Together for two decades and hailed as "Future roots, reggae, and dub
with an intricately balanced weaving of vocals, percussion, keyboard,
bass, guitar, and stunning 3-piece horn section that ties it all
together" (WRUV), John Brown’s Body (JBB) is building "a legacy that
has inspired and carved a path for the now thriving contemporary
American reggae scene" (Rudeboy Reggae). Formed in Ithaca, New York,
in the mid 1990s, at a time when there wasn’t yet a far-reaching
U.S. reggae scene, JBB was one of a small handful of U.S. reggae bands
that began touring nationally. Since then, JBB has played an important
role in helping define distinctly "American reggae." JBB’s music is
steeped in traditional vibes, but unapologetically incorporates
elements from other genres. While most American reggae bands tackled
typical reggae themes (such as religion and marijuana), JBB acted more
like an indie band, writing songs that used the vocabulary of reggae
to express their own experiences. Their unique approach resonated with
the masses. The group’s 2008 full-length record, Amplify, hit #1 on
the Billboard Reggae Chart, 2012’s JBB In Dub EP reached #1 on
iTunes’ Reggae Chart, and in 2013 Kings And Queens topped both
Billboard and iTunes Reggae Charts at #1. Today, JBB’s signature
style has become the norm for U.S. reggae bands - and many in the
genre admittedly point to John Brown’s Body as a key influence.
Their eleventh studio release, Fireflies, was released September 9th
2016 on Easy Star Records and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Reggae
charts.
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26/03/2017 Last update