Metro Pulse/Music/Natti Love Joys

Comment
on this story

What:
The Natti Love Joys with Paul Cebar and the Milwaukeans

When:
Thursday, May 23 at 6 p.m.

Where:
Market Square

Cost:
Free

The Natti Love Joys spread good vibes with their Caribbean groove

by Clint Casey

The Natti Love Joys combine classic reggae rhythms with modern themes to create an elaborate blend of Caribbean sound. The band's upbeat lyrics and its positive love-and-harmony message have afforded them modest album sales and garnered them the Atlanta Caribbean Award for best band for three years in a row.

Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, lead singer and bassist Tony "Jati" Allen resides in northern Georgia with his wife and bandmate Marla, responsible for vocals and keyboards. Jati studied under Cedric Brooks in the late '60s and early '70s during the heyday of reggae before coming to America and touring with the Congos. Upon his arrival in New York City, he founded the roots band Itiopia and became a staple on the legendary Bullwackies label in the Bronx.

Born to Jamaican parents in Brixton, England, Marla began her career in her early teens. With her cousins, she formed the precursor Love Joys. The teenage girl group became successful in New York and Europe with Jati playing bass. Marla says, "We were three young ladies: 13, 14, 15 in New York City when we started the Love Joys."

While working together, the pair joined forces and formed the group Abel & Allen. Jati says, "We did an album in England called Two Loves of My Life then we changed the name to A & A Reggae then we got signed for three years to a company doing R&B and hip-hop type stuff with the old regular reggae vibe over it."

Their relationship led to the eventual founding of the current Natti Love Joys incarnation. The name is a combination of the original Love Joys and a Jamaican colloquialism. Marla explains, "'Natti' is knotted, like natural growth. If you don't comb your hair, it dreads up into knotty dreads or locks." Jati continues, "Jamaica has the term, 'You have knots in your head.' Hence the term natti dread. We just use an 'i' instead of a 'y,' and Love Joys is an expression of happiness through joy and love."

The husband and wife duo have worked and toured with such renowned reggae notables Lee "Scratch" Perry and Burning Spear. Together as the Natti Love Joys, they have opened for an unusual variety of acts. Jati says, "We opened for a lot of rock 'n' roll groups along the Eastern coast up to Buffalo. We stayed in New York with The Psychedelic Furs, The Clash and Joan Jett. We have been privileged up until this point without having a hit record."

The band features a revolving door of musicians with Jati and Marla serving as its permanent members. Band musicians are hired semi-regularly, though its current line-up has been established for two years. Marla says, "We have excellent musicians in Jahtee, Karl Englemann, and Chad Melton. We're honored to play with musicians that we have. We work hard. There's a good vibe with all the musicians in the band playing together, and we're all one big happy family."

Millennium Bug, the band's current release has been circulating for two years. The album has been extremely successful throughout Europe and has had a respectable showing in the United States. Marla says, "People pick it up all the time from all over the world, and it's just growing. In Ireland, we were number four on the charts. In England, people pick it up. Right now, people play it and ask for it in France." The band is currently recording its follow-up, Impermanent, a testament to the band's philosophy. Marla explains, "All things are impermanent, 'cause we're not here forever. We have to get along." Jati continues, "We have five songs so far, and we have four more months to put everything together." The album is tentatively scheduled for release before the end of the year.

Each Labor Day weekend, the Natti Love Joys emcee Camp Reggae in Isabella, Tennessee. The event is a festival that intertwines peace and love with reggae and soccer. "We are the creators of Camp Reggae and we are also licensed soccer coaches," Marla says. "Camp Reggae is three days of camping out and reggae music. We have reggae bands that come from all over the United States of America. We give each kid that participates a soccer ball and try to keep them off the streets. We have a positive vibe. We camp out and get away from the city."

The Natti Love Joys are thankful for their fans and the warm reception they receive in the Southeast and the rest of the country. Jati says, "People keep coming back. We played at Ijams in Knoxville the other day. The people of Knoxville have given us really good support. They love us and we love them. We just hope to keep on doing it. Some of the best reception we get is out of Knoxville and Atlanta. Everywhere we go, we get a lot of love."