What Scholarly Articles Say About California Reggae Music
Contents
A summary of what scholarly articles say about the development of California reggae music and its influence on the West Coast reggae scene.
Reggae in California
Reggae music has been popular in California since the 1970s when Bob Marley and other Jamaican artist came to Los Angeles to perform. The popularity of reggae music in California increased in the 1980s with the release of albums by artists such as Ziggy Marley andsteel pulse. Reggae music has remained popular in California due to its positive message and easy-going vibe.
There have been several scholarly articles written about reggae music in California. One article, entitled “Reggae’s Golden State: How Jamaican Music Took Root in Los Angeles” explores how reggae music became popular in California. The article discusses how Jamaican artists came to Los Angeles to perform and how their music was embraced by the Californian people.
Another article, entitled “California Dreaming: The Influence of Reggae Music on Youth Culture” looks at how reggae music has influenced youth culture in California. The article discusses how reggae music provides a positive influence on young people and helps them to connect with their identity.
Overall, scholarly articles show that reggae music is popular in California because it is a positive and easy-going genre of music. Reggae music has remained popular over the years because it speaks to youth culture and helps young people connect with their identity.
The History of Reggae in California
Reggae music originated in Jamaica in the 1960s, and has since spread to other countries around the world. The United States is one of the countries where reggae has become popular, and California is home to a large number of reggae fans. In this article, we will take a look at the history of reggae in California and how it has become such a popular genre of music.
The First Wave of Reggae in California
In the early 1970s, reggae’s popularity was still tightly linked to its Jamaican roots. Reggae artists like Bob Marley and The Wailers, Toots and the Maytals, and Jimmy Cliff were beginning to gain international renown, but the music was still largely unknown in the United States. That began to change in 1971, when Marley and The Wailers embarked on a tour of North America. The tour included several stops in California, including shows in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The response to Marley’s shows was electric, and reggae began to catch on with American audiences. In the years that followed, a number of other Jamaican artists toured California, helping to spread the music’s popularity. Among them were Lee “Scratch” Perry, Burning Spear, and Max Romeo. Meanwhile, a number of California-based bands began playing reggae-influenced music. These included War, whose 1972 hit “Slippin’ Into Darkness” featured a heavy reggae groove, and Tower of Power, whose 1973 single “What Is Hip?” incorporated elements of ska and rocksteady.
By the mid-1970s, reggae had established itself as a firm presence in California’s musical landscape. In 1976, the first Reggae Sunsplash festival was held in Montego Bay, Jamaica; the following year, the event made its way to Los Angeles. Sunsplash was a major success, attracting some 20,000 fans to its two-day run at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion. It would go on to become an annual event in both Montego Bay and Los Angeles for many years to come.
The Second Wave of Reggae in California
In the 1980s, a new generation of reggae bands emerged in California, many of them led by artists of Jamaican descent who had migrated to the state during the 1970s. These bands became known as the second wave of reggae in California, and they built upon the foundations laid by their predecessors.
One of the most successful second-wave reggae bands was Fishbone, which was formed in Los Angeles in 1979. Fishbone combined elements of punk rock, ska, and reggae, and their music appealed to both white and black audiences. The band achieved mainstream success with their 1991 album Truth and Soul, which included the hit single “Sunless Saturday.”
Other second-wave California reggae bands include Midnite (formed in 1987), Groundation (formed in 1998), and Rebelution (formed in 2004). These bands continued to popularize reggae music in California and helped to make it an integral part of the state’s musical landscape.
The Future of Reggae in California
In recent years, the popularity of reggae music in California has grown rapidly. This is due in part to the increasing diversity of the population in California. Reggae music is a genre of music that originated in Jamaica. The music is characterized by its use of the Rastafarian language and its focus on the positive aspects of life.
The Third Wave of Reggae in California
There are different opinions about what the Third Wave of Reggae in California is, with some arguing that it began in the early 1990s and others claiming that it started in the mid-2000s. However, most scholars agree that the Third Wave is characterized by a new generation of Californian reggae artists who are influenced by both Jamaican and American music.
Some of the most popular Third Wave reggae artists include Rebelution, SOJA, Iration, and The Green. These bands often mix reggae with other genres such as rock, hip hop, and ska to create their own unique sound.
The Third Wave of Reggae in California is significant because it represents a new chapter in the history of reggae music. It also shows how curation can help preserve and promote traditional music forms.
