How Reggae Music Spread Around the World

How did reggae music spread around the world? It all started with a little island in the Caribbean…

Origins of Reggae

Reggae music started in the late 1960s in Jamaica. The music was a mix of African and Caribbean music. Reggae became popular in the 1970s and spread to other countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. Reggae is now one of the most popular genres of music in the world.

Ska and Rocksteady

The late 1960s saw the development of two new genres that would have a profound impact on the future of reggae: ska and rocksteady.

Ska was developed from mento and calypso music, and was characterized by a fast tempo and horn-based flavor. The first ska recordings were made in Jamaica in the early 1960s, but the style didn’t gain much popularity until the mid-’60s, when it became the dominant sound of Jamaican radio.

Rocksteady developed out of ska and was characterized by a slower tempo and more soulful feel. The first rocksteady recordings were made in 1966, but the style didn’t reach its peak until 1967-68. Rocksteady would eventually give way to reggae in the late 1960s.

Reggae

Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term reggae is derived from the word “reegge”, which means “rags” or “ragged clothing”. Reggae is characterized by a strong rhythm section, guitar, and horns.

Reggae music was first popularized in the United States by Jamaican immigrants in the New York City area in the 1970s. In the 1980s, reggae music became popular in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom. Reggae has also been influenced by other genres of music, such as rock and roll, soul, and hip hop.

The popularity of reggae music has led to the development of several subgenres, such as dub, dancehall, and ska. Reggae has also been used as a soundtrack for films and television shows set in Jamaica or featuring Jamaican characters.

The Spread of Reggae

Reggae music started in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The music was very popular in Jamaica and soon became the most popular type of music in the country. Reggae music soon spread to other parts of the world, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States.

Jamaica

Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term reggae was first used to refer to a style of Jamaican popular music that developed from ska and rocksteady. Reggae is heavily influenced by African music, as well as Caribbean and American pop music.

Reggae became popular in the late 1960s, and by the 1970s it had spread to other countries in the Caribbean and Africa, as well as to Europe and North America. Reggae has been very successful in making its way into mainstream pop music, with many artists incorporating reggae into their own style.

The Spread of Reggae
Reggae’s popularity began to grow in the late 1960s, when many Jamaicans who had gone to live in England brought the music back with them. Reggae then began to spread through the Caribbean islands, reaching Trinidad and Tobago in the early 1970s. By the middle of the decade, it had reachedGuyana, Barbados, and other islands.

In 1973, reggae was introduced to Africa when Bob Marley and the Wailers toured there. Marley’s popularity led to wider interest in reggae, and the genre soon spread across Africa. Reggae also began to gain popularity in North America and Europe in the 1970s, thanks to the success of artists like Marley, Jimmy Cliff, and Steel Pulse.

UK

In the late 1960s, Jamaican music started to achieve popularity in the United Kingdom. The first Jamaican hit was “One Love” by Bob Marley and The Wailers, which reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart in May 1968. It was followed by two more hits in quick succession: “Do the Reggay” by Toots and The Maytals (number 14 in July 1968) and “Return of Django” by The Upsetters (number 37 in October 1968). These three songs are now considered classics of early reggae.

The success of these early records led to a wave of Jamaican musicians moving to the UK in the early 1970s, including Lee “Scratch” Perry, Jimmy Cliff and Maxi Priest. Reggae became increasingly popular among British youth, particularly those of West Indian descent. By the mid-1970s, there were a number of British reggae bands, such as Aswad and Steel Pulse, who achieved mainstream success.

In the 1980s, British rappers such as Beastie Boys and Madness began to sample reggae music, exposing it to a new audience. In 1988, Neneh Cherry had a worldwide hit with “Buffalo Stance”, which featured a sample of the song “Broken Hearts” by Aswad. In the 1990s, British band UB40 had a series of hits with their reggae-influenced pop music, including “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and “(I Can’t Help) Falling in Love with You”.

USA

Reggae’s popularity first spread to the white community in the US in the early 1970s. Collin O’Neil, writing for Smithsonian magazine, notes that it was particularly prevalent on college campuses. He attributes this to the fact that college students were “hungry for new sounds and experiences” and were thus more likely to be open to reggae’s “unfamiliar rhythms and lyrics”. Marley’s music, in particular, was seen as an expression of rebellion against the Vietnam War and the American government more broadly. This appeal was strengthened by the Rastafarianlafari movement, which had been gaining followers in the US since the late 1960s.

Canada

Reggae music first arrived in Canada in the late 1960s, brought by Jamaican immigrants who were coming to the country in search of better economic opportunities. Initially, reggae was not widely accepted by Canadians, who were more familiar with other genres such as rock and roll and jazz. But over time, as more and more Jamaicans made their way to Canada, reggae began to catch on, particularly among young people.

By the 1970s, there was a small but growing reggae scene in Canada, centered around Toronto. This scene would continue to grow throughout the decade, with Canadian reggae artists such as Leroy Sibbles and Maureen Wilkinson beginning to gain attention both at home and abroad. In the 1980s and 1990s, reggae would become even more popular in Canada, thanks in part to the success of artists like Snow and Yellowman. Today, reggae is enjoyed by people of all backgrounds in Canada, and the country has even produced its own unique style of the genre known as “Canadian Reggae”.

Japan

Surprisingly, Reggae’s roots can be traced back to Japan in the form of ska. During the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, Japanese punks and new wavers were influenced by the original Jamaican ska scene. Bands such as The Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra and Madeon began to emerge, helping to spread the sound of ska beyond Jamaica and into the Land of the Rising Sun.

Reggae began to gain a foothold in Japan during the 1990’s with the rise of artists such as Likkle Mai and Mighty Jam Rock. These artists blended traditional Jamaican reggae with elements of Japanese pop, helping to create a unique sound that was popular with Japanese audiences. Today, there is a thriving reggae scene in Japan, with bands such as Fire Ball and Roots Radics keeping the music alive.

Africa

Reggae music first spread to Africa in the 1970s, where it was quickly embraced by the youth culture. Reggae artists such as Bob Marley, Burning Spear, and Gregory Isaacs became household names, and the sound of reggae began to seep into other genres of music, such as African funk and highlife. In the 1980s and 1990s, African artists began to experiment with reggae, incorporating elements of the style into their own music. This hybridization produced a new genre of music known as Afro-reggae, which has since gained popularity in many parts of Africa.

South America

Reggae music first reached South America in the 1960s with the rise of Jamaican immigration to Panama, which at the time was a popular destination for Jamaicans seeking work in the Canal Zone. Reggae quickly spread throughout Panama, particularly in the city of Colon, where it became the dominant music form by the 1970s. Reggae also gained popularity in other Central and South American countries during this period, including Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Belize, and Venezuela.

The Legacy of Reggae

While it may be hard to believe, the first time reggae music was heard outside of its native Jamaica was in 1966, when British musician George Harrison visited the island and brought a copy of the song “My Boy Lollipop” back to the UK. Reggae would soon find its way to other parts of the world, thanks in large part to the success of Bob Marley. In this article, we’ll explore how reggae music spread around the world.

Reggae in the 21st Century

In the 21st century, reggae’s global popularity has grown exponentially. Artists such as Matisyahu, Sean Paul and Ziggy Marley have brought the genre to new audiences, while genres such as dubstep and drum and bass have been influenced by reggae. The music continues to evolve, with new substyles emerging all the time. Reggae is now firmly established as a truly global phenomenon.