The History of Jamaican Music: Reggae
Reggae is a style of Jamaican music that developed in the late 1960s. It is characterized by a strong bass line, guitars, and drums. Reggae is often used to tell stories or to give messages to the listener.
Origins of Jamaican Music
Jamaican music is a product of the island’s history, syncretism, and diversity. African slaves brought music traditions with them when they were forcibly brought to Jamaica by the British. These music traditions were then combined with the music of the British and other Europeans who colonized the island. The result is a truly unique musical genre that has been enjoyed by people all over the world for many years.
African slave trade brings new musical traditions to Jamaica
The first African slaves were brought to the island of Jamaica by the Spanish in 1524. These slaves brought with them new musical traditions from their homeland. This music was then mixed with the music of the native Taíno people, creating a new genre known as mento. Mento is a traditional Jamaican folk music that is still popular today. It is often described as a cross between calypso and African spirituals.
In the late 19th century, a new wave of immigrants arrived in Jamaica from other Caribbean islands, bringing with them their own unique styles of music. One of these styles was calypso, which became very popular among the Jamaican people. Calypso was originally an Afro-Trinidadian music that was brought to Jamaica by immigrants from Trinidad and Tobago.
In the early 20th century, a new type of music began to emerge in Jamaica that would later come to be known as reggae. Reggae is a blend of mento, calypso, African rhythms, and R&B. It became very popular in Jamaica in the 1960s and 1970s and has since gone on to become one of the most popular genres of music in the world.
Jamaican folk music evolves into ska and rocksteady
In the late 1950s, as Mento was quickly being replaced by American rhythm and blues music, there was a greater focus on Political consciousness and social issues within Jamaica. At the same time, there was an increase in the number of Rastafarians. This new political consciousness was reflected in the music of the time with songs like The Wailers’ “Simmer Down” and Toots and the Maytals’ “Do the Reggay”.
During this time, there was also a development of a new musical form called ska. Ska combined elements of Mento, American R&B, Calypso, and Caribbean rhythms. The first ska song is generally considered to be “Madness” by Prince Buster.
In the late 1960s, ska evolved into rocksteady. Rocksteady is a slower paced form of ska which was often used as a tool for political expression. This can be seen in songs like The Heptones’ “Party Time” and The Paragons’ “The Tide Is High”.
The Rise of Reggae
Jamaican music has its roots in the Afro-Caribbean genre of ska. Ska was developed in Jamaica in the late 1950s and was later followed by rocksteady. Reggae emerged in the late 1960s. All three genres are often considered to be part of the same musical tradition.
Reggae emerges in the 1960s
Reggae emerged in the 1960s, when Ska and Rocksteady began to lose popularity. Reggae is a style of music that was created in Jamaica. The music is identified by a slow, swing-like rhythm and rhyming lyrics. Reggae is often political or religious in nature.
The first commercially successful Reggae song was “Simmer Down”, which was released by The Wailers in 1964. The song became an instant hit in Jamaica, and quickly spread to other Caribbean islands. Reggae continued to grow in popularity throughout the 1970s.
In the early 1970s, a new style of Reggae called “Roots Reggae” began to emerge. Roots Reggae is a more spiritual and conscious form of the music, with lyrics that address social and political issues. Major Roots Reggae artists of the 1970s include Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Burning Spear.
Reggae became increasingly popular outside of Jamaica in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1997, UB40’s single “Red Red Wine” became a worldwide hit, exposing Reggae music to a whole new audience. Today, Reggae is enjoyed all over the world by people of all ages.
Reggae goes international in the 1970s
In the 1970s, reggae went international, with recordings by such artists as Bob Marley and the Wailers, Jimmy Cliff, and Dennis Brown. In London in 1971, Bob Marley and the Wailers scored their first hit with “Sun is Shining”; soon afterwards they had a string of hits with “Stir It Up,” “Get Up Stand Up,” “I Shot the Sheriff,” and “No Woman No Cry.” His album Rastaman Vibration (1976) became the first reggae album to make the U.S. pop charts. Reggae also found a home in America with such bands as War and Santana recording reggae-influenced songs. In 1973 Jimmy Cliff had a hit with his film soundtrack The Harder They Come; his song “Many Rivers to Cross” was also a hit in the United States. Dennis Brown began recording in the late 1960s and scored hits throughout the 1970s with such songs as “Money in My Pocket” and “No Man is an Island.”
The Legacy of Reggae
Reggae is a genre of music that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The word “reggae” is a combination of the Rastafarian term “raggamuffin” and the Spanish word “reggaeton”. Reggae is a style of music that is influenced by many genres, including ska, rocksteady, dub, and calypso.
Reggae influence can be heard in many genres today
Reggae’s influence can be heard in many genres today, such as rap, hip hop, R&B, rock, and even pop. Its popularity has also transcended geographical boundaries, and it can now be found all over the world. Reggae’s legacy is evident in both its enduring popularity and its ability to continually evolve.
Reggae continues to be popular in Jamaica and around the world
Reggae is a genre of music that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The style is characterized by a strong bass line, offbeat rhythms, and lyrics that often deal with social and political issues.
Reggae became popular in the United States in the early 1970s, thanks in part to the release of The Harder They Come, a film starring Jimmy Cliff that featured several reggae songs on its soundtrack. Reggae continued to grow in popularity in the United States throughout the decade, particularly among African American and Latino audiences.
In the 1980s, reggae experienced a decline in popularity in Jamaica, as other genres such as dancehall and dub became more popular. However, reggae continued to be popular among Jamaican expatriates living in cities such as London and New York, and the genre found a new audience among white hippies living in places like California’s Marin County.
Reggae experienced a renewed surge in popularity in the 1990s, thanks largely to the international success of artists such as Bob Marley’s son Ziggy Marley and Lauryn Hill. Reggae has also been embraced by many other genres of music, including hip hop and punk.
Today, reggae continues to be popular in Jamaica and around the world. The genre has also been influential on many other genres of music, including rap, rock, and pop.
