Kevin Kinsella is a

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...

and roots rock musician who has participated in 28

studio album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...

s since 1987. He is a founding member of John Brown's Body and

10 Foot Ganja Plant 10 Ft. Ganja Plant is a roots/dub Reggae group primarily based in Boston, Massachusetts. 10 Ft. Ganja Plant often places no personnel credits on any of their albums. Most of their music has a traditional reggae sound, but their musical styles ...

. He lives in

Ithaca, New York Ithaca is a city in the Finger Lakes region of New York, United States. Situated on the southern shore of Cayuga Lake, Ithaca is the seat of Tompkins County and the largest community in the Ithaca metropolitan statistical area. It is named a ...

. He has been noted as one of the pioneers of the American reggae scene and has been called "Father of East Coast Reggae".

History

In 1987 Kevin Kinsella founded the band Tribulations when he was just 15 years old in Ithaca, NY. Kevin and his childhood friend Josh Newman headed the band. The band gained regional notoriety in the northeast and opened for

Toots and the Maytals The Maytals, known from 1972 to 2020 as Toots and the Maytals, are a Jamaican musical group, one of the best known ska and rocksteady vocal groups. The Maytals were formed in the early 1960s and were key figures in popularizing reggae music. ...

. In 1995 Kevin Kinsella founded the reggae band John Brown's Body During this time period Kevin released their first album "All Time" (1996) on Kevin's label I Town Records. They also recorded "Among Them" (1998), This Day (2000), and "Spirits All Around Us (2002). Kevin Kinsella also released two acoustic styled albums as solo releases "I-Town Revival" (2000) and "Firestick (2002). In 2006 Kevin Kinsella left John Brown's Body on good terms to pursue his solo career and to continue to record with 10 Ft. Ganja Plant. In 2011 Kevin released his 3rd solo album titled "Great Design, followed by "Riding Higher Still" in 2014. In 2015 Kevin played a string of dates with

Matisyahu Matthew Paul Miller (born June 30, 1979), known by his stage name Matisyahu (; ), is an American reggae singer, rapper, beatboxer Beatboxing (also beat boxing) is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of mimicking drum mac ...

with Matiyahu's band Dub Trio as his backing band. In 2017 Kevin helped organize and curate the talent for the inaugural Ithaca Reggae Festival at Stewart Park in

Musical Influences

Some of Kevin Kinsella's influences include

The Meditations The Meditations are a reggae vocal harmony group from Jamaica formed in late 1974. They have released several studio albums and are still performing in the 2000s and today. History The Meditations were formed in late 1974, when Danny Clarke le ...

and The Gladiators. In 2018 Kevin Kinsella played with his idol

Clinton Fearon Clinton Anthony Fearon (born 13 January 1951) is a Jamaican reggae singer and musician. He has lived in Seattle, Washington since 1987. Career Jamaica Clinton Fearon was born near Kingston, and quickly moved to St. Catherine, a rural Jamaica ...

at the Ithaca Reggae Festival in Ithaca, NY.

Discography

Collaborations

*Kevin Kinsella & Ti Ti Chickapea ''Firestick'' (2002) -- feat. Hank Roberts, Richie Stearns and Eric Aceto *Gregory Stephens and Kevin Kinsella ''AM Gold'' (2018)

Solo

*Kevin Kinsella "At Imperial Sound, Vol. 1" (2023) *Kevin Kinsella ''Riding Higher Still'' (2014) *Kevin Kinsella ''Great Design'' (2011) *Kevin Kinsella ''I-Town Revival'' (2006)

10 Ft. Ganja Plant

*10 FT. Ganja Plant ''10 Deadly Shots Vol. III'' (2014) *10 FT. Ganja Plant "Skycatcher" (2013) *10 FT. Ganja Plant ''10 Deadly Shots Vol. II'' (2012) *10 FT. Ganja Plant ''Shake Up The Place'' (2011) *10 FT. Ganja Plant ''10 Deadly Shots Vol. I'' (2010) *10 FT. Ganja Plant ''Bush Rock'' (2009) *10 FT. Ganja Plant ''Bass Chalice'' (2005) *10 FT. Ganja Plant ''Midnight Landing'' (2003) *10 FT. Ganja Plant ''Do Right / Top Down'' 45RPM (2003) *10 FT. Ganja Plant ''Hillside Airstrip'' (2001) *10 FT. Ganja Plant ''Politricking Man / Fight Them a Fight'' 45RPM (2001) *10 FT. Ganja Plant ''Presents'' (2000) *10 FT. Ganja Plant ''Good Time Girl / Good News Dub'' 45RPM (2000)

John Brown's Body

*John Brown's Body ''Pressure Points'' (2005) *John Brown's Body ''Spirits All Around Us'' (2002) *Justin Hinds ''Live at Grassroots'' (2002) *John Brown's Body ''This Day'' (2000) *John Brown's Body ''Among Them'' (1998) *John Brown's Body ''All Time'' (1996)

Tribulations

*Tribulations ''Daddy Good Pieces'' (1994) *Tribulations ''The Gate'' (1992) *Tribulations ''Youth Sound Power'' (1991) *Tribulations ''Who Likes Reggae Music'' (1988) *Tribulations ''City / Dancing In The Rain'' 45RPM (1987)

External links

Official Kevin Kinsella Website

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kinsella, Kevin Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Place of birth missing (living people) Musicians from Ithaca, New York