John Brown's Body

Together for two decades and hailed as "Future roots, reggae and dub with an intricately balanced weaving of vocals, percussion, keyboard, bass, guitar and a stunning 3-piece horn section that ties it all together", John Brown’s Body is building "a legacy that has inspired and carved a path for the now thriving contemporary American reggae scene". 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, 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.