Who Found Reggae Music?

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Contents

Who found Reggae music? How did it start? What are the origins of Reggae music?

Reggae’s African Roots

Reggae’s African roots are in the music of the people of West Africa, particularly the Yoruba people of Nigeria. The Yoruba had their own kind of music, which used drums, chants, and dances to celebrate religious ceremonies and important events in their lives. This music was brought to Jamaica by slaves who were taken from Africa to work on plantations. Over time, the music of the slaves began to mix with the music of their masters, and a new kind of music was born: reggae.

Reggae is a kind of popular music that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. It is a mixture of African and Caribbean musical styles, such as ska and rocksteady. Reggae is usually played on guitars, drums, and other percussion instruments. The lyrics often deal with political or social issues.

The most famous reggae musician was Bob Marley. He was born in 1945 in Jamaica. His father was a white British man and his mother was a black Jamaican woman. Marley became interested in music at an early age, and he formed his first band when he was just fourteen years old. He soon became one of the most popular musicians in Jamaica. In 1977, he released his album Exodus, which included the song “One Love.” This song became an international hit, and it helped to make reggae known throughout the world. Marley died of cancer in 1981 at the age of thirty-six.

Reggae’s Jamaican Origins

Reggae music has its origins in Jamaica, and is a style that emerged in the late 1960s. The term ‘reggae’ actually comes from the Jamaican patois word ‘regga’, which means ‘raggedness’ or ‘streakedness’. One of the main influences on early reggae was Ska, which was Jamaican’s take on American R&B. Early reggae was also influenced by Mento, a traditional Jamaican folk music. Reggae developed its own sound and style in the 1970s, becoming one of the most popular genres of music in the world.

The most famous reggae artist is probably Bob Marley, who helped to bring the genre to a wider audience with his distinctive voice and infectious tunes. Marley’s band, The Wailers, were one of the first reggae bands to find international success, and their 1976 album ‘Rastaman Vibration’ was a big hit all over the world. Marley died in 1981, but his legend lives on – he is now considered one of the most important musicians in history, and his music continues to inspire new generations of fans.

The Spread of Reggae

Reggae’s popularity spread internationally in the 1970s. Reggae fusion, a mix of reggae and other genres, began in the late 1970s in Britain and the United States. Around 1975, American disco music had a heavy impact on Jamaican music, resulting in a new wave of Jamaican artists experimenting with electronic instruments.

Reggae’s Influence on Other Genres

Reggae’s influence on other genres is incalculable. Disc jockeys in every genre play reggae tracks, and musicians in every genre cite reggae as an influence. Reggae has been blended with hip-hop, punk, pop, rock, country, and virtually every other style of music. Even classical composers have been influenced by reggae; in 2003, the London Symphony Orchestra released an album of classical pieces inspired by Bob Marley’s music.

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