Dr. Jah and the Love Prophets - History

Dr. Jah and the Love Prophets was formed in Troy NY in the fall of 1988 by some Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students and their friends. Dr. Jah keeps the flame alive from the May 1986 "Jah Love Fest," where every band included future Dr. Jah players (and a few more were in the crowd). Dr. Jah's first gig was at a party, and they are first and foremost a party band -- they bring the party spirit with them wherever they play.

Dr. Jah - 2nd Show

In 1989, Dr. Jah joined forces with Albany-based promoter Greg Bell, and expanded their scope to the greater New York Capital Region and beyond. The band shifted across the Hudson River to Albany around the same time, which coincided with the opening of the storied Knickerbocker Arena (now the Pepsi Arena). After Grateful Dead shows at the "Knick," there'd always be a Dr. Jah show to keep the fire burning and the people dancing.

Festivals are a natural habitat for Dr. Jah. They host the yearly Jahfest in Ravena NY, and are the only band to play every Bellstock (the 11th was in 2004). Whenever/wherever a "Rye Bread" festival happens, Dr. Jah must deliver the musical goods (RFB!), and when harvest season comes, Dr. Jah bring their music to the celebration, as when Damn Sam throws his annual Harvest and Freedom Fest.

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Various folks have come and gone over the years, but two constants have been Dave Geoghegan and Pete O'Hearn on guitars and vocals. Dave is the keeper of the original reggae vision of the band, plus he's the main songwriter and guitar-synth wizard, while Pete has been the maximum messenger with his guitar and voice.

Over time, original drummer Charlie Watson and tragic chanteuse Nigel Rivers left the band, and Dave "Skeletor" Kavanaugh took over the drum kit. Original keyboardist Jeff Sheehan was replaced by Pete Swank in late 1993, who stood at the keyboards until 1995. Dave King carried the drumsticks for a while from 1993 to 1994, as did most of Albany's drummers for at least one gig (like Carl Dorsett and Willy Nelson).

During the 1990s, the band began experimenting with ska, soca, dub and other styles, especially after Ricardo Buster joined the band on drums and vocals in 1995, where he helped drive the beat until 1997 along with bassist Pat Timmons.

Dr. Jah @ 1996

Just about every jam band of note to come through the Albany area has played with Dr. Jah, including Moon Boot Lover, moe., Yolk, Conehead Buddha, the Slip, Ominous Seapods, Hypnotic Clambake, Jerkwater Ruckus, Kudzu Kings, Jambay, Swing Set, Schleigho, Half-Step, School Bus Yellow, Lynch and Brian Kaplan Band.

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The first Dr. Jah recording, Black and White, was released in 1992, and the first full-length CD, Twist One Up, came out in early 1994. Soon after that, long-time bassist Dave Woolworth moved to Mississippi, where he next turned up in the notorious Kudzu Kings.

Brian Miller was engineer on Black and White, sang background vocals on Twist One Up, and took over from Dave Woolworth on bass for a few months in 1994, but then passed the bass back to founding bassist Pat Robbins. Brian continued to provide background vocals and percussion -- plus bass whenever needed -- until 1997, when he stepped back into the bass shoes for good after Pat Timmons, who had taken over for Pat Robbins, moved on to more technical pastures.

With Brian back on board, the band continued to develop 3-part vocal harmonies, and the men in front split the lead vocal duties 3-ways also. Chris Rivers, who joined on percussion in 1996, moved from the conga stands to the full drum set in 1997.

Dave began construction of a digital home studio in 1998, and preliminary work on Dr. Jah's next album began in 1999. How long would it take until the next album was ready? 1999 was also the year that Dr. Jah broke out of the Northeast, by playing the West Coast (at the infamous "Quit Your Job Fest" with Jambay in Scott's Valley CA) in the spring, and in the Deep South with the Kudzu Kings down at the Library in Oxford MS later that summer.

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Steve Gifford laid claim to the drum throne in October 2001, and soon after the band landed spots opening for such reggae and ska pioneers as the Wailers, Yellowman and the Skatalites. Other reggae and ska bands that Dr. Jah has shared the stage with over the years include Lamb's Bread, The Toasters, John Brown's Body and Dub Is A Weapon.

Members of The Wailers and Dr. Jah

Highlights from 2002 included the shows in the RV lot at Gathering of the Vibes, the appearance at moe.down, and the November "Cold Rain & Snow" sets at Savannah's (with special guest Dana Monteith) in Albany before and after the Other Ones at the Pepsi. In 2003, Dr. Jah was the first band ever to play at Revolution Hall in Troy (at the pre-opening party) and continued their monthly shows at the Lark Tavern in Albany. Work continued on the new CD.

The budding percussion monster, Bob Garcelon, joined in mid-2004, and by November, Dr. Jah and the Love Prophets embarked on their first European tour, playing Amsterdam four times -- including the 17th High Times Cannabis Cup at the Melkweg, the Bob Marley Tribute at AMP Studios and a surprise gig at The Waterhole -- in five days.

Dr. Jah and the Love Prophets will release their 2nd full-length CD, Who Feels It Knows It, in May 2005. This self-produced effort, helmed by Dave Geoghegan, includes Dr. Jah friends Brian Melick on percussion, Carl Saint on keyboards and Chris Rivers on drums, in addition to Dave, Pete, Brian, Steve and Bob.

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Posters from a few gigs.

Jahworld Gallery 1998 - A 10th Anniversary Retrospective!

* May 1986 in Valley Falls & Schaghticoke NY: Pete (Foster's Market), Brian (Bootleg) and Dave Geoghegan (The Green Scene) peformed. Dave Woolworth and Pat Robbins were among the partygoers).