The Best Reggae Music Bands to Check Out
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Looking for some new reggae music to check out? Here are some of the best reggae bands around today that you won’t want to miss!
Reggae Music Basics
Reggae music originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The music is a blend of African, Caribbean, and Western musical styles. Reggae is often associated with the Rastafari movement, which promotes the religious and spiritual use of marijuana. The music is also known for its unique rhythms and guitars.
Defining Reggae Music
Reggae music is a genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term “reggae” is derived from the word “ragged,” which was used to describe the rough sound of the music. Reggae music is a blend of African and Caribbean styles, with elements of jazz, R&B, and rock.
The most famous reggae artist is Bob Marley, who popularized the genre with his work in the 1970s. Other influential reggae artists include Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and Jimmy Cliff. Reggae music has since gained popularity around the world, with artists like UB40 and Shaggy achieving success in the 1980s and 1990s.
Reggae music often has a laid-back feel, with a strong emphasis on rhythm. The lyrics often deal with social or political topics, and many reggae songs are protests against injustice or oppression. Reggae music has been described as “the sound of freedom,” and it remains popular among people who are marginalized or oppressed.
The Different Sub-Genres of Reggae
Reggae music has many different sub-genres, each with their own distinctive sound.
Roots reggae is the original, classic form of reggae music. It is characterized by heavy basslines, amelodic percussion, and slow, measured rhythms. The lyrics are often political or religious in nature.
Dub reggae is a sub-genre that developed in the 1970s. It is characterized by heavily echoed and reverberated vocals and instrumentals, giving the music a “spaced out” feel. The lyrics are often positive and uplifting.
Dancehall reggae is a high-energy form of music that flourished in the 1980s. It is characterized by rapid rhyming lyrics delivered over fast, syncopated rhythms. The lyrics are often very explicit and can be quite risque.
Reggaeton is a fusion genre that combines elements of hip-hop, Latin music, and reggae. It originated in Puerto Rico in the 1990s and has become increasingly popular in recent years. Reggaeton is characterized by fast, catchy rhythms with explicit lyrics delivered in both Spanish and English
The Best Reggae Music Bands
Reggae music has been around since the late 1960s and has grown in popularity ever since. Reggae is a genre of music that originated in Jamaica and is characterized by a slow, steady beat. Some of the most popular reggae artists include Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley, and Matisyahu. If you’re a fan of reggae music, then you should definitely check out the following bands.
Bob Marley and the Wailers
Formed in 1963, Bob Marley and the Wailers was a Jamaican reggae band led by singer, songwriter and guitarist Bob Marley. The band started out as the doo-wop group, The Wailing Wailers, before changing their name and lineup. With hits like “No Woman, No Cry,” “Three Little Birds,” “Stir It Up” and “One Love/People Get Ready,” Bob Marley and the Wailers helped popularize reggae music around the world.
The Skatalites
The Skatalites are a Jamaican ska and rocksteady band. Founded in 1964, they played extensively throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, including backing artists such as Bob Marley and the Wailers, Toots and the Maytals, Alton Ellis, and Desmond Dekker. They also played on recordings bykeye Daley, Prince Buster, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Errol Dunkley, Ken Boothe, The Melodians, and The Paragons. Though not as prolific in their later years as in their prime decades ago, The Skatalites continue to tour throughout the world.
Burning Spear
Burning Spear, one of the most influential reggae musicians, was born Winston Rodney in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica, in 1945. He moved to Kingston as a young man and worked with the legendary sound system operator and producer Coxsone Dodd, who helped to define the ska genre in the early 1960s. Spear began recording for Dodd’s Studio One label in 1968 and released his debut album, OLU DARA – (The Best Reggae Music Bands to Check Out)
Heading: Inner Circle
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Inner Circle is a Jamaican reggae group formed in Kingston, Jamaica in 1968 best known for their hits “Bad Boys” and “Sweat (A La La La La Long)”. The group was originally called The Inner Circle Band and was founded by brothers Jacob Miller and Ian Lewis.
Inner Circle’s current lineup consists of brothers Ian and Roger Lewis on bass and drums respectively, along with longtime member Kieron “Little Mojo” Ferguson on guitar/keyboards, Lancelot Hall on trombone, Jamie Salmon on trumpet, Martin Charly Lewis on saxophone, Kérié Palmer on vocals/percussion,and Trevor Murdock on vocals.
The Congos
The Congos is a Jamaican reggae vocal group, originally formed in the mid-1970s at the height of the roots reggae movement. The group’s vocal harmonies recalled those of groups like The Impressions and The Delfonics, and they had a similar sound to that of early Burning Spear. The Congos’ debut album, Heart of the Congos, is considered one of the greatest reggae albums ever made. It was produced by Lee “Scratch” Perry at his Black Ark studio, and featured a host of other Perry-produced tracks that would later be collected on the Musically Madness compilation album.
Lee “Scratch” Perry
Lee “Scratch” Perry is one of the most influential figures in the history of reggae music. A pioneer of the dub sound, Perry is credited with helping to shape the sound of reggae and dancehall music. He has worked with some of the biggest names in reggae, including Bob Marley and the Wailers, and has produced some of the genre’s most iconic tracks. Perry is also known for his eccentricity and flamboyant stage persona. If you’re a fan of reggae music, then Lee “Scratch” Perry is definitely an artist that you need to check out!
