The son of a Baptist preacher and a devoted Gospel singer, Toussaint spent most of his youth in various Mid-Western churches singing. Later, while at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, Toussaint led the Gospel Revelations Choir but also got secular at local dives where he began to sing blues, old-school R&B, funk, and reggae.

Toussaint later settled in Boston, where he co-founded Red Pill, a hip-hop group whose raw and rootsy sounds immediately made waves.  Soon after he launched Toussaint and the China Band, a roots-rock-reggae outfit that toured internationally from 2003-2006, when he left to join Soulive for an album on the revived Stax label and two years of even more exhaustive world touring. He is now focusing on Toussaint Liberator and Buru Style.

Toussaint’s open-mindedness and positive vibe have aligned him with a wildly diverse array of musicians. Since 2003, he has shared the spotlight with iconic figures such as the Rolling Stones, Isaac Hayes, Burning Spear, the Dave Matthews Band as well as John Legend, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Ivan Neville, Barrington Levy, and Wyclef Jean.

Buru Style began with the heartbeat.  For their first few years they were a rotating crew of musicians led by drummer Bill Carbone and united by the shared a love of thunderously pounding Nyabingi riddims and the minimal and fractured soundscapes of dub.

Then, in 2007 Buru Style began moonlighting with vocalists such as Dion Knibb, Ras Coley, Lady Lee, the Ghanian superstar Shasha Marley, and Haiti-by-way-of-Boston firebrand Ajani. Once the group connected with Toussaint Liberator, a collaboration that became official in Spring 2009, the group coalesced into the lineup featured currently.

With Toussaint, Buru Style found a perfect partner to explore the inner workings of reggae, soul, funk and dub and make something all their own.  It became readily apparent in the very beginning that this particular combination stuck out from the rest.  Toussaint and Bill were determined to create a new music laden with influences from all that came before,  while adding a unique chapter to the history of American music.    Ultimately Toussaint and Buru’s sound is original and uplifting, rocking every single crowd they encounter.  Only one thing left for you to do:  CHECK THEM FOR YOURSELF!!!