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.

Millennium Bug, the band’s first album, won the Atlanta Caribbean Music Award three years in a row: 2000, 2001, and 2002. Their second album, Universal Mind, brought forth even more spiritual energy, musical diversity, power and depth than the first. Their latest album, Thingz, is roots reggae at its very finest, with a little touch of R&B.

(Note: If you are using ad-blocking software, you may not see the Amazon MP3 playlist at the top of the page. Please disable ad-blocking on this page in order to preview the entire musical catalog of the Natti Love Joys.)

Non Returning Status: A Biographical Journey in Pictures
• Purchase the book from Blurb
• Preview the first 15 pages of the book [Flash]
• Download extended PDF preview of book [PDF - 25.83 MB]

“Everything in the world arises, changes and perishes; nothing remains constant for even a single moment.”

Non-Returning Status.
The Supreme Endeavor.
The highest desire to attain perfect illumination. No longer bound by earth’s undulating tide of birth and death, rebirth is no longer sought.
To overcome pain, sorrow, greed, attachment, desire.
Nobly seeking the narrow path by prayer, meditation and deep thought.
Never to return again.

Non-Returning Status.
Nirvana.
Enlightenment.
Peace.
Om.
Amen.

View more photos from Camp Reggae [Flickr]

Bonfires burst blazing as camps crop up around the natural amphitheater that surrounds the stage. This is Jah-T and Marla’s home that they open wide for a weekend of music and spiritual searching. During camp reggae strangers become family and a different world emerges in mountains of Sassafrass, Tennessee. The campsites stretch far back into the forest on either side. Rings of friends sit, sing, smoke, dance, and share the love.

The Natti Love Joys are the founders of Camp Reggae, a reggae musical festival that resides in the Smokey Mountains of East Tennessee. Camp Reggae focuses on the cosmic connection between nature and music and promotes dharma as a universal force to create peace and inner transformation.

In addition to live reggae music, Camp Reggae features camping, hiking, and swimming on scenic mountain property. Camp Reggae takes place on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. The festivals are sponsored by Natti Love Joys. 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. Voices of the Congos, Natti Love Joys, Nadine Sutherland, Bunny Brown, Shaggie Williams, Mystic Vibrations, A.K.A. Rudie, Selah, and many more still echo through gentle woodlands. Suitable for large groups.

For more information, please visit Camp Reggae Online.

Click to Enlarge - Directions to Camp Reggae

Jati and Marla in Jamaica

Based in the mountains of East Tennessee, the Natti Love Joys are a roots rock reggae band that perform classic reggae as well as their own hybrid form of modern, eclectic reggae. Fronted by Anthony “Jah-T” Allen and Sonia “Marla” Allen, the Nattis create a rich sound that is grounded in rich cultural history. Once practitioners of voodoo, Marla and Jah-T are now both ordained Universal Life Church priests. Their music and philosophy blends Rastafarianism, Christianity and Buddhist dharma.

Vocalist and bassist, Jah-T, comes straight from Kingston Jamaica, where reggae music originated. Jah-T trained under the legendary Cedric Brooks during the golden age of reggae in the late 1960s. He also became a core member of such legendary acts as The Congos and led New York Citys 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, Sonia Abel, formed the lovers rock group, the Love Joys. The Love Joys quickly became a hit sensation in Europe. At that time, Jah-T was playing at the legendary Wackies studio in the Bronx, where the Love Joys were recording. Marla and Jah-T met and decided to record an album together, Two Loves in my Life, but eventually the pairs collaboration led to combining Marla’s Love Joys and Jah-T’s natti vibe, to form the Natti Love Joys.

The Natti Love Joys are also the founders of Camp Reggae, a reggae musical festival based out of the mountains of Isabella, Tennessee that celebrates the outdoors and promotes the importance of family.

Links:
• Camp Reggae: Natti Love Joys Official Site
• Official MySpace Page
• Natti Love Joys Entry on Wikipedia

Non Returning Status is a project that began as a photo journal by George Washington Rogers, IV documenting the life and spiritual philosophies of the Natti Love Joys, a reggae band living in the mountains of East Tennessee. The project has since developed into a complete multimedia experience, including over one thousand photographs taken over the course of three years, a series of videos documenting the lifestyle and spirituality of the band, and music by the Natti Love Joys themselves.

Download the electronic press kit [PDF - 274kb]

Non Returning Status is the ultimate spiritual aspiration. It is the ascendancy of the soul into a higher plane of existence, exempt from the earthly cycle of reincarnation. Non Returning Status is a way of life that essentially leads to the end of suffering, the expansion of consciousness and the attainment of enlightenment.

Non Returning Status is a phrase I first heard from Jah-T, musician-philosopher of the Natti Love Joys, a roots rock reggae band he fronts along with wife Marla.

Non Returning Status is a culmination of work that has spanned over the course of three years. It is a testament to the power of impermanence and to the inherent human instinct toward understanding one’s true self.

- George Washington Rogers, IV