Based in the mountains of East Tennessee, the Natti Love Joys, Jati (Anthony Allen, formally the bassist for The Congos) & Marla (AKA Sonia Abel of the Love Joys) perform classic reggae as well as their own hybrid form of modern, eclectic Reggae. The band can deliver the great, crowd-pleasing standards of the late 1960’s and 1970’s, the music of Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff. The Natti Love Joys also maintain a solid foundation in “lovers’ rock” and “positive dancehall” styles of reggae.

With roots that stem from the legendary greats such as Bob Marley, Toots and the Maytals and Jimmy Cliff, the sound of the Natti Love Joys is a dynamic blend of reggae, modern rhythm and blues, drum and bass, hip hop, and various forms of jazz. This creative style of music gives way to a unique one of a kind sound that captivates and amazes its crowd show after show.

Being no strangers to the musical arena, the Natti Love Joys’ have shared the stage and bill with music greats like Joan Jett, The B-52’s, Richie Havens, Three Dog Night, Jimmy Buffet, the Ramones, Jimmy Cliff, The Clash, The Psychedelic Furs, Arrested Development, The Band, The Inner Circle , Burning Spear, Steel Pulse, Horace Andy, Ken Booth, The Congos, The Meditations, Sister Carol, Alton Ellis, Barrington Levi, Beres Hammond, Nadine Southerland, Marcia Griffiths , Super Cat, Lee Scratch Perry, DJ Logic and many more.

The Natti Love Joys are fronted by an electric husband and wife duo, Jati and Marla Allen. Vocalist and bassist, Jati, comes straight from Kingston Jamaica, where reggae music originated. Jati trained under the legendary Cedric Brooks during the golden age of reggae in the late 1960‘s. He also became a core member of such legendary acts as The Congos and led New York City’s hottest roots reggae act, Itopia.

Vocalist and keyboardist, Marla, came out of Brixton England where she was born to Jamaican parents. Marla’s journey began in her early teens when she formed the lover’s rock group, the Love Joys. The Love Joys quickly became a hit sensation in Europe. At that time, Jati was playing at the legendary Wackies studio in the Bronx, where the Love Joys were recording.

Marla and Jati met and decided to record an album together, Two Loves in my Life, but eventually the pair’s collaboration led to combining Marla’s Love Joys and Jati’s “natti” vibe, to form the Natti Love Joys.

The Natti Love Joys have become a staple on musical events like the Dominican Jazz Festival, the Montreux Jazz Festival and the New England Jazz Festival. They have also played regional events such as Taste of Memphis, Knoxville’s Sundown in The City, Houston’s Bob Marley Festival, and Atlanta’s annual New Year’s Eve Peach Drop. They also formed their own festival in the Smokey Mountains of East Tennessee that takes place every Labor Day and Memorial Day weekends called Camp Reggae (please visit www.myspace.com/NattiLoveJoys)

Since hooking up with Naga Reshi of Straight Roots Productions in 1999, the Natti Love Joys have released two albums to much critical acclaim: Their first album Millennium bug, won the Atlanta Caribbean Music Award three years in a row; 2000, 2001, and 2002. Their second album, Universal Mind, brings forth even more spiritual energy, musical diversity, power and depth than the first! Their new album Thingz is scheduled for release in fall 2006.

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