When Was Reggae Music Established?
Contents
Reggae music was established in the late 1960s in Jamaica. The style is a fusion of African and Caribbean music.
Origins of Reggae Music
Reggae music originated in the late 1960s in Jamaica. The term “reggae” is derived from the word “raggedy,” which was used to describe the style of music. Reggae music is a combination of African, Caribbean, and American musical styles.
Ska
Ska is a music genre that emerged in Jamaica in the late 1950s. It is a precursor to reggae and is similar to calypso and rocksteady. Ska combines elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. The first wave of ska was played by Jamaican studio musicians such as the Skatalites and Ernie Ranglin.
Rocksteady
Rocksteady is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in 1966. A successor to ska and a precursor to reggae, rocksteady was performed by Jamaican vocal harmony groups such as the Gaylads, the Maytals, the Paragons, and the Techniques. The term rocksteady comes from a style of dance found in Jamaica during the late 1960s; however, rocksteady should not be confused with the later ska-influenced style of music also called rockers.
During the late 1960s, many Jamaican musicians began to move away from Ska towards slower rhythms more derived from Mento songs. The Wailers had scored a major success with their 1966 hit “Simmer Down”, which was written by Bob Marley and replaced The Wailers’ previous “rude boy” image with a more mature sound. This new musical style was called Rocksteady.
Key Figures in the Development of Reggae Music
Reggae music was established in the late 1960s in Jamaica. The music developed from a combination of African and Caribbean influences. Reggae is a very important part of Jamaican culture and is now enjoyed by people all over the world. There are many key figures in the development of Reggae music.
Clement “Coxsone” Dodd
Clement Seymour Dodd (January 26, 1932 – May 5, 2004), better known as Sir Coxsone the Downbeat, was a Jamaican record producer who was influential in the development of ska and reggae in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He received his nickname from “Saxon Sound System”, which he founded in 1963. In the 1960s he worked with artists such as Bob Marley, Lee “Scratch” Perry and Ernie Ranglin.
Duke Reid
Duke Reid was a Jamaican record producer and sound system operator who was influential in the development of ska and reggae in the 1950s and 1960s. Reid established the Treasure Isle recording studio in 1954 and produced many iconic recordings by artists such as Clement “Coxsone” Dodd, Ozzie Marshall, and Blues Busters. He also owned the Treasure Isle and Duke Reid’s Sound Systems, two of the most popular sound systems of the time. Reid’s DJing style influenced many future reggae DJs and producers, and his sound system helped to spread ska and reggae music throughout Jamaica.
King Tubby
King Tubby (born Osbourne Ruddock, January 28, 1941 – February 6, 1989) was a Jamaican sound engineer and record producer who specialized in dub music. He is considered one of the pioneers of the genre. Tubby’s innovative studio work, which saw him elevate the role of the mixing engineer to a creative fame previously only reserved for composers and musicians, would be hugely influential in subsequent decades.
Tubby owned a sound system called Heavyweight Dub Champion Sounds, which was based in Kingston, Jamaica. His first recordings were with Tommy McCook & The Supersonics for producer Bunny Lee in 1967. He began working as a freelance engineer at various studios in Kingston, including Randy’s Studio 17 and Joe Gibbs’s Amalgamated Studios. In the late 1960s he began working with Lloyd James (alias Prince Jammy).
In 1971 Tubby built his own studio, Tubby’s House of Sound, in Kingston’s Drumlink area on Duhaney Park Road near Maxfield Avenue. The studio became one of the most prolific in Jamaican history; it was here that Tubby began his pioneering work in dub music. He also built The Watersplash club in Majesty Gardens where he held regular sound clashes.
The Golden Age of Reggae Music
The golden age of reggae music was between the late 1960s and the early 1980s. This was a time when the music genre was at its peak and produced some of the most iconic songs and artists in history. Let’s take a look at some of the most influential reggae songs and artists from this era.
The Wailers
The Wailers were a Jamaican reggae band led by Bob Marley. The band started out as a ska group in 1963 but later transitioned to reggae. They are credited with helping to spread reggae music outside of Jamaica and are considered one of the most influential reggae bands of all time. The Wailers released their debut album, Catch a Fire, in 1973. The album was a commercial success and helped to launch the band’s international career. The Wailers continued to release successful albums throughout the 1970s, including Burnin’ (1973), Natty Dread (1974), Rastaman Vibration (1976), and Exodus (1977). The band disbanded in 1981 following the death of Bob Marley.
Bob Marley
Bob Marley was born on February 6, 1945, in Nine Mile, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica. His father, Norval Sinclair Marley, was a white Jamaican who worked as a superintendent for the British West Indies Railway. His mother, Cedella Booker, was a black woman of African descent. Marley’s music career began in 1963 when he formed Bob Marley and the Wailers. The group released their debut album in 1965 and had their first hit with “Simmer Down.” The Wailers would go on to release several more successful albums throughout the 1970s including “Catch a Fire” (1972) and “Burnin'” (1973). Bob Marley became a bonafide superstar with the release of his breakthrough album “Exodus” in 1977.
Lee “Scratch” Perry
Lee “Scratch” Perry (born Rainford Hugh Perry; 20 March 1936) is a Jamaican record producer and songwriter noted for his innovative studio techniques and production style. Perry was one of the most important figures in the development of reggae and dub music in the 1960s and 1970s. He has worked with some of the biggest names in reggae, including Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and The Wailers.
The Modern Era of Reggae Music
Reggae music has been around for many years, but the modern era of reggae music can be traced back to the early 1960s. This is when artists like Bob Marley and the Wailers began to experiment with the genre and create the sound that would come to be known as reggae.
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially, dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. Two of the biggest stars of the early dancehall era wereYellowman and Eek-a-Mouse. As digital instrumentation became more prevalent in the 1980s and 1990s, dancehall began to fuse with other genres which produced fusion genres such as ragga, dubstep and jungle music.
Reggae fusion
Reggae fusion is a musical genre that combines elements of reggae and other genres, such as pop, rock, hip hop, R&B, jazz and electronic Dance Music (EDM). Reggae fusion artists are often known for their combination of different musical styles and their exploration of new sounds.
The genre first emerged in the late 1970s, when reggae artists began incorporating elements of other genres into their music. Reggae fusion eventually gained mainstream popularity in the 1990s, when artists such as Shaggy and Ziggy Marley achieved commercial success with their fusion of reggae and pop.
In recent years, reggae fusion has become increasingly popular, with artists such as Sean Paul and Major Lazer achieving international fame. The genre is also popular in Jamaica, where it has spawned a number of local stars, such as Mr. Vegas and Beanie Man.
