The Best of Jamaican Music: Reggae

A countdown of the best Jamaican music, including reggae, ska, dub, and more.

The Origins of Reggae

Although there are many different theories, the most popular belief is that reggae was created in the late 1960s in Jamaica. Reggae is a style of music that was influenced by many other genres including ska, rocksteady, and calypso. Reggae is characterized by its slow tempo, offbeat rhythms, and staccato chords. The lyrics of reggae songs often deal with topics such as social issues, poverty, and religion.

Ska

Ska is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s. Ska combines elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. It is characterized by a walking bass line accented with rhythms on the off beat. Ska developed in Jamaican dancehalls in the 1950s when producers began recording mento songs with rhythm and blues backing tracks. The first ska recordings were made by Duke Reid and Clement Coxsone Dodd in the early 1960s.

The term “ska” was first used to describe this new style of music by Prince Buster in the song “Madness”, which was a hit for his ska group, The Maytals, in 1966. Ska continued to develop in the 1960s, becoming more complex and experimenting with different instrumentation and time signatures. By the 1970s, it had evolved into reggae.

Rocksteady

Rocksteady is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in 1966. The term rocksteady comes from a style of dance called the rocksteady, which was named for the music. This type of music is defined by its slow tempo and offbeat rhythms. The roots of rocksteady are in ska and R&B, and it was influenced by American soul and gospel music. The first rocksteady song is believed to be “Hold Me Tight” by the Uniques.

In the late 1960s, rocksteady became the dominant form of Jamaican popular music, replacing ska. Rocksteady is often characterized by its slow tempo (usually around 60 beats per minute) and offbeat rhythms (usually played on the backbeat, or “two and four”). The lyrics are usually about love or politics.

The first rocksteady song is believed to be “Hold Me Tight” by the Uniques, which was released in 1966. Other early hit songs include “Real Rock” by Alton Ellis, “Tougher Than Tough” by Derrick Morgan, and “Puppet on a String” by Pat Kelly. These songs were all released in 1967.

In 1968, the Heptones released “I Hold the Handle”, which is considered to be one of the greatest rocksteady songs ever recorded. Other notable songs from this period include “No More Heartaches” by the Paragons, “I’m Still in Love With You” by Alton Ellis, and “Love Me Forever” by Leroy Sibbles.

The golden age of rocksteady ended in 1969 with the start of the Jamaican civil war, which forced many artists to leave Jamaica. However, rocksteady has continued to be popular in Jamaica and has also influenced other genres such as dancehall and reggae.

The Golden Age of Reggae

Reggae is a style of music that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The golden age of reggae was the 1970s. This was a time when reggae was at its height of popularity, with artists such as Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, and Peter Tosh.

The Wailers

The Wailers were a Jamaican reggae band formed in 1963. Originally comprising Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, the band achieved international fame with their blend of reggae, ska and rocksteady. By the early 1970s, the band was comprised of Marley, Tosh, Wailer and bassist Aston Barrett. The group released 11 studio albums between 1965 and 1974, including the seminal LP Catch a Fire in 1973. The Wailers disbanded in 1974, with Marley and Tosh pursuing solo careers; Marley died of cancer in 1981.

Bob Marley

Bob Marley is perhaps the most famous Jamaican musician of all time. He is best known for his reggae music, which became popular in the 1970s. Marley’s music was heavily influenced by Rastafarianism, a Jamaican religion that emphasizes the importance of black cultural identity. Marley’s lyrics often dealt with topics such as social injustice and resistance to oppression. He is credited with helping to spread reggae music around the world and is regarded as one of the most important figures in Jamaican music history.

Other Notable Reggae Artists

In addition to the three previously mentioned artists, there are a number of other notable reggae artists who have made significant contributions to the genre. These include Bunny Wailer, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Peter Tosh, and Burning Spear.

The Modern Age of Reggae

The history of Jamaican music is a long and complicated one, with many different genres and subgenres emerging over the years. Reggae is one of the most popular and iconic genres to come out of Jamaica, and it has had a major impact on the music industry both in Jamaica and around the world. Reggae has its roots in the 1960s, when it first emerged as a distinct genre.

Reggae Revival

The Reggae Revival is a movement within reggae music that began around 2009. This trend saw the return of more traditional styles of reggae music, as well as a new wave of artists paying homage to the legends of the genre.

One of the most notable aspects of the Reggae Revival is the involvement of modern day Rastafarians. This religious group had a significant impact on the development of reggae music in the 1960s and 1970s, and their influence can still be heard in the music of today.

The revival has also seen a renewed interest in Jamaican culture, with many young people exploring the island’s history and heritage. This has led to a revival of traditional Jamaican clothing, food, and language.

The Reggae Revival is still ongoing, with new artist emerging every day. The movement has reinvigorated reggae music and brought it to a new generation of fans.

Contemporary Reggae Artists

In the modern age of reggae, there are a variety of artists who have risen to prominence. These artists incorporate a variety of styles into their music, making for a unique listening experience. Here are some of the top contemporary reggae artists:

-Shaggy
-Buju Banton
-Beres Hammond
-Morgan Heritage
-Israel Vibration