King Django

King Django has just completed recording his first album for Hellcat Records. Django performed all of the vocals and keyboard tracks for the self-produced album as well as drum programming, sequencing and trombone. Rock and Roll deeply grounded in roots-reggae and dancehall grooves with jungle, drum'n'bass and hip-hop spices, half of the tracks were sequenced and looped by Django and friend Mr. Mendez (who also provided some tasty scratching) at Mendez's Fort Lauderdale dark-jungle enclave, "Evil Base." The minimal horn tracks were cut by Django, Roman Fleysher (The Bosstones' new tenor sax player) and Sammy Gelberd (King 7). The balance of the rhythm tracks and overdubs were cut in New Jersey at West West Side Music with Jesse Cannon engineering. Bringing sizzling rock elements to the mix are some of Django's long-time friends and associates. Agent Jay (Stubborn All-Stars, Agent 99, Version City Rockers, Crazy Baldhead) throws down on guitar, while Michael McDermott (Bouncing Souls, Murphy's Law) pounds the skins and Noah Shachtman (No Shadow Kick, Version City Rockers) lays down the deep basslines.

King Django and his new hard-rocking crew, including Agent Jay, Noah and drummer Walter Teperino are coming to a venue near you to delight with new tunes and old favorites.

The Driving Force Behind Skinnerbox and Stubborn All-Stars .

"If you've spent more than a minute on the ska scene, you'll know that [he's] the original New York rudy...who kept the flame burning even when it was just a candle in the window."

- Alternative Press

A seminal force in the East Coast ska scene, King Django has made his name as a songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist (trombone, ukulele, harmonica, melodica), producer, and label owner. A self-avowed workaholic, he has made a name for himself by tirelessly applying his various skills in many situations, encompassing punk rock, rhythm & blues, ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub and dancehall. An amateur linguist, he has recorded tunes in English, French, German, Spanish, Hebrew and Yiddish.

King Django is the chief creative force behind pioneering skareggae/soul/punk/jazz experimentalists Skinnerbox as well as the quintessential masters of US "traditional ska," Stubborn All-Stars whose Open Season (Profile/Another Planet Records, 1995), and Back With a New Batch (Triple Crown Records, 1997) each brought critical acclaim as the ska record of the year. King Django’s Roots and Culture (Triple Crown Records, 1998), his first solo release, combined ska, reggae and traditional klezmer music.

Django's roots go back to the heady days of the early eighties when he published the first ska 'zine in New York City, Rude Awakening (1984-1987). His first recording as a DJ (toaster) was on the track Free South Africa by Too True which appeared on the 1986 compilation N.Y. Ska - Hit and Run (Moon Records). Django cut his teeth as trombonist and singer with seminal old-school NY Ska band The Boilers (1986-’88), and has also graced New York City bands The Slackers and Skadanks. He founded the Stubborn Records label, which has released eleven CDs and eight 7" vinyl records. In 1997 Django built Version City Studio, a focal point for New York ska and reggae and a hotbed of dub science. He has a rich touring history under his belt and spent the summer of '96 playing with Rancid on the Lollapalooza tour. He has also toured internationally with Skinnerbox, Stubborn All-Stars, The Toasters, and legendary New York City hardcore band Murphy's Law.