Jamaica

Reggae Is Here To Stay


Everyone has heard of reggae, and even if it isn't your cup of tea, the rhythmic music brings one specific country to mind: Jamaica. Developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s, Reggae has become a popular musical style worldwide and is fusing itself into other musical genres as well.

The most prominent instruments heard in reggae music include the drums, guitar, bass and sometimes some brass instruments. The style is based on the "skank," and before you get any ideas, this is a Jamaican term meaning off-beat. So instead of using the downbeats on a guitar as in rock and pop music, reggae focuses on the upward strokes of the guitar creating an interesting kind of jumpy sound.

Reggae owes some of its influence to traditional African music, but the official genre originated from a mix of ska and rocksteady which is described by a soulful and rhythmic sound similar but not exact to reggae.

Ska is one of the earlier precursors to reggae, developed in the early 1950s in Jamaica. The musical genre is also created by focusing on the off-beats, but it is more jazzy than reggae. Ska music hit its prime in the early 1960s during the Jamaican independence movement, during which it became a symbol of Jamaica's sense of individuality.

Rocksteady followed the ska movement with a much slower rhythmic quality. The fusion of these two genres produced reggae which borrowed qualities from each style of music. As modern musical styles gained more popularity in Jamaica, reggae lent itself out to other genres such as punk, which became big in the '80s.

Reggae music has often been criticized for its controversial lyrics. Although some reggae musicians choose to sing about the usual topics of love and relationships, some of the more original musicians, such as Bob Marley, sang about political and social issues.

Within the diverse genre, there are different types of reggae music. The earliest type of reggae is sometimes considered "skinhead reggae" because it became very popular among the working class in the UK in the late 1960s. The Pioneers and John Holt are two of the more popular reggae artists during this era.

In the late 1970s and into the 1980s, a more refined style of reggae called "roots" reggae became popular. It is also the more recognizable style of reggae music as it was made popular by the notable musicians, Bob Marley and Peter Tosh.

Along with being more refined, "roots" reggae is also more complex, with tricky drum patterns and more experimental guitar and keyboard riffs. The lyrics of "roots" reggae don't stray far from the genre's original messages, as many of these musicians sang about issues such as slavery, spirituality and poverty, keeping their native country close in thought.

Today, reggae has fused itself with many other styles of music, especially hip hop and rap. Many Jamaican DJs have included reggae in their mash-ups as well as giving the genre a more electronic or new-wave sound. Reggae has also spread to musicians all over the world who have incorporated the basis of the genre in their music. The good thing about reggae, though, is because of its distinguishable sound, it will always stand out in music.

Bob Marley


Hailing from the country itself, Jamaican singer/songwriter Bob Marley was one of the most highly esteemed reggae musicians. With dozens of well-known hits, Bob Marley has spread many messages regarding social and political issues, especially the Rastafari Movement, through his music.

Bob Marley began his music career playing ska and rocksteady music with the band, Bob Marley and The Wailers. While playing alongside Peter Tosh, this band is where the two musicians developed their distinct reggae sound.

After The Wailers broke up in the mid-1970s, Bob Marley still carried on with his career. The band released a total of thirteen albums in its career.

Bob Marley breakthrough album in the United States was Rastaman Vibration, which was released in 1976 and spent some time on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Another of Bob Marley's more popular albums was Babylon By Bus, which included the hit track "Jamming," a song that was popular among fans especially during live performances.

Bob Marley was openly opposed to the South African apartheid and made his distaste clear in his music. Songs such as "Redemption Song" and "Survival" express his opposition to poverty and the struggles of South Africans.

Bob Marley passed away in 1981 due to melanoma, but his legacy lives on as strongly as ever. There are many tributes to the musician all over the world in restaurants, hotels and festivals.

The late reggae singer's influence also lives on in his son's career. After his father's death, Ziggy Marley became a prominent reggae musician much like his biggest influence, Bob Marley.