Watching Kevin Kinsella perform is to witness a genuine purveyor of “thanks & praise” music, whether he’s performing love songs with an acoustic guitar or re-energizing loyal fans with his latest band, Food, Clothes and Shelter.
Born in Ithaca, New York, Kevin’s origins didn’t prevent him from becoming an internationally celebrated roots reggae performer. A prolific songwriter from the age of fifteen, Kevin’s reggae songs sound highly genuine, yet with an originality that defies pretentiousness.
Forming his first band, Tribulations, at age fifteen with fellow high school student Josh Neuman, the band released two albums, toured full-time for several years, and eventually went on to win the Yamaha Soundcheck Competition, beating out 4,000 other bands. They were flown to Japan to compete and placed second out of twenty-four bands worldwide.
In 1995, Kevin and other Tribulations members founded the internationally acclaimed John Brown’s Body (JBB). Kevin served as the frontman and primary songwriter for the group’s first ten years, during which time they released five albums (Shanachie Records,
Easy Star) and toured relentlessly. The Village Voice declared JBB “A rare and beautiful example of roots-rock reggae at its finest,” and Relix magazine described their music as “authentic, soulful roots-reggae that has an addictive rhythm and fabulous musicianship.”
In 1996, Kevin founded I-Town Records to release JBB’s debut album, All Time. Since then, I-Town has released over sixty albums and continues to produce some of the best independent artists Ithaca, NY has to offer.
Not limiting his songwriting to just one style, Kevin has also released two solo albums: I-Town Revival and Firestick. Both albums feature Kevin’s superb songwriting skills on acoustic guitar. Firestick is a full-length collaboration with world renowned cellist Hank Roberts, as well as Richie Stearns of the Horseflies and Eric Aceto of Ti Ti Chickapea.
In 2006, Kevin produced the album Sweet End from the female harmony trio Five2, winning him the label of “best producer 2006” from the Ithaca Journal.
Throughout his twenty-one year career, Kevin has shared the stage and performed with countless artists, including the likes of Justin Hinds, Burning Spear, Culture, Israel Vibration, the Meditations, Toots and the Maytals, Gym Class Heroes and Michael Franti and Spearhead. He has also written and produced songs for Half Pint and Winston Watson of the Meditations.
Kevin is also a member of ROIR recording artists 10 Ft. Ganja Plant, in which he plays the bass. That band has released four records to date and is currently working on their next release.
Kevin performs regularly; catch him with a friend or two and his acoustic guitar, or with Food, Clothes and Shelter, energizing the crowd with songs from his vast and ever growing songbook. He also plays with Millionaires of Love, an eight-piece roots reggae, ska and rocksteady orchestra dedicated to playing only the most “crucial cuts” from Jamaica and Africa’s past.
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10 FT.Ganja Plant ~ Presents (2007)
10 FT.Ganja Plant ~ Bass Chalice (2005)
John Brown's Body ~ Pressure Points (2005)
10 FT.Ganja Plant ~ Midnight Landing (2003)
John Brown's Body ~ Spirits All Around Us (2002)
10 FT.Ganja Plant ~ Hillside Airstrip (2001)
John Brown's Body ~ This Day (2000)
John Brown's Body ~ Among Them (1998)
John Brown's Body ~ All Time (1996)
