John Brown's Body (band)
John Brown's Body is an American eight-piece reggae and dub band based out of Ithaca, New York and Boston, Massachusetts. They have been together for two decades and have been hailed as "Future Roots, Reggae and Dub with an intricately balanced weaving of vocals, percussion, keyboard, bass, guitar and a stunning three-piece horn section that ties it all together" (WRUV). John Brown's Body (or JBB) is building "a legacy that has inspired and carved a path for the now thriving contemporary American reggae scene" (Rudeboy Reggae).
John Brown's Body | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Ithaca, New York Boston, Massachusetts |
| Genres | Reggae, Dub, Indie |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | Easy Star Records I-Town Records Shanachie Records |
| Members | Kevin Kinsella Tommy Benedetti Nate Edgar Jon "JP" Petronzio Lee Hamilton TJ Schaper Van Gordon Martin |
| Past members | Elliot Martin Dan Delacruz Chris Welter David Gould Mike Keenan Nate Edgar Scott Flynn Mathew Goodwin Nate Silas Richardson Alex Beram Josh Newman Sam Godin Scott Palmer (deceased) Paul Merrill Alex Toth Annakalmia Traver Brian Thomas Jason "Jocko" Randall Sam Dechenne Dan Africano Mikey Vitale |
| Website | www |
Formed in Ithaca, New York, in the mid 1990s, 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 album, Amplify, hit #1 on the Billboard Reggae Chart followed by 2012's JBB In Dub reaching #1 on iTunes Reggae Chart. They also topped both Billboard and iTunes Reggae Charts at #1 with 2013's Kings And Queens and 2016's Fireflies.
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 9, 2016 on Easy Star Records and debuted at #1 on the Billboard and iTunes Reggae charts.