The Funky Reggae Music of the 1970s
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The Funky Reggae Music of the 1970s was a time when the music was all about having fun. The lyrics were mostly about love, peace, and happiness.
What is Reggae?
Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, “Do the Reggay” was the first popular song to use the word “reggae”, effectively naming the genre and introducing it to a global audience. While sometimes used in a broad sense to refer to most types of popular Jamaican dance music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that was strongly influenced by traditional mento as well as American jazz and rhythm and blues, especially the New Orleans R&B practiced by Fats Domino and Allen Toussaint.
The Origins of Reggae
Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term reggae was first used to describe this new style of music in 1968, in a magazine article written by British journalist Garry Steckles. It is said that the word “reggae” comes from the phrase “reggae-rock”, which was used to describe a new style of music that combined elements of rocksteady and ska.
The originators of reggae were influenced by many different genres of music, including Rhythm and Blues, Jazz, Ska, and Rocksteady. Reggae is often characterized by its slow tempo, steady beat, and offbeat rhythms. The lyrics are usually about topics such as love, peace, social justice, and unity.
Reggae became popular in the United States in the 1970s, when Bob Marley and the Wailers rose to fame with their hits “No Woman No Cry” and “One Love”. Marley’s songs often had positive messages about peace, love, and understanding. His music helped to spread the Rastafari movement around the world.
The 1970s was a golden era for reggae music, with other great artists such as Burning Spear, Dennis Brown, Gregory Issacs, Maxi Priest, and Third World achieving success both in Jamaica and internationally.
The Spread of Reggae
In the late 1960s, reggae music emerged from Jamaica and quickly spread throughout the world. The sound was defined by its distinctive drum and bass beat, as well as its focus on social and political issues. Reggae became hugely popular in the 1970s, with artists such as Bob Marley and The Wailers achieving international success. The popularity of the genre continued into the 1980s and 1990s, with many reggae-influenced artists achieving mainstream success.
The Sound of Reggae
The sound of reggae is characterized by the prominence of the bass, which is often very deep and dub-influenced. The offbeat of the drums is important to the feel of reggae as well. Also notable is the use of horns and organ. Reggae lyrics are often political or social commentary, as well as love songs.
The Influence of Reggae
Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, “Do the Reggay” was the first popular song to use the word “reggae”, effectively naming the genre and introducing it to a global audience. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady. Reggae is based on a thick African rhythm section highlighted by sparse guitar, melodica, or trombone; horns provide punctuation for bass runs and rhythmic patterns called “skank”.
The 1970s saw the rise of several iconic reggae artists, including Bob Marley, who helped spread reggae music to a wider audience via international tours and media coverage. Marley’s music was especially influential abroad; his biggest overseas hit single was “No Woman, No Cry”, which was included on his 1974 album Natty Dread. In 1977, Marley’s song “Exodus” topped the British charts for nine weeks. Other artists who achieved international success in the 1970s include Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Burning Spear, Culture, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Junior Murvin, Maxi Priest, and Third World.
