Biography Wikipedia
Wikipedia:
Jah Roots was a reggae band from Springfield, Missouri. The band was active from 2001 to 2009. They produced records under the independent label GanJah Records. The band released several albums and had a local and international following. Jah Roots broke up in 2009. Since then lead singer, Josh Heinrichs has established a successful solo career.
History
Jah Roots recorded its first album, Steppin Out Of Babylon in 2002. In 2005 they released 2 albums More Herbs for the Youth and Babylon Weak Heart w/ Baddaflexx. Their fourth album titled Crucial was released in 2006, and was a Billboard Charts Top 100 Reggae album as well as being listed in the "Top Ten Reggae Albums of 2007" on the island of Guam. In April 2008 their fifth album Joy was released, it charted on the "Billboard charts Top 100 Reggae Albums" as well. For this album they were joined by reggae guitarist Junior Marvin – who served as lead guitarist for Bob Marley & The Wailers from 1977-1980. Joy featured "Ganja Weed", which won "Best Reggae Song 2008" by the Global Marijuana Music Awards.
Jah Roots has toured with Grammy Award winning artists, Damian Marley, Stephen Marley, Bunny Wailer. Have shared the stage with Luciano (singer), George Clinton (musician), H.R., Morgan Heritage, EOTO, Soldiers of Jah Army, Groundation, The Itals, Anthony B, Culture (band), Capleton, The Beat (band), Ky-Mani Marley and many more over the years. They have played at South by Southwest '07 & festivals such as: Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival, Summer Camp Music Festival, Chicago Reggae Fest, Tulsa, Oklahoma Reggae Fest, Dayton, Ohio Reggae Fest, San Antonio Reggae Fest, Schwagstock and were becoming regulars at the Austin Reggae Festival. The band is very good friends with and also toured regularly with Cas Haley from America's Got Talent
2009 break up / Indefinite hiatus
In Spring 2009 the band announced it was going on "Indefinite Hiatus."
Early distribution
Jah Roots initially promoted itself with free record distribution to build a wider audience base and increase concert attendance. The bands singer, Josh Heinrichs, is quoted in an interview saying this about their album distribution "Before MySpace and before we were able to put our music up for free download online we used to all go home and burn tons of copies of our albums off and give them away for free. We gave away 1000's of CD's this way and it really made a huge difference in the attendance at our live shows and then when we were actually able to put out our first real album Crucial (album) our fans were totally willing to help us out and throw down $10. They had already heard the music and liked it." The band also mailed CDs to fans in Europe, Asia and South America.
Motion picture and television appearances
In 2008, Jah Roots entered the motion picture scene with an appearance on American Music: Off the Record, a documentary interrogating the American music industry. The film also features Noam Chomsky, Les Paul, Buckethead, Canned Heat, Johnny Winter, Jackson Browne, Little Feat, Sonic Youth and many more.