How to Reggae Music Wiki

How to Reggae Music Wiki is a website that provides information on the history, culture, and music of reggae.

What is Reggae Music?

Reggae music is a genre of music that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The style is most closely associated with the Rastafarian movement, though it has also been popularized by non-Rastafarians. Reggae typically features a strong rhythms with solid bass lines and accents on the off-beat. The lyrics are often positive and uplifting, dealing with themes of love, peace, and social justice.

Origins of Reggae Music

Reggae music originated in the island of Jamaica in the late 1960s. The music was influenced by many different genres, including ska, rocksteady, and R&B. Reggae is typically slower than other genres of music, and it often has a “laid-back” feel to it. The lyrics of reggae songs often deal with social and political issues.

Ska

Ska is a precursor to reggae music. It started in Jamaica in the late 1950s and was originally a kind of dance music played by big bands. The defining characteristic of ska is its fast tempo and staccato (short, sharp) guitar or piano chords. Ska developed into two distinct styles in the 1960s: rocksteady and reggae.

Rocksteady is a slower, more soulful style of ska characterized by horns and harmonies. It was created in response to the popularity of American R&B and soul music in Jamaica. Reggae is the more familiar style of ska that we know today, characterized by a distinctive offbeat guitar rhythm called skankin’. Reggae developed from rocksteady in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Rocksteady

Rocksteady is a form of popular Jamaican music which developed in 1966 out of ska and rhythm and blues. It was slower than ska and placed more emphasis on the offbeat. The instrumentation primarily consisted of electric guitar, trumpet, trombone, saxophone, drums, and bass. By 1968, it had largely replaced ska as the preferred sound in Jamaica due to its slower tempo.

Rocksteady lyrics were often about love and relationships. The music was sung in mostly English with a few words in Jamaican Patois. Many rocksteady songs were cover versions of American rhythm and blues songs.

The most successful rocksteady performers included Alton Ellis, Ken Boothe, Delroy Wilson, The Techniques, The Paragons, The Heptones, The Wailers, and Jimmy Cliff. Rocksteady’s last gasp came in 1968 with the rise of toasting (rapping over rhythms) which would eventually lead to reggae.

Reggae Music in the 1970s

The 1970s saw the rise of reggae music, with artists like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh becoming international superstars. The genre developed from ska and rocksteady, and was quickly embraced by Jamaica’s Rastafarian community. Reggae music has a unique sound, with a heavy emphasis on the bass and drums. The lyrics are often political, and the music has a relaxed, laid-back vibe.

The Wailers

The Wailers were one of the most successful reggae bands of all time. They were led by Bob Marley and included some of the best musicians in reggae. The Wailers had hits with songs like “No Woman, No Cry”, “I Shot the Sheriff”, and “Get Up, Stand Up”. The Wailers were an important part of the development of reggae music and helped to bring it to a mainstream audience.

Bob Marley

Bob Marley is a reggae singer, songwriter, guitarist, and percussionist. Born in 1945 in Nine Miles, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica, he started his musical career in 1963 with the group the Wailers. The Wailers achieved international fame with their albums Catch a Fire (1972) and Burnin’ (1973), and helped popularize reggae music around the world. Marley died of cancer in 1981.

Reggae Music Today

The music of Jamaica includes Jamaican folk music and many popular genres, such as mento, ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub music, dancehall, ska jazz, and rhythm and blues. Reggae is especially popular in Jamaica and the Caribbean. The music of Jamaica is often used in film and television, and has been adopted by many other cultures.

Contemporary Reggae Artists

Reggae music has come to be known around the world since its inception in the 1960s. With its roots in Jamaica, reggae has been heavily influenced by both African and Caribbean music, as well as by American R&B and rock. Today, reggae is enjoyed by people of all ages and from all walks of life.

There are many contemporary reggae artists who are keeping the legacy of this unique genre alive. Some of the most popular reggae artists today include:

-Bob Marley: Perhaps the most iconic figure in reggae history, Bob Marley is responsible for bringing the genre to a wider audience. His music is still as popular today as it was when he was alive, and his influence can be heard in the work of many other reggae artists.
-Buju Banton: A Grammy-winning artist, Buju Banton is one of the most successful reggae artists of all time. His unique blend of dancehall and reggae has won him a wide fan base, and his work has been praised by critics and fans alike.
-Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley: The youngest son of Bob Marley, Damian Marley is a successful reggae artist in his own right. His 2005 album Welcome to Jamrock was a huge hit, cementing his place as one of the most popular contemporary reggae artists.
-Shaggy: A Jamaican-born artist who rose to fame in the 1990s with his unique brand of dancehall-infused pop, Shaggy is one of the best-selling reggae artists of all time. His catchy tunes and easygoing persona have made him a favorite among fans around the world.

The Reggae Sound

The reggae sound is a unique Jamaican sound that developed in the late 1960s. It is based on a fusion of African and Caribbean music with elements of gospel, jazz, and rock. The typical instrumentation for reggae bands includes drums, bass, rhythm guitar, and horns. The horn section usually consists of a trumpet and a saxophone. The use ofelectric guitars is not common in reggae, although it is sometimes used in ska and rocksteady.

The drumming style in reggae is very important to the overall sound of the music. The drums are usually played with a heavy backbeat on the second and fourth beats of each measure. This backbeat is sometimes referred to as the “one drop.” The snare drum often plays rim shots on the first beat of each measure to accentuate the backbeat.

The bass guitar in reggae usually plays a repeating figure called a “riff.” This riff is typically played on the first and third beats of each measure. It often uses improvised countermelodies and fills to keep the rhythm interesting.

The rhythm guitar in reggae typically plays chords on the offbeats while keeping a steady strumming pattern on the downbeats. This strumming pattern is known as “the skank.” It creates a syncopated effect that helps to drive the groove of the music.

Horns are used sparingly in reggae, but when they are used they typically play simple melodic lines or countermelodies that complement the lead vocals or solo instruments.

Reggae bands typically have two or three vocalists who sing either lead or harmony parts. The lead vocalist sings the main melody while the harmony vocalists sing supporting parts. Reggae lyrics often deal with social or political issues, but they can also be simply about love or other topics