Reggae Box Routes: The Evolution of Jamaican Music
Contents
This blog explores the history of Jamaican music, from its roots in reggae to its modern-day incarnation. We trace the evolution of this genre, highlighting the key players and tracks that have shaped it.
Reggae’s Origins
The music of Jamaica includes Jamaican folk music and many popular genres, such as mento, ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub music, dancehall, ska jazz, reggae fusion and related styles. Jamaican music’s strong emphasis on percussive elements has made it a favorite among dancers since its inception. One of the most important and popular elements of Jamaican music is the “riddim,” which is the backing rhythm or groove.
Ska
The first popular music from Jamaica was a style called ska, which was a precursor to reggae. Ska developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and it combined elements of American rhythm and blues with traditional Jamaican mento and calypso music. The name “ska” comes from the sound of the guitars, which were played with a ska rhythm.
Ska became popular in Jamaica in the early 1960s, and it soon spread to other parts of the world, including England. British rock bands such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were influenced by ska, and they began to play this type of music. Ska eventually evolved into another style called rocksteady, which was slower and more mellow than ska.
Reggae developed out of rocksteady in the late 1960s. Like rocksteady, reggae was a slower and more mellow form of music. Reggae is characterized by a heavy bass sound and rhythms that are played on the off-beat. One of the most famous reggae songs is “No Woman, No Cry” by Bob Marley & The Wailers.
Rocksteady
Rocksteady is a style of music that was popular in Jamaica from about 1966 to 1968. The term rocksteady comes from the song “Rock Steady” by Alton Ellis. Rocksteady was the direct predecessor to reggae and was characterised by slower rhythms than ska and rock n roll, and often incorporated elements of jazz and R&B. At the time, there was a feeling among some in the Jamaican music industry that ska had become too fast and needed to be slowed down.
One of the most famous rocksteady songs is “The Harder They Come” by Jimmy Cliff, which was later turned into a successful film starring Cliff. Other well-known rocksteady songs include “Tighten Up” by Toots and the Maytals, “Do the Reggay” by Toots and the Maytals, “Surfers’ Paradise” by Alton Ellis, and “I Can’t Stand It” by Skatalites.
Reggae’s Golden Age
Reggae music has undergone a number of changes since its start in the late 1960s. The music has been influenced by a number of factors, including political and social changes in Jamaica, as well as the rise of other genres of music.
The Wailers
Formed by childhood friends Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh, The Wailers helped shape not only Jamaica’s reggae scene, but the entire world’s perception of the island nation and its music. The band rose to international fame in the 1970s with a string of highly acclaimed albums and hit singles, including “Get Up, Stand Up,” “I Shot the Sheriff,” “No Woman, No Cry” and “Could You Be Loved.” The Wailers’ unique sound was a smooth blend of rocksteady, ska and R&B influences, propelled by Marley’s distinctive vocal style and charisma. Following Tosh and Wailer’s departure from the group in the late ’70s, Marley continued to lead The Wailers on his own until his untimely death in 1981. Even after Marley’s death, The Wailers remained one of reggae’s most popular and influential bands, carrying on his vision of peace and love through their music.
Bob Marley
Born Robert Nesta Marley on February 6, 1945, in St. Ann Parish, Jamaica, Bob Marley was a singer-songwriter who became an international musical and cultural icon, blending together elements of reggae, ska, and rocksteady to create the unique sound that made him famous. The youngest of three boys, Marley grew up without a father and was raised by his mother, Cedella Booker. He began his musical career in 1963, when he formed the Wailers with Bunny Livingston and Peter Tosh. The trio went on to become one of the most successful reggae groups of all time, with hits like “Get Up Stand Up,” “I Shot the Sheriff,” and “No Woman No Cry.” After the break-up of the Wailers in 1974, Marley pursued a solo career that resulted in such classics as “Exodus” and “Redemption Song.” He died of cancer on May 11, 1981.
Reggae in the Modern World
Reggae music has come a long way since it originated in Jamaican in the 1960s. The genre has now spread to many different parts of the world, and has even begun to influence mainstream pop music. Reggae box routes are a big part of this evolution, as they allow reggae artists to reach new audiences.
Reggae fusion
In recent years, there has been a growing trend of incorporating reggae into other genres, most notably hip hop, pop and R&B. This fusion of styles is sometimes called hip hop reggae or rapso. While some purists may object to this dilution of the purity of reggae, it has produced some undeniably catchy tunes and help to introduce the music to a new generation of listeners.
Notable examples of reggae fusion artists include Sean Paul, Shaggy, Beenie Man, Missy Elliott, Rihanna, and Snoop Lion (formerly Snoop Dogg). These artists have all achieved mainstream success with their unique blend of styles and have helped to bring Jamaican culture to a global audience.
Dancehall
Dancehall is a style of Jamaican popular music that developed in the late 1970s. Initially, dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably, with digital dancehall becoming increasingly characterized by faster rhythms. Dancehall music has spread to many countries across the world, often incorporating local instruments and fusing with other genres.
