British rock musicians were increasingly inspired by Jamaican styles. For instance, The Eagles’ 1977 hit song “Hotel California” included a reggae rhythm as part of its structure.
Ska beat has also had an influence on artists of other nationalities; Ian Dury incorporated it into pub-rock group The Clash; Georgie Fame sang with an accent from Jamaica when backing skankers on UK hits like “She’s Royal”, while a song by Mighty Diamonds encouraged unity amid racial tensions in Europe.
The Birth of Reggae
Jamaican artists’ embrace of slavery and imperialism unleashed a cultural revolution. Reggae became the voice of lower class communities to rebel against societal ills with love and faith – it represented a new form of protest music with strong messages yet memorable melodies.
Kingston’s slums saw local bands playing an amalgamation of American R&B, Caribbean, and pan-African sounds, with drummers emphasizing afterbeat or second and fourth beats (in time with piano and guitar playing walking quarter notes), to produce a sound reminiscent of jazz or ragtime; musicians termed this style “ska.”
Ska was quick and danceable; its snare drum and hi-hat pulse, syncopated rhythms and the Nyahbinghi drumming tradition laid the groundwork for reggae music, while also reflecting political and religious beliefs of Jamaica’s black majority — an amalgam that came to be known as rastafari.
Bob Marley emerged as an influential artist during this era, leading the Wailers as co-leader and soloist, singing about God and humanity alike. His lyrics and protest songs helped fuel Jamaican independence movements that were becoming stronger at that time.
Reggae music often explores themes of sensuality, as in Deborah Glasgow’s sensual “Champion Lover,” recorded and then covered in 1989 by Gregory Isaacs, Shabba Ranks and I Roy. However, its real power lies in its message about female empowerment and self-esteem — something shared among many other reggae songs.
Reggae was propelled into mainstream popularity through a 1972 movie starring Jimmy Cliff as an up-and-coming reggae artist who relocates to Kingston and becomes embroiled with violent street gangs, which pose threats to his life and career. The lyrics in The Harder They Come mirrored many of the social issues plaguing Jamaica at that time; many turned towards Rastafari religion for guidance at that time – thus helping solidify ties between reggae music and Rastafarian culture that embodied them both. Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia helped fortified this link between reggae music and Rastafarian culture that it represented.
The Wailers
Rocksteady music emerged during the late ’60s, when rhythms slowed, giving melody and bass lines more space to shine. This more elegant form made reggae danceable and enabled artists such as Alton Ellis and Hopeton Lewis to flourish. Rocksteady also marked Rastafari culture’s ascent into Jamaican society; Emperor Haile Selassie visited Jamaica that same year, who is revered as their messiah by Rastafarism adherents.
Bob Marley and the Wailers first emerged as vocal group known as Wailing Rudeboys or Teenagers before signing with Island Records as vocal quartet in 1963. Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso, Bunny Livingston, Cherry Smith were original members. Once signed to Island, however, Aston “Family Man” Barrett (bass) and his brother Carly Barrett (drums) became part of the rhythm section – with Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer later joining later that same year with Natty Dread being their commercial peak commercial success.
Once they partnered with producer Sonia Pottinger on 1975 album Two Sevens Clash, their sound changed considerably. Instead of approaching difficult topics with humor alone, such as Jamaican history or slavery, they used “Innocent Blood” as an educational piece about these issues instead.
Other artists such as Jamaica’s Dennis Brown, Britain’s Gregory Issacs and Maxi Priest all explored love themes through their music; but it was Jamaican singer-songwriter and guitarist Bob Marley who established reggae as mainstream music with his song ‘No Woman, No Cry.
This song reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1976 and became an international dance craze, popularly known as Electric Boogie. A reworking of The Skatalites’ version by Marley and the Wailers’ Electric Boogie would become an influential piece in Jamaican popular music that would impact reggae as it moved mainstream. The song’s positive message of self-love and respect resonated worldwide – Marcia Griffiths from I-Threes sang backup on it alongside I-Threes before going solo to release many classic reggae tunes under her own name in her solo career.
The Sound System
As ska evolved into rocksteady, its rhythms relaxed and the songs became easier to dance to – something Alton Ellis and The Techniques thrived at. Furthermore, rocksteady introduced the horn section along with lyrics dealing with themes related to Rastafarian ideology, social activism, love, protest and resistance.
Clive Campbell of Jamaican Sound System fame, also known as DJ Kool Herc, made an impactful mark during this era by popularizing a technique known as “breaking”, whereby DJs would deliberately interrupt the beat to allow MCs to speak over it and discuss current activities through rhymed verse. His influence was immense and helped establish hip-hop.
By the mid-60s, major US artists had begun embracing Jamaican music. R&B singer Johnny Nash made waves with reggae-influenced hits in 1968 to 1969 including chart-topping single Stir It Up; Paul Simon also recorded Mother And Child Reunion as an anthem of reggae-infused sound.
Harry Belafonte used the acoustic sounds of Jamaica’s pre-ska music as inspiration for his calypso performances; although advertised as such, his style more closely resembled mento; an gentler form of island music.
While Americans were enjoying Jamaican music, Britain was emerging into its punk movement. British bands like the Clash were seeking non-mainstream allies while paying homage to Jamaican tunes with awkward results; nevertheless, their intent was clear.
Combat Rock was released by U Roy and company in 1969 and featured an cover of Junior Murvin’s anti-crime classic Bankrobber. Reggae also allowed for some surprising and unique takes on country songs; for instance U Roy’s early toasting version of Roger Miller’s timeless King of the Road almost had dirge-like qualities with sudden shouted interjections adding some lively interjections that kept it lively at regular intervals.
Althea and Donna was another British vocal group known for producing infectiously skanky music, most famous for its UK No.1 hit Uptown Top Ranking in 1977-78. However, Althea and Donna also produced some serious reggae numbers like I Strictly Roots which exposed how society has continued to ignore slavery’s legacy.
The Internationalization of Reggae
Reggae first gained global popularity during its initial popularity in Jamaica and the Caribbean; soon it spread worldwide as its rhythms and basslines found new life elsewhere. R&B and soul artists often adopted reggae’s rhythms while adding lyrics with political overtones; R&B artists also took to fusing reggae rhythms with lyrics which spoke of social or political issues, leading to politicization of music. Toasting vocal style of reggae helped give rise to rap music; while its toasting vocal style inspired funk, punk, disco and hip hop genres among many other styles that ultimately inspired other genres of music that would later influence funk punk punk disco hip hop genres.
Reggae music has had an indelible mark on global culture. Its songs have changed lives of billions around the globe and helped shape many different cultures; its influence can even be used for good purposes like peace and love promotion or violence against one’s opponent. Reggae remains one of the world’s most dynamic forms of musical expression and has played an essential part in many world histories and revolutions.
Reggae’s heavy beat and skanky rhythms made it appealing to rock and pop musicians who wanted to sound “cool”. Bands such as Eagles and Steely Dan incorporated reggae elements into their music; Ian Dury was part of a generation of pub rockers who loved reggae; The Clash formed around this same time took full advantage of reggae-inspired sounds by hiring Lee “Scratch” Perry to produce their record; its hit “Bankrobber” showcases rock and skank harmony.
As reggae’s popularity increased across North America and Europe, Jamaican bands could tour and sell records worldwide. By the 1970s, Central and South American fans of reggae began emerging. Undertaking their own version called reggae en espaol that featured local instruments as well as combinations with other genres, these “rababtoners” created another branch.
Reggae expanded further during the 1990s with the popularity of Latin American styles like salsa and merengue, often merging reggae with boleros and mambo to produce popular hits by Gloria Estefan and Marc Anthony among many other Latin artists. Today, reggae remains popular worldwide; Ugandan musicians Papa Cidy and Arthur Lutta perform reggae style music while Malians such as Askia Modibo and Tiken Jah Fakoly combine reggae with traditional Malian sounds in their creations.