The History of Reggae Music

Reggae music has its roots in Jamaican ska and rocksteady. The style is easily recognizable by its offbeat rhythm and its focus on the bass line.

Origins of Reggae

Reggae music originated in the late 1960s in Jamaica. The word reggae comes from the word “raggedy,” which was used to describe the music of the time. Reggae was a fusion of ska, rocksteady, and African music. The first reggae song was “Judge not” by Jimmy Cliff.

Ska

Ska is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s. Ska combined 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. In the early 1960s, ska was the dominant musical genre of Jamaica and was popular with British mods. As the original Jamaican ska scene faded in the mid-1960s, other more sophisticated styles helped shape the development of reggae, rocksteady, and eventually dub.

Rocksteady

Rocksteady is a music style that was created in Jamaica in late 1966. The term rocksteady comes from a popular song by Alton Ellis, Rocksteady Are the Rules. The music is based on the Jamaican mento and calypso music, which was popular in the 1940s and 1950s. The beat is slower than that of ska and more emphasized on the off-beat. The guitars are often played with a slow, rocking rhythm. Bass lines are very important in rocksteady, since they often determine the feel of the song.

The lyrics of rocksteady songs are often about love and relationships. Many of the songs are about fidelity, trust, and other such topics. Many singers also sing about social issues such as poverty or racism. Reggae artists such as Bob Marley and Dennis Brown began their careers singing rocksteady songs.

The rocksteady era lasted until 1968 when it gave way to the more Political conscious roots reggae style.

The Golden Age of Reggae

The golden age of reggae was a time when the genre was gaining mainstream attention. This was a time when artist like Bob Marley and the Wailers, Lee “Scratch” Perry, and Black Uhuru were making a name for themselves. The golden age of reggae was a time of great innovation and creativity.

The Wailers

The Wailers were a Jamaican reggae band and one of the earliest groups to attempt to achieve international success. The band was originally formed in 1963 by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer, and had a spate of hits throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The Wailers are perhaps best known for their string of successful singles released in the early 1970s, including “Stir It Up”, “Get Up, Stand Up”, and “I Shot the Sheriff”.

The Wailers broke up in 1974, but Bob Marley continued to record and tour under the name until his untimely death in 1981. The group re-formed sporadically in the 1980s and 1990s with different lineups, but has failed to achieve the same level of success as in their heyday.

Bob Marley

Arguably the most famous reggae artist of all time, Bob Marley’s career spanned the late 1960s to the early 1980s. Born in Jamaica to an English father and a black mother, Marley grew up in the rural village of Nine Mile in Saint Ann Parish. As a teenager, he moved to Kingston where he worked as a welder while pursuing his musical career. He found success as a solo artist with his unique blend of reggae, ska, and rocksteady, and was soon hailed as a cultural icon both in Jamaica and abroad. Marley’s socially conscious lyrics and infectious rhythms caught the attention of the world, and he quickly became the most internationally known Jamaican musician of his generation. Though he only released nine studio albums during his lifetime, Marley’s music continues to be hugely popular decades after his death; he is now considered one of the most influential musicians of all time.

Jimmy Cliff

Jimmy Cliff is a Jamaican singer, musician, and actor. He is the only living artist to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honor that can be bestowed on a civilian in Jamaica. He is best known for his roles in The Harder They Come and Club Paradise, and his recordings of “Many Rivers to Cross” and “I Can See Clearly Now.”

The Reggae Revival

The late 1990s and early 2000s saw a significant resurgence in the popularity of reggae music. This was due in part to the commercial success of artists like Sean Paul and Shaggy, but also to the growing popularity of dancehall and reggaeton.

Chronixx

Chronixx is one of the most popular artists associated with the reggae revival movement. He was born in 1992 in Jamaica, and his music is a mix of reggae, dancehall, and hip hop. He began his career by releasing a series of mixtapes, and he achieved mainstream success with his debut album Chronology, which was released in 2017. His song “Spanish Town Rockin'” was nominated for a Grammy Award, and he has toured internationally to support his albums.

Protoje

Protoje is a contemporary reggae singer, songwriter, and producer from Jamaica. He is best known for his hit single “Who Knows”, which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2016. Protoje’s style of reggae is often referred to as the “reggae revival”, and he is credited with helping to bring the genre back to its roots.

Protoje was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1981. His father is the well-known reggae singer Linton Kwesi Johnson. Protoje began his career as a deejay, but soon switched to singing and songwriting. His debut album, “Seven Year Itch”, was released in 2010.

Protoje’s music is deeply influenced by the classic sounds of 1970s reggae artists such as Bob Marley and Dennis Brown. However, he also incorporates elements of other genres, including hip hop, R&B, and even rock. This eclectic mix of influences has helped Protoje gain a large and loyal following both in Jamaica and abroad.

In addition to his work as a solo artist, Protoje has also collaborated with numerous other reggae artists, including Chronixx and Machel Montano. He has also toured extensively, performing at major festivals such as Coachella and Glastonbury.

Protoje’s talent and willingness to experiment with different styles of music have helped him become one of the most popular reggae artists of his generation. He is credited with helping to revive interest in classic Jamaican reggae and bring it to a new audience.

Kabaka Pyramid

Kabaka Pyramid is a reggae artist from Jamaica. He is part of the new generation of reggae artists bringing the genre back to its roots. His music is a mix of reggae, dancehall, and hip-hop. He has released two albums, “Kontraband” and “Bands Up!”