Luciano’s most recent recording, “The Answer,” explored faith, racism, emancipation, and spiritual growth. Photo courtesy KRD

A devout Rastafarian known as “the Messenjah,” inspirational singer/songwriter Luciano first found fame in 1993 with his album “Moving Up,” which included the hits “Poor & Simple” and the devotional anthem “Chant Out.”

His follow-up, “One Way Ticket,” was hailed as one of the greatest reggae albums of the 1990s, and the subsequent “Where There is Life” roots collection had some comparing him with Bob Marley for the spiritual content of uplifting songs like “Good God” and “It’s Me Again Jah.”

A two-time Grammy nominee, included in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “200 Greatest Singers of All Time,” Luciano had been scheduled to perform at Da Playground on May 15, with special guests Ras Cas and Kalolū. The Maui show has been rescheduled for Oct. 19. Tickets can be used for the October date.

“I am a child of a king and I just want my family and my fans to receive the blessings that God has given through me as a messenger and an instrument of peace,” Luciano has reported. “Music is a medium through which you and I link with each other upon a spiritual level.”

Born in Jamaica, Luciano was raised in the Adventist church and sang in the choir. He moved to Kingston to pursue a music career. As a youth, he was heavily influenced and drawn to Bob Marley’s positive “One Love Movement.”

As he got older and embarked on his own professional singing career, Luciano himself began to influence the lives of others around the world, eventually becoming a king of conscious reggae.

Along with Marley, other early influences were artists like Stevie Wonder and country singer Hank Williams. He was dubbed “Luciano” in comparison to the vocals of opera legend Luciano Pavarotti. In 2007, the Jamaican government bestowed on Luciano the Order of Distinction for his contribution in the field of positive entertainment.

“The concept (belief) in Rastafari is inborn,” he reported in a Medium interview. “I remember when I was 12 years old, my mother gave me a T-shirt. I couldn’t wear it to school, so I took the shirt home and drew a picture of Rastaman and a chalice on it. I realized I was Rasta from early on, so it has to be inborn.”

On one of his most popular albums, “Messenger,” he ranged from soulful ballads to Latin and dancehall-influenced tunes, and the stirring “Carry Jah Load.” In late 2013, he released “The Qabalah Man,” inspired by his study of Qaballah, a faith focused on creating balance and harmony within.

“I am usually on a quest to learn, and during my studies, I came across Qabalah,” he told Medium. “In Qabalah, you are guided by the principles of righteousness God laid out.”

In 2016, his album “Zion Awake” was nominated for a Grammy Award. It included an update of the Abyssinians’ “Satta Massagana” and the instant classic “Prophecy.”

Luciano’s most recent recording, “The Answer,” explored faith, racism, emancipation and spiritual growth. It was hailed by World Reggae as a “master class in roots-derived reggae,” which “breathes new life into the roots reggae genre.”

“We have a spiritual weakness out there,” he told Reggae Vibes. “The thirst for righteousness. There is a higher supreme consciousness than our own little allotted consciousness that we have in the objectiveness of our lives. We are living within this temple. We have certain requirements which we have to feed it. Let us spread a positive energy, let us spread words of encouragement, let us spread words of unity.”

Luciano will perform at 8 p.m. May 15 at Da Playground. Tickets are $40 for general admission standing, and $90 for general admission with VIP lounge access.