Draft:Josh David Barrett

(Born April 1981) From his musical upbringings in church to performing with today’s top artists, two time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, bassist, and producer Joshua David Barrett continues to inspire many through his diverse musical palette. A New Jersey native with an Ethiopian father, Josh David grew up in an environment of top musicians, hailing from the same Union County as George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic. His extensive experience as a bassist led him to work with such artists from Gospel to Hip-Hop such as Bishop George Searight & Royal Priesthood, Tramaine Hawkins, Kim Burrell, Israel Hougton, Hip-Hop legends Q-Tip (ATCQ, with whom he received his first Grammy-nomination for “The Renaissance”/Hip-Hop Album of The Year), Common, legendary producer Quincy Jones, Mary J. Blige, Joy Denalane, Smif-n-Wesson, Silent Knight, Soul Cycle, Soul Understated, Zoe Mazah, Solange Knowles, Kendrick Lamar, Nas, and Kanye West to name a few. Recent collaborations include works with Bluesman Tomás Doncker, renowned Ethiopian singer Teddy Afro, Jesse Royal, Grammy award winning producer Commissioner Gordon(Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse, Ghetto Youths), as well as recent collaborations with 12 Tribe International’s DJ Jahmar. In 2004, Josh David and friends answered the call to Reggae music forming the band Judah Tribe. Their debut album “Nu Day Dawnin” was released independently in 2013 with an 11th Anniversary Rerelease on his newly formed label, Vine & Fig Tree Records, set for Fall 2024, mixed by legendary engineer, Dennis Thompson. Having performed extensively throughout the US, from the United Nations, to opening for such bands as Steel Pulse and Inner Circle; Destiny would have it that Judah Tribe would open for the legendary Reggae group, The Wailers founded by the late Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer in 2012 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center. It was here that Josh David crossed paths with relatives, like the late Aston “Family Man” Barrett, and Aston Jr. leading to his joining The Wailers as lead vocalist in 2015. During Josh’s tenure, The Wailers released their Grammy-nominated debut album after 25 years, “One World” with songs co-produced and written by Emilio Estefan, Josh David, the late-Aston Barrett Sr, Aston Jr, also featuring Judy Mowatt and Marcia Griffiths(I-Three), the late-Donald Kinsey, Dean Frazier, Vin Gordon, Cedella Marley, Skip Marley, Julian Marley, Natiruts, Paul Anthony, Shaggy, and more. Whether playing before large audiences in Brazil, to playing before Indigenous tribes in the Grand Canyon, Josh David’s energetic performances remain steadfast in engaging global audiences and spreading reggae’s gospel. O

References

https://www.reggaeville.com/artist-details/the-wailers/news/view/interview-with-aston-barrett-jr-carrying-on-the-wailers-sound/

https://yellowscene.com/2018/03/16/spotlight-josh-barrett-wailers/

https://www.vtcng.com/stowe_reporter/news/local_news/one-big-family-with-the-wailers/article_8e1f923a-0cf3-11e8-b8e6-17e647fe6240.html

https://www.handstamp.com/e/judah-tribe-feat-josh-david-barrett-formerly-of-the-wailers-with-prince-negasi-8ghzptmz

https://tidal.com/browse/artist/8993164

https://www.reggaeinfluence.com/episodes/blog-post-title-four-9x5th