Sledgehammer

Artist Bio / Album Info

Joel Castillo, Miles Brown, Mike Dunn, Mark Baltzell and Richard Faught are musicians who go by the name 77 Jefferson. They have been touring for the last 4 years boasting over 300 shows in over 100 cities and 25 states throughout the midwest and on both coasts. 77 writes, records and promotes their music with a "do it yourself" mindset. They have played many national and local festivals and have shared the stage with legendary national artists such as Lee "Scratch" Perry, SOJA, Luciano, Sugar Minott, Junior Reed, The Meditations, Blue Riddim, Tomorrow's Bad Seeds, Josh Fischell, 3rd Alley, Josh Heinrichs, Jah Roots, Gramps Morgan of Morgan Heritage, Part One Tribe, Ossie Dellimore, Cas Haley, Steve Ewing, Whild Peach and many more.

Their debut album, "Sledgehammer," released in February of 2008, is available on iTunes, Cdbaby.com., and Rhapsody, as well as "Rarities," a collection of acoustic, beats, covers and out-takes, released in December of 2009. 77 Jefferson's new album,"In the Right Mood," released July 28th of 2010, also available on iTunes, Cdbaby.com and Rhapsody, has ranked in the top 50 reggae albums on iTunes since its release, peaking at 33. Band member Miles Brown, recorded and produced all three of 77's albums and is currently recording with Josh Heinrichs (formerly of Jah Roots) and a true friend and mentor to 77, on an album titled, "Josh Heinrichs and Friends." The collection will feature many legendary and international reggae artists such as Aston "Familyman" Barrett of Bob Marley and The Wailers, Hani of Katchafire, Caleb Keolanui and BW from The Green, Koko of Inna Vision, and Joel Castillo of 77 Jefferson.

The band is receiving growing airplay on national radio stations such as "Reggae Cafe" on 98.5 The Island, in Hawaii with DJ Phat Joe, and many other stations throughout the US. Joel Castillo, the band's singer/guitar player, and primary songwriter, spent 6 months in Hawaii with his family resting and relaxing and writing songs, while meeting and playing acoustic shows with several Hawaiin reggae artists such as Cease Fyah, Anuhea, and BW with The Green and Ooklah the Moc. 77 has been on several compilations such as The Pier EXPOSED Volume 1, which was put together and hand-picked by a group of well-respected reggae artists, and also Kansas City Reggae Uprising Family Volume 1, an album put together to shine light on some of KC's finest reggae artists and to help promote the local reggae festival. Both compilations are available for a free download on 77's various websites.

77 won the 2009 Pitch Awards "Best Reggae Band" in Kansas City, MO and has recieved local airplay on 96.5 Homegrown Buzz and Sista G's local reggae show, "Sunset Reggae," on 90.1 KKFI. Band member Mike Dunn, along with Patrick Brown of Trifecta Massive Soundsystems, friend and local DJ and film producer, a.k.a. DJ Jabberock, have also organized an annual local reggae festival called KCRUF or Kansas City Reggae Uprising Festival, which was held last year at Davey's Uptown and this year at Californos. The festival will soon be followed by a documentary made by Brown featuring local reggae artists such as Blue Riddim, SeedLove, AZ One, LivStat, New Riddim, Jahration, Youthman and many others. 77 was also recently featured in an interview on musicbailout.net and has music available for purchase through the website. 77 loves what they do and has met many great people and awesome bands while traveling throughout the U.S. and is truly moved and motivated by all of their friends and fans.