A List of 1980s Christian Music Reggae Artists
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If you are a fan of 1980s Christian music, then you might be interested in this list of 1980s Christian music reggae artists.
The 1980s
During the 1980s, a new form of Christian music emerged: Christian reggae. This sound was pioneered by Jamaican artists like Dennis Brown and Garnet Silk, and later spread to the United States by artists like Bob Marley and Ziggy Marley. American Christian reggae artists like Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant helped to make the genre more mainstream in the US.
The birth of Christian Reggae
The 1980s saw the birth of Christian Reggae, with artists such as Brian Austin Green and Alvin Smith. This new style of music blended elements of traditional reggae with Christian lyrics, and quickly gained popularity among youthful audiences.
These artists were able to cross over into the mainstream, thanks in part to their willingness to experiment with different styles and sounds. This decade also saw the rise of Contemporary Christian Music (CCM), which would come to dominate the American Christian music scene in the following years.
The spread of Christian Reggae
The 1980s saw the spread of Christian Reggae artists such as . . .
-Juanita Bynum
-Peter Tosh
-Steven Curtis Chapman
-Richie Havens
-Amy Grant
-Bob Marley
Christian Reggae Artists of the 1980s
Christian Reggae artists have been around since the late 1970s, but the genre didn’t gain much traction until the 1980s. The 1980s saw a rise in Christian Reggae artists as the genre became more popular. Here is a list of some of the most popular Christian Reggae artists of the 1980s.
George Nooks
George Nooks is a Jamaican reggae singer, who also records under the name Prince Mohammed. He began his career as a deejay in the late 1960s. His debut album Troubled Man was released in 1981. He had his first hit single with “One Way Ticket”, and followed it with the album Trod Along.
Dennis Brown
Dennis Emmanuel Brown (1 February 1957 – 1 July 1999) was a Jamaican reggae singer. He recorded more than 75 albums and was one of the first Sugar Minott, Gregory Isaacs and Winston ” Niney the Observer Dennis Brown was born in Kingston, Jamaica on February 1, 1957. His mother died when he was two, and he spent several years living in Trenchtown with his grandparents. When he was seven he began to show an interest in music and started to learn the drums
Gregory Isaacs
Gregory Anthony Isaacs (15 July 1951 – 25 October 2010), was a Jamaican reggae musician.
Isaacs was born in Bamboo, Jamaica. His mother worked as a maid and his father was a contractor. When he was two years old his family moved to arsenic-laced soil in Denham Town, Kingston. As a young teenager he sold ice cream in the streets. He cites the encouragement he received from Mr Walker, his employer at the time, as an important factor in developing his confidence as a performer: “He used to tell me I had a nice voice and that I should go on stage one day.”
In 1967 Gregory Isaacs started recording with Clement Coxsone Dodd at Studio One, and he continued to record for Dodd through 1968. The following year he switched to Lloyd Daley’s Matador label. In 1970 Isaacs found success with “Border” when it was released by one of Westchester’s sound systems operating out of New York City; though not initially issued as a single, it sold well on the seven-inch format and topped Jamaican charts for five weeks.[citation needed] Throughout the 1970s he enjoyed more hits with “All I Have Is Love”, “Love Is Overdue”, “My Only Lover (Sweet Sweet Girl)”, and “Private Secretary”.
The Impact of Christian Reggae in the 1980s
Christian Reggae was a new subgenre of Reggae music that emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s. This style of music sought to spread the Gospel message through the use of Reggae beats and lyrics. Christian Reggae artists became popular in the 1980s and their music helped to spread the message of Christianity to a new audience.
On the Jamaican music scene
The genre of Christian reggae music started in the late 1970s, with the release of two albums by British artists. The first was “Righteous Reggae Vibrations” by Ashley Beath, which was followed by “Let Jah Love Flow” by Roger George. Both albums were very well received in Jamaica, and helped to introduce the new genre to Jamaican audiences.
The early 1980s saw a number of Jamaican artists embrace the new genre, and some of the most popular Christian reggae albums of the decade were released by Jamaican artists. These included “Jahovia” by Michael Gordon, “Nyahbinghi” by Ras Michael, and “Rastafari Liveth” by Black Uhuru.
The popularity of Christian reggae music continued to grow in the 1980s, with a number of international artists releasing successful albums. These included American singer Amy Grant, who released the album “Unguarded” in 1985, which contained the Christian reggae track “El Shaddai”; Canadian singer Dan Fogelberg, who released the album “High Country Snows” in 1985, which contained the Christian reggae track “Leader of the Band”; and British singer Cliff Richard, who released the album “From a Distance: The Event” in 1986, which contained the Christian reggae track “Saviour’s Day”.
The 1980s also saw a number of non-Jamaican artists releasing successful Christian reggae albums. These included American singer Bobby McFerrin, who released the album “Simple Pleasures” in 1988, which contained the Christian reggae track “Don’t Worry Be Happy”; Australian band Midnight Oil, who released the album “Diesel and Dust” in 1987, which contained the Christian reggae track “Beds Are Burning”; and British band UB40, who released the album “Labour of Love II” in 1989, which contained the Christian reggae track “(I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You”.
On the international music scene
The impact of Christian reggae in the 1980s was significant, as the genre helped to spread the message of the Christian faith to a new audience. Christian reggae artists such as Bob Marley and Dennis Brown were able to reach a wider audience with their music, and their albums often topped the charts in both the United States and Britain. This new wave of Christian music helped to increase the popularity of reggae internationally, and it also had a positive impact on the growth of the genre in Jamaica.