the unlikely place of Whitewater, Wisconsin.
Mountain Lions International’s roots go back to 1997 when Dan and Joe as two UW-Whitewater students began assembling lyrics. Jon began jamming with them in the basement in 1999. Chris was sent to sit in with the Lions in Nov 2003 temporarily. Juan was added in the summer of 2005. Each of the Mountain Lions contributes their unique skills, talents, temperament, and culture to this musical group.
The MLI first played out at the Friends of Africa Picnic in July 2000 at Dretzka Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Another 2 years of writing lyrics and putting them to music brought the Lions to being chosen to perform in an annual “Battle of the Bands” event on the UW-W Campus. The Lions receiving first place for their 45 minute set in that event was the impetus for starting to gig. It was a very exciting time for the MLI and they made sure they could perform for the three plus hours required of solo band performances in Wisconsin taverns. During 2005 MLI performed 106 times in eight states in a variety of venues to a diversity of audiences.
MLI’s “Afre-rok” music (a blend of African, Reggae, and Rock) is unique to them and displays the diversity of their musical and cultural backgrounds. Mountain Lions International music also represents their attitude about life; it is about all peoples of the world getting together and solving their differences, about joy and respect for one another. The MLI lives and breathes this concept; it is evident on their faces, how they treat one another and others, and in the lyrics of their original compositions they call ‘positive vibrations’.
MLI infects their audiences with the message “‘we must love one another”. Spend time with the Mountain Lions International and you will be keeping time, smiling, and asking, “When are these guys coming back”?
Category:
Band - Rock
Additional Category:
Band - Wedding Band
Genre:
African, Beach Music, Caribbean, Reggae, Ska, World Music
