Biography
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The reggae band, Jah Roots, was founded by Josh Heinrichs in 2001 in Josh's hometown of Springfield, MO. Over the following eight years, they released five studio albums and toured extensively throughout the USA. During this time, Heinrichs wrote a number of songs that eventually gained fantastically large on-line & word of mouth notoriety, and were downloaded en masse all over the world. The band’s success was recognized in the official media outlets in Guam, Hawaii, Europe, USA, Japan & South America. However, after years of playing to overflowing crowds at outdoor festivals and packed venues, the toll of non-stop touring & other discrepancies began to take a personal toll, & Heinirchs decided to step away from the band he had taken so far, in order to devote more time to his wife & children.
Throngs of Jah Roots fans, whose numbers spanned across the globe, were understandably saddened to learn of their favorite bands dissolution. However, in very short order, they had their collective spirits buoyed, when in the spring of 2009, it was announced that Josh Heinrichs would be moving forward & recording/performing as a solo artist. Shortly following his announcement, Heinrichs released, the appropriately entitled EP, ‘Things Change,’ & toured in support. The “Things Change” tour played throughout 2009, stopping in various locations throughout the midwest, west coast, and Hawaii. During the tour, the many fans that turned out to support Heinrichs’ new musical vision were thrilled to discover Heinrichs, was still performing their favorite Jah Roots standards -in addition to- delivering the current, and evolving music he was writing as a solo artist.
Aside from his new solo work, Heinrichs has also toured extensively with his friend, & musical spar, Cas Haley(America's Got Talent Runner Up - 2nd Season). They’ve performed numerous shows all over the USA, from Hawaii to SXSW in Austin,TX, sometimes with their full bands, or as an acoustic duet. They have even recorded ‘Favorites,’ an as-yet-unreleased album of exciting new takes on their favorite classic & modern reggae songs.
In July 2010, Heinrichs released the album "Live in Hawaii", a recording taken from his October 2009 performance at The Kulia Roots Fest in Honolulu,Hawaii. "Live in Hawaii" debuted at #41 on iTunes Top 200 selling reggae albums on July 2, 2010
In Sept. 2010, Josh released "Josh Heinrichs & Friends"(Sept. 28) to a #4 debut on USA iTunes Best Selling Reggae Albums. It also peaked at #8 on Amazon's Top 20 Best Selling Reggae Albums. For this album Josh had the fortune of working with a legendary & international roster of artists to help build his first full solo album. The list includes members of Bob Marley & The Wailers, Katchafire, Inna Vision, The Green, Clear Conscience, 77 Jefferson, Cas Haley & more...
On May 17, 2011 Josh's 2nd solo album, "Jah Roots" was released internationally on GanJah Records. Debuting as Amazon's #1 Hottest Reggae Album & at #6 on iTunes(USA) Top 200 Best Selling Reggae Albums. The album has been described by Heinrichs as "A collection of my favorite songs from albums I wrote while in the band, Jah Roots, redone in acoustic style"
"Emergency Spliff" was released on Aug. 16th 2011. This was Josh's album with his former Jah Roots bandmate and deejay, SkillinJah. The album was entirely co-written by SkillinJah and Josh Heinrichs, during a recent summer get together while SkillinJah had returned to his homestate of Missouri to visit family and friends. The album officially debuted at #16 on iTunes Best Selling Reggae Albums. The album was also chosen to be featured on the front page of iTunes Reggae as part of their "New & Noteworthy" section.
In late summer, 2011, Josh announced that a full-length album titled "Satisfied", is set for release October 18th. The album will contain 10 or 11 tracks recorded with the help of a full backing band. In honor of its arrival, Heinrichs is planning a nationwide CD release tour, covering 13 states in 28 days opening for East Coast reggae and roots artist Mike Pinto and concluding with his third-ever trip to Hawaii for a headlining gig in Honolulu together with J Boog.