The Jamaican Music Genre Prior to Reggae

The Jamaican music genre prior to reggae was a blend of African and Western influences. The African influences were brought over by the slaves who were brought to Jamaica, while the Western influences came from the British colonialists. This mix of cultures led to the development of a unique Jamaican sound that would later be known as reggae.

Origins of Jamaican Music

The Jamaican music genre has its roots in various African musical traditions, including the use of call and response vocals, percussion, and rhythmic patterns. The earliest Jamaican recordings were made in the 1920s and featured a blend of African and European musical styles.

Ska

Ska is a genre of music that emerged in Jamaica in the late 1950s. It was originally a blend of American rhythm and blues and Jamaican mento, a style of folk music that includes elements of African and European musical traditions. Ska evolved into other styles in the 1960s and 1970s, including rocksteady and reggae.

Rocksteady

Rocksteady is a style of Jamaican music which developed around 1966 and was the immediate predecessor of reggae. The term rocksteady comes from a style of dance which was mentioned in the Alton Ellis song “Rock Steady” (1967). By 1967, most elements of ska and R&B had slowed down, taking on a more laid-back sound. Reggae historian Steve Barrow credits Clancy Eccles with the term rocksteady. Apparently, Eccles coined the term while explaining to others what kind of music he was playing.

The Rise of Reggae

The Jamaican music scene was very different before the rise of reggae. Ska and rocksteady were the dominant genres, and they were very different from the reggae that would come to define Jamaican music. Ska was fast and upbeat, while rocksteady was slower and more soulful. Reggae would eventually combine elements of both genres to create a uniquely Jamaican sound.

The Wailers

The Wailers were a Jamaican reggae band led by Bob Marley. The Wailers started out as a ska group but later found success with their own brand of reggae. The Wailers are considered to be one of the most important groups in the history of reggae music.

The Wailers were formed in 1963, and originally consisted of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and Junior Braithwaite. The group found success in Jamaica with their debut album, The Wailing Wailers (1965), which contained their hit single “Simmer Down”. The group’s popularity began to grow outside of Jamaica with the release of their second album, Soul Rebels (1970), which contained the hits “Soul Rebel” and “Stop That Train”.

The Wailers achieved international success with the release of their album Catch a Fire (1972), which contained the hits “Stir It Up” and “Concrete Jungle”. The group continued to find success with the release of Burnin’ (1973), which contained the hit single “I Shot the Sheriff”. The Wailers’ final studio album, Survival (1979), was also successful, containing the hits “Could You Be Loved” and “Zimbabwe”.

The Wailers disbanded in 1981 after the death of Bob Marley. However, the band has continued to tour and record without Marley under the name The Original Wailers.

Bob Marley

Bob Marley is one of the most well-known and influential Jamaican musicians of all time. He is largely responsible for bringing the Jamaican music genre of reggae to the mainstream. Prior to Marley, Jamaican music was largely unknown outside of the island nation. But Marley’s unique blend of reggae, ska, and rocksteady helped to propel the genre into the international spotlight. Marley’s success had a tremendous impact on the development of reggae music, and he continues to be an important figure in the genre today.

The Legacy of Reggae

Reggae is a music genre that was first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The music is a mixture of African, Caribbean, and European influences. Reggae is a popular style of music that is enjoyed by people all over the world. The music has a unique sound that is characterized by its use of Jamaican patois, rhythmic patterns, and distinctive guitar and bass sounds.

Contemporary Reggae

Contemporary Reggae is the most recent subgenre of Reggae, with its origins in the 1980s. This style is characterized by a slower tempo and a focus on socially conscious lyrics. Rastafarian influences are still present, but they are not as pronounced as in other subgenres of Reggae.

Notable contemporary Reggae artists include Ziggy Marley, Buju Banton, and Shaggy.

Reggae’s Influence on Other Genres

Reggae’s impact on other genres is incalculable. The music has been so influential that it has even spawned its own sub-genre, dub. Reggae has also been very influential in the development of electronic music, particularly drum and bass, techno and house.

Reggae’s influence can also be heard in the music of many other genres, including rock, pop, hip hop, R&B, and even country. Bob Marley is one of the most famous examples of an artist who successfully blended reggae with other genres. Marley’s music incorporates elements of ska, rocksteady, and early reggae, as well as political and social commentary.