A Brief History of Reggae Music

A reggae blog discussing the history of reggae music and its influence on popular culture.

Origins of Reggae

Reggae music originated in the late 1960s in Jamaica. The term reggae was first used to describe a type of music created by Jamaican musician Toots Hibbert. Reggae is a fusion of African and Caribbean influences, and is often characterized by a slow, syncopated beat.

Ska

Ska is a style of music that developed in Jamaica in the late 1950s. Ska is a precursor to rocksteady and reggae, and it typically features horns, guitars, and drums. The first ska song is generally considered to be “Don Drummond” by The Skatalites.

Ska was popularized in the 1960s by Jamaican musicians such as Prince Buster and Desmond Dekker. In the 1970s, ska was taken up by British punks and skinheads, who created their own version of the style called “2 Tone.” 2 Tone bands like The Specials and Madness fused ska with punk and new wave to create a new sound that was both politically charged and catchy as hell.

In the 1980s, ska experienced something of a resurgence thanks to bands like Fishbone, No Doubt, and Sublime. Today, ska is more popular than ever, with new bands forming all over the world.

Rocksteady

Rocksteady is a Jamaican music genre that originated in the late 1960s. It was a direct precursor to the reggae sound that would come to international prominence in the 1970s.

Rocksteady was the result of a conscious effort by Jamaican musicians to Jazz up the ska sound by slowing down the tempo and playing more deliberately. The result was a more laid-back and polished sound that found favor among Jamaican audiences of all stripes.

The first wave of rocksteady airplay came courtesy of two tracks: Duke Reid’s “The Guns of Navarone” by the Skatalites, and Alton Ellis’ “I’m Still in Love With You.” Both tracks were huge hits in Jamaica, and set the stage for an influx of rocksteady records in the coming months.

The rocksteady era peaked in 1968 with the release of two classic tracks: Desmond Dekker’s “Israelites” and Toots & the Maytals’ “Do the Reggay.” These songs put reggae on the map internationally, and established Jamaica as a musical powerhouse.

The rocksteady sound would go on to be immortalized by artists like Bob Marley & The Wailers, who took reggae to new heights in the 1970s. But it all started with Rocksteady, a sound that changed Jamaican music forever.

The Golden Age of Reggae

Reggae music originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The genre developed from ska and rocksteady and is closely related to other genres such as dub, dubstep, and grime. Reggae music became extremely popular in the 1970s, with artists such as Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, and Peter Tosh achieving international success. The golden age of reggae lasted until the mid-1980s.

The Wailers

Formed in 1963, the Wailers originally consisted of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer. The trio met while growing up in the Trenchtown neighborhood of Kingston, Jamaica. They began singing together and soon joined forces with another local group, the Upsetters. The Wailers recorded their first album, The Wailing Wailers, in 1965.

The group found success with a string of singles including “Soul Rebel,” “Duppy Conqueror,” and “Small Axe.” These songs reflected the growing political consciousness of Marley and Tosh. The Wailers’/’s lyrics often dealt with topics such as apartheid, poverty, and marijuana. In 1971, the group released their breakthrough album, Catch a Fire. The album was a critical and commercial success, introducing the Wailers to a wider audience.

The group continued to release acclaimed albums throughout the 1970s including Burnin’ (1973), Natty Dread (1974), Rastaman Vibration (1976), and Exodus (1977). Exodus is widely considered to be one of the greatest reggae albums of all time. Bob Marley died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 36. The Wailers disbanded soon after his death but reformed in 1989 with new members including Bunny Wailer’s son StephenMarley. The group has continued to tour and release new music over the past three decades.

Bob Marley

Born to a black father and a white mother in Nine Mile, Saint Ann Parish, Bob Marley moved to Kingston when he was 12. He started his musical career in 1963 with the group the Wailers. The Wailers would go on to release some of the most iconic and influential reggae records of all time, including Catch a Fire (1972) and Burnin’ (1973). Marley’s lyrics were political and religious, and he is credited with helping to spread both Rastafari and reggae music around the world. He died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 36, but his music continues to live on and inspire new generations.

Jimmy Cliff

Born in Somerton district, St. James, on April 1, 1948, Jimmy Cliff was one of the most important figures in the development of reggae. In fact, his career predates reggae itself, as he first recorded for Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One label in 1962 as a ska artist. His first big hit came in 1964 with the song “Dearest Beverley,” but Cliff really came into his own with a string of hits for Dodd during 1967-68 that included “Wonderful World, Beautiful People,” “Hard Road to Travel,” and “Sitting in Limbo.” These songs established Cliff as both a excellent singer and songwriter, and they also helped to define the early sound and themes of reggae.

The Reggae Revival

Reggae music has its origins in the ska and rocksteady of Jamaica in the 1960s. The term “reggae” originally referred to the African-influenced style of Jamaican dance music that developed from ska and rocksteady. Reggae is characterized by a strong rhythm, a four-beat measure, and often contains elements of blues, jazz, and rock.

Chronixx

Chronixx, whose given name is Jamar Rolando McNaughton, was born October 10, 1992, in St. James, Jamaica. He is a singer, songwriter, and producer who achieved international recognition with his 2013 single “Here Comes Trouble.” His debut album, Chronology, was released in 2017 and peaked at number seven on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart.

Chronixx’s musical style is rooted in reggae and draws influence from other genres such as hip hop, dancehall, and rock. He has been credited for helping to revive interest in traditional reggae music and for bringing a new generation of listeners to the genre.

During live performances, Chronixx is known for his stage presence and engaging with the audience. He has toured internationally and performed at major festivals such as Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Bonnaroo. In 2018, he was named one of Time magazine’s “100 Next” list of rising stars who are shaping the future of culture.

Protoje

Protoje is a Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter. His mother is Lorna Bennett, best known for her 1972 rendition of Max Romeo’s “Wet Dream”. Protoje’s father is Charlie Chaplin, who had several hit singles in the 1970s including “I Am Coming Home” and “Movie Star”. Protoje was born in Saint Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica.

Protoje began his musical career as a rapper, but soon switched to singing and songwriting. His style of music is often described as “revivalist” or “retro-roots”. Protoje’s debut album, Seven Year Itch, was released in 2011 to critical acclaim. The album includes the singles “Who Knows”, “No Cigarette Smoking”, and “Rasta Love”.

Protoje’s sophomore album, Ancient Future, was released in 2015. The album features the singles “Who Knows”, “Protection”, and “Kingston Be Wise”. Ancient Future received a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album.

Protoje has toured extensively throughout Europe, North America, Australia, and Asia. He has performed at major music festivals such as Coachella, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Glastonbury.

Kabaka Pyramid

Kabaka Pyramid is a Jamaican reggae artist whose mission is to promote positive and uplifting messages through his music. His song “No Pretending” is an ode to staying true to yourself, while other tracks like “Rebel” call for social change.