What Influenced Calypso and Reggae Music?
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Caribbean music has been shaped by many influences, including Calypso and Reggae. In this post, we explore the history and origins of these two genres.
The Origins of Calypso and Reggae
Calypso and reggae are both genres of music that originated in the Caribbean. Both genres are heavily influenced by African music, and both have been popularized by Caribbean artists. Calypso is a genre of music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago, and it is characterized by its upbeat rhythms and its focus on social and political commentary. Reggae is a genre of music that originated in Jamaica, and it is characterized by its slow, relaxed tempo and its focus on love, peace, and unity.
The African connection
Calypso and reggae both have their roots in Africa. African music was brought to the Caribbean by slaves who were brought over to work on plantations. The slaves would sing songs to keep themselves entertained and to help pass the time. These songs would often tell stories or be about current events. The African musical tradition of call and response can be seen in both calypso and reggae. In call and response, one person sings a line and then the other person or group responds. This back-and-forth singing is a key part of both calypso and reggae.
Another important African musical tradition that can be seen in both calypso and reggae is the use of percussion instruments. Percussion instruments are instruments that are meant to be played by being hit, such as drums or maracas. In Africa, percussion instruments are used to keep the rhythm of the music going. This is also true for calypsos and reggae songs. The drums help to keep the beat while other instruments, such as guitars or keyboards, play melodic parts.
The Caribbean connection
Calypso and reggae both have their origins in the music of the Caribbean. The two genres are similar in many ways, but there are also some important differences.
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago. The genre is characterized by its upbeat rhythms and lyrics that often focus on social or political issues. Reggae is a genre of Jamaican music that emerged in the late 1960s. It is influenced by ska, rocksteady, and mento, as well as by American jazz and R&B. Reggae is characterized by its own unique rhythm, which is often slower than that of calypso.
Both calypso and reggae have been hugely influential to other genres of music. Calypso has had an impact on genres such as disco, soca, and African music, while reggae has influenced genres such as hip hop, dub, and dancehall.
The Development of Calypso and Reggae
Calypso and Reggae music has been around for many years and has been enjoyed by people all over the world. Both genres of music have their own unique sound and style. But what exactly influenced the development of these two genres of music? Let’s take a look.
The influence of American Jazz
When we talk about the origins of Calypso and Reggae music, we have to start with the influence of American Jazz. Jazz was introduced to the Caribbean in the early 20th century, and it quickly became popular in Trinidad and Tobago. Jazz musicians like Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong were hugely influential, and their music had a profound impact on the development of Calypso and Reggae.
The influence of British Ska
The development of Jamaican popular music was strongly influenced by the arrival of American R&B and rock ‘n’ roll in the 1950s. These genres – along with African traditional music – provided the basis for the development of ska, which was Jamaica’s first original style of popular music. Ska was named after a precursor to rocksteady called skatty, which itself was derived from a type of Jamaican dance music called mento.
Mento is a very rhythmic form of folk music that was played by acoustic bands prior to the advent of electricity on the island. These bands consisted largely of guitar, percussion and vocals, and they often played at holiday resorts and other tourist attractions. The popularity of mento declined in the 1960s as ska, rocksteady and eventually reggae took over as Jamaica’s dominant musical genres.
Ska developed in the early 1960s and is characterized by a strong up-tempo rhythm, syncopated bass lines and horns playingmelodic “riffs” or “choppy” rhythms known as “skank.” The horns were originally played by studio musicians who overdubbed their parts onto existing recordings, but eventually ska bands began to perform live with horn sections. The first Jamaican ska hit was “My Boy Lollipop” by Millie Small, which reached #2 on the UK singles chart in 1964.
Ska quickly evolved into rocksteady, a slower and more soulful style that became the dominant sound of Jamaica in the late 1960s. Rocksteady was spearheaded by artist such as Alton Ellis, The Paragons and The Heptones. The Wailers – who would later achieve international fame as Bob Marley & The Wailers – also began their career during this era, releasing their debut album “The Wailing Wailers” in 1965.
The Popularity of Calypso and Reggae
Though it is often lumped together, Calypso and Reggae are two distinct genres of music. Calypso is a music that originated in the Caribbean islands, while Reggae is a music that originated in Jamaica. Both genres of music are extremely popular and have influence many other genres of music.
The rise of Reggae in the 1970s
The 1970s saw the rise of Reggae music, which became very popular in Jamaica and developed into a global phenomenon. The music was influenced by many factors, including the political and social climate of the time, as well as the popularity of other genres such as rock and roll. Reggae artists often used lyrics to comment on the issues of their day, which helped to make the music more popular with listeners.
The popularity of Calypso in the 1980s
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago. The music is characterized by its lyrical content, which often deals with social and political issues. Calypso grew in popularity in the 1980s, due in part to the success of artists like David Rudder and Macka B.
