J Boog is back with his highly anticipated new album, Wash House Ting, which was released on November 18, 2016 on Wash House Music Group. He is now in the midst of a massive national tour which began January 12th with support from Jemere Morgan and Jo Mersa Marley.
J Boog is a reggae singer of Samoan descent, was born in Long Beach and was raised in Compton, California. Steeped in Samoan culture and as the son of a Samoan chief, J Boog’s large family has had a huge impact on his artistry. He is the youngest of seven brothers and one sister. He credits his sister with being one of his earliest musical influences. She played piano and he began to sing along when she brought home a Bob Marley songbook. Each sibling offered exposure to other genres, such as rap and R&B, which allowed J Boog a sense of freedom to be himself. This variety of musical influence combined with Reggae’s feel good sound that was embraced by the whole Afemata family, J Boog was set on a path to creating his own unique reggae sound.
Boog is keeping true to his namesake. Nicknamed “Boog” by his siblings because he could never sit still for long, J Boog is currently living and traveling between Hawaii and California. J Boog has not taken a break since the release of his debut album “Hear Me Roar” in 2007. It was his close collaboration with island music pioneer, George “Fiji” Veikoso, whom he met in 2005, that has helped spur the creation of J Boog’s unique sound, as well as pave the way for many other Polynesian artists. Another great milestone in the creation of J Boog’s debut album was when he joined the Hawaii/San Francisco based musical family, Wash House Music Inc.
In 2008 J Boog teamed up with Yami Bolo and a member of reggae’s royal family, Ambassador Gramps Morgan of Morgan Heritage. He then traveled to Jamaica to experience the culture of Jamaican reggae. This being J Boog’s first visit to Jamaica he did not expect to find himself working in such amazing studios such as Bob Marley’s “Tuff Gong Studio,” Don Corlean’s “Hit Maker Studio,” Bobby Digital’s “Digital B Studio,” Shaggy’s ” Big Yard Studio” and Sugar Minott’s “Youth Man Promotions.” Guided by Gramps Morgan, J Boog found himself surrounded by several artists he himself had been influenced by and would later appear on his follow-up album, Backyard Boogie in 2011. Backyard Boogie entertained a great spectrum of reggae fans and invited new reggae fans around the world, offering a variety of musical roots, including R&B and Rock. J Boog got back to that feel good, be himself music that is uniquely his. Backyard Boogie topped the US Billboard charts and iTunes charts in numerous countries. Featured hits were “Let’s Do It Again,” produced by legendary Don Corleon, and “Sunshine Girl,” produced by Gramps Morgan/Dada-son and featured Morgan Heritage front man, Peetah Morgan. The success of Backyard Boogie earned J Boog the Best New Entertainer Award at the 2012 International Reggae and World Music Awards held in Chicago.
J Boog’s new album showcases why he’s become one of the most in demand performers in the scene and includes guest appearances by Buju Banton, Gramps Morgan, Lion Fiyah, Gappy Ranks, Aarahdna, Tenelle, and the lovable Fiji. Three songs from his recent Rose Petals EP will make its way onto the new album including “Good Cry” featuring Chaka Demus, in addition to the “Brighter Days” and “Rose Petals.”
Wash House Ting Tour
1/20 SAN ANTONIO, TX PAPER TIGER
1/21 NEW ORLEANS, LA TIPITINA’S
1/22 PENSACOLA, FL VINYL MUSIC HALL
1/25 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL CULTURE ROOM
1/26 ORLANDO, FL THE SOCIAL
1/27 PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL PONTE VEDRA CONCERT HALL
1/28 ATLANTA, GA THE LOFT
1/31 WASHINGTON DC THE HAMILTON
2/1 BROOKLYN, NY BROOKLYN BOWL
2/2 PHILADELPHIA, PA THE FOUNDRY AT THE FILLMORE
2/3 BOSTON, MA BRIGHTON MUSIC HALL
2/4 SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT HIGHER GROUND BALLROOM
2/7 CHICAGO, IL BOTTOM LOUNGE
2/8 SAINT PAUL, MN TURF CLUB
2/10 DENVER, CO CERVANTES’ MASTERPIECE BALLROOM
2/11 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO THE BLACK SHEEP
2/12 LONG BEACH, CA ONE LOVE FESTIVAL
2/14 SALT LAKE CITY, UT THE DEPOT
2/16 SEATTLE, WA NEPTUNE THEATRE
2/17 PORTLAND, OR WONDER BALLROOM
2/18 BEND, OR THE OREGON WINTERFEST
2/19 SACRAMENTO, CA ACE OF SPADES
2/22 SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA THE FREMONT THEATER
2/23 SANTA CRUZ, CA THE CATALYST
2/24 SAN FRANCISCO, CA THE REGENCY BALLROOM
2/25 LOS ANGELES, CA THE NOVO
