A Brief History of Reggae Music

Reggae music has its roots in the ska and rocksteady of 1960s Jamaica. The style is characterized by a strong rhythm section, catchy melodies, and often political or social lyrics.

Origins of Reggae

Reggae music has its origins in the early 1960s in Jamaica. The music was influenced by a number of genres, including ska, rocksteady, and African music. Reggae is also a very political genre of music, with many songs addressing social and political issues.

Ska and Rocksteady

The sound of ska was developed in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and it quickly became one of the most popular genres on the island. Ska combined elements of American R&B and jazz, as well as Caribbean mento and calypso. The music was usually performed by a smaller band (compared to other genres at the time) with horns, guitars, bass, and drums.

In the early 1960s, ska began to evolve into rocksteady. This new genre was slower and more soulful than ska, with a emphasis on the bass and drums. Rocksteady would lay the foundation for reggae music.

Reggae’s international appeal

From its Jamaican roots, reggae has become an international phenomenon, enjoyed by music lovers all over the world. Reggae’s popularity has grown steadily since the 1960s, when Bob Marley and the Wailers began to gain notoriety outside of Jamaica. Today, reggae is a staple of popular music, with many chart-topping hits coming from both Jamaican and international artists.

Reggae’s distinctive sound is a mix of African rhythms, American R&B, and Jamaican ska and rocksteady. This unique blend of styles has appeal for many different audiences. Reggae is often characterized by its laid-back, optimistic atmosphere. The lyrics often deal with social and political issues, but they also frequently celebrate love, life, and spirituality.

Reggae has had a significant impact on other genres of music as well. Hip hop, for example, owes much to reggae’s rhythmic style and heavy use of bass. Reggae has also been an important influence on electronic dance music. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in reggae music, with new generations discovering the joys of this timeless genre.

The Golden Age of Reggae

Reggae music has its roots in Jamaica, and is a genre that is closely related to ska and rocksteady. The golden age of reggae was between the late 1960s and the early 1980s. This was a time when reggae was at its peak, both commercially and artistically. Some of the most iconic reggae artists emerged during this time, including Bob Marley and the Wailers, Toots and the Maytals, and Burning Spear.

The Wailers

The Wailers were a Jamaican reggae band formed by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer in 1963. The lineup eventually shifted to include the Barrett brothers, Junior and Aston “Familyman”, and keyboardist Tyrone Downie; in 1967 they recorded their first tunes with producer Coxsone Dodd at Studio One. By the early 1970s, Marley and the Wailers had become the biggest-selling recording artists in Jamaica.

The group’s breakthrough came with their 1972 album Catch a Fire, which was released internationally in 1973 by Island Records. Catch a Fire was produced by Chris Blackwell, who would work with the band on several more albums released throughout the 1970s including Burnin’ (1973), Natty Dread (1974), Rastaman Vibration (1976), Exodus (1977), Kaya (1978) and Survival (1979).

During this period Bob Marley became increasingly prominent as a political voice for the Rastafari movement, as he voiced his support for Pan-Africanism and black liberation. His views were often expressed through his music, which dealt with themes of social injustice, repatriation and religious spirituality. The Wailers’ music also became increasingly influenced by American soul and funk as well as disco during this period.

By 1977 tensions between Marley and Tosh had begun to surface, particularly over creative differences; Tosh subsequently left the band to pursue a solo career. The following year Marley was shot in an assassination attempt at his home in Jamaica; he survived but subsequently developed cancer of the toe, which eventually claimed his life in 1981.

After Marley’s death the remaining members of the Wailers continued to record and tour under various lineups; Bunny Wailer retired from touring in 2008 but still records occasionally. The Wailers were one of the most influential bands of their era, helping to bring reggae music to an international audience; they have sold an estimated 75 million records worldwide.

Bob Marley

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 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.

Reggae developed from ska and rocksteady; both styles typically used different rhythms from mento songs. By 1968, rocksteady had slowed down from its original frenetic pace becoming more mature, soulful, and contemplative. The Golden Age of Reggae was about capturing that feeling—the age when reggae’s messages were at their most potent.

The period between 1969-1975 is often referred to as reggae’s Golden Age not only because of the number of great singers and musicians who emerged during that time but also because it was during this era that reggae began to achieve mainstream success both in Jamaica and internationally. This period was also marked by increased political consciousness among Jamaicans as well as a growing awareness of Rastafari among both singers and fans.

Bob Marley is one of the most famous reggae artists who emerged during this period. His conscious lyrics and catchy melodies helped spread reggae’s message of peace, love, and unity to a global audience. Other famous Golden Age artists include Burning Spear, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Max Romeo, The Wailers, and Black Uhuru.

Other notable artists

Reggae’s influence was also felt in the US, where it helped to shape the sound of early hip hop. In the 1980s, reggae underwent a resurgence in popularity, with artists like Ziggy Marley and SOS Band finding mainstream success. The 1990s saw the rise of Jamaican dancehall, with artists like Sean Paul and Beenie Man achieving international fame. Today, reggae continues to be popular all over the world, with artists like Chronixx and Protoje keeping the genre fresh and relevant.

The Reggae Revival

In the late 1960s, reggae music began to gain popularity in Jamaica. At the same time, there was a growing interest in African music on the island. This combination of factors led to the development of the “reggae” sound. Reggae is a style of music that is characterized by a strong bass line, offbeat rhythms, and a focus on the drums. The lyrics are often about social and political issues.

Chronology of the Revival

The resurgence of interest in all things reggae began in 2006, when two very different groups released debut albums that would change the sound of Jamaican music. The first was Soja, a Washington, D.C.-based band led by singer/guitarist Jacob Hemphill. Soja’s self-titled debut drew from reggae, rock, hip-hop, and R&B to create a sound that spoke to a new generation of listeners. The second album was Toots and the Maytals’ True Love, which featured a guest appearance by Jamaican rapper Bounty Killer. The album garnered rave reviews and won a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.

With these two albums leading the way, the reggae revival movement began to gain momentum. In the years that followed, a new crop of artists began to emerge, including Chronixx, Protoje, Kabaka Pyramid, and Jesse Royal. These artists helped to carry the torch for roots reggae while also modernizing the sound for a new era.

In 2012, one of the most important moments in the revival came when Jamaica’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller declared December 5th as “Reggae Day.” This recognition from the government was a sign that reggae was once again being embraced by the Jamaican people.

The revival continued to grow in popularity throughout the 2010s, culminating in 2018 with Ziggy Marley’s album Rebellion Rises. The album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Reggae Albums chart, making Marley the first artist to achieve this feat in over 20 years.

As we move into the 2020s, it’s clear that the reggae revival is here to stay. With more young people than ever before turning to reggae for its positive message and uplifting vibes, there’s no doubt that this music will continue to inspire and bring people together for many years to come.

Notable artists of the Revival

The Reggae Revival is a movement within reggae music that began in the late 2010s, characterized by a return to roots reggae and old school ska, as well as elements of dancehall. The Revival has been described as a “renaissance” of Jamaican music.

Notable artists of the Revival include Chronixx, Protoje, Kabaka Pyramid, Jesse Royal, J Boog, and TeaMarrr.