SAN DIEGO, CA (1 OCTOBER 2026): Pacific Records, the independent record label known for championing Southern California music culture, has three 2026 releases for consideration in the first round of GRAMMY® voting. Projects by Sandollar, Slack Key ‘Ohana, and Kevin Peter Jones reflect the imprint’s growth and diversity
Cali reggae band Sandollar mixes reggae, rock, funk, and hip hop into their sound that embodies San Diego surf culture. Released this summer, Sunny Day is up for GRAMMY® consideration as Best Reggae Album. The collection celebrates the sun‑drenched, free‑spirited energy of Southern California through stories of connection, escape, and self‑discovery. The popular San Diego-based band’s vocalist, keyboardist, and guitarist Baron Lunbeck wrote the 13-song set produced by Brian Witkin and Donna Dalyin the Foo Fighters’ Studio 606.
“Sandollar’s latest album honors the band’s signature sound while highlighting its continued evolution and its ability to fuse reggae, hip‑hop, and California culture with authenticity, particularly its title track featuring KBongand the new recording of their hit song ‘Up Up’ featuring Dizzy Wright,” said Witkin, CEO and founder of Pacific Records. “The album demonstrates how music can capture a lifestyle, give a community its own sound, and reflect how music can help shape culture.”
Sandollar’s original version of “Up Up” appeared in Netflix’s Outer Banks.
Witkin is the lead singer, guitarist, and steel guitarist for Slack Key ‘Ohana, which released The ‘Ohana Sessions in August and is vying for GRAMMY® consideration as Best Americana Album. After collaborations with George Kahumoku Jr., ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Brittni Paiva, and Rand Anderson, Slack Key ʻOhana brings The ʻOhana Sessions back to family, pairing the trio’s signature three-part harmonies with stripped-down performances captured using vintage and analog equipment.
“The ‘Ohana Sessions’ unique blend of family musicianship and island-inspired sounds connects generations and culture through new music. It is a true family record with every instrument and vocal performed by father, mother, and son. That genuine connection gives the album a warmth and spirit that simply cannot be manufactured,” said Brian Witkin, who wrote, produced, and performed the album with his mother, ukulele player and vocalist Carol Witkin, and his father, u-bassist, keyboardist, and vocalist Joe Witkin, who performed at Woodstock as a member of Sha Na Na.
Drummer-producer-arranger Jones made history when he assembled an all-star band to play eight sold-out shows at the iconic Blues Alley in Washington, DC. The concerts were recorded and released as the album Blues Alley, which is entered for consideration in the Best Historical Albumand Best Album Cover categories. The star-studded ensemble features GRAMMY®-winning legends Randy Brecker and Jeff Lorber, GRAMMY® nominees Eric Marienthal (saxophone) and Lenny Castro (percussion), guitarist Dean Brown, who played on four GRAMMY®-winning albums, and Senegalese bassist Cheikh Ndoye.
“Kevin brought together an absolutely extraordinary lineup of musicians whose performances capture a singular moment in jazz history,” said Witkin about one of only a select few live albums ever granted permission to be recorded at Blues Alley. “The album is both a celebration and a historical document, complemented by artwork that gives the project a powerful visual identity worthy of the music it represents.”
This year’s Pacific Records releases for GRAMMY® consideration reflect the label’s commitment to artistry, culture, and genre diversity — supporting music that resonates across communities and generations.
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ABOUT PACIFIC RECORDS
Pacific Records is a Southern California-based record label that incorporates all aspects of the music business including marketing, production, and distribution services. Founded by entertainment attorney Brian Witkin, Pacific Records began as a record store chain that evolved into a multi-dimensional entity spanning recording studios, engineering services, music merchandising, and talent buying services. However, its core business remains as an independent record label and music publisher. The label that has an oceanic allure inherent in its DNA releases a wide array of music genres – from rock, Americana, blues, and hip-hop to reggae, jazz, new age, and classical guitar. Additional information is available at https://pacificrecords.com.