Reggae music blends indigenous Jamaican styles with rhythm and blues, rock music and American soul. Its signature groove can be found in its loping beat, hypnotic bass lines and upstroke of rhythm guitar (known as “skank beat”) which provide its signature groove.
Reggae drumbeats generally fall into three categories: One drop, Rockers, and Steppers. Incorporating metronomic banging of closed hi-hat on beats one and four of a four beat rhythm is what defines one drop while rockers or steppers involve striking multiple times each beat to keep time with an external beater or beater on that beat.
Toots and the Maytals
Toots and the Maytals (originally known as The Vikings) is one of Jamaica’s first reggae vocal groups to become internationally successful outside its home island. Comprised of Frederick “Toots” Hibbert, Nathaniel “Jerry” Matthias, and Raleigh Gordon they combined gospel-style vocals with soul sung to horn-driven Jamaican rhythms and gospel/ska/rocksteady influences; their music gained global exposure when featured on 1972 soundtrack for film The Harder They Come; songs “Monkey Man” and Sweet and Dandy”.
Toots is one of the many artists credited with helping reggae music achieve international prominence. It has its origins in Jamaica’s rich cultural and religious diversity – from African children’s games to the ecstatic dances performed during Christian Pocomania cult ceremonies and Garveyite Rastafarian movements.
Reggae music blends traditional Caribbean rhythms with jazz, blues, and New Orleans rhythm and blues influences to form its unique sound. Instruments characteristic of reggae include African hand-drumming known as skank, staccato chords on bass and lead guitars (known as skengay), as well as lyrics sung in Jamaican patois dialect lyrics.
Reggae music’s political themes reflect its country’s struggles against British colonialism and foster a growing national identity in its citizens. Black Uhuru won the inaugural Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 1985 – their song “Africa Unite” celebrated liberation struggles across Africa and the Caribbean while fighting for justice, equality and unity among Africans regardless of national origin or religious affiliation.
Reggae music provides an effective outlet for political protest and celebration alike, and Toots and the Maytals’ Sweet and Dandy by Toots and the Maytals serves as a prime example. Toots’ joyful delight can be heard all throughout this song! Reggae is a lifestyle genre which embraces One Love as inspired by Marcus Garvey and popularized by Rastafarian movement; this concept can be found throughout music, dance, fashion, language cuisine visuals.
Black Uhuru
Black Uhuru was formed by Garth Dennis, Derrick “Ducky” Simpson and Don McCarlos in the early 1970s with an eclectic repertoire that included Curtis Mayfield’s ‘Romancing to the Folk Song”. They soon made an impactful first recording for Dynamic Records (under their Swahili name Uhuru), quickly earning strong singles from Dynamic and Island labels before tensions between members led to Michael Rose leaving to form Jayes and eventually solo work, McCarlos joining Wailing Souls before being replaced by Puma Jones who sang lead vocals on two albums before her ill health forced her out; being replaced by Junior Reid from Waterhouse at that point.
Black Uhuru experienced renewed commercial and critical success during the early 1990s, garnering three more Grammy-nominated albums including Iron Storm (1991), Mystical Truth (1993) and Strongg (1996). Unfortunately, however, in 1996 their band fractured with Simpson touring Europe under that name while Carlos and Dennis continued touring under it; an ugly legal battle ensued which Simpson eventually prevailed upon – eventually winning this time around as well.
Although Black Uhuru wasn’t as radio-friendly, their unique sound made an indelible impactful statement about black liberation chanting with dignity and pride. Black Uhuru were an integral part of reggae music and had their own distinct style which makes them timeless artists today.
In the late ’80s they signed with RAS Records and released an album entitled Brutal that took them in a more dance beat direction, to great critical acclaim. At this point however, tensions between Simpson and Carlos began rising, leading to them eventually parting ways and splitting the band in 1988; Junior Reid would later rejoin briefly before leaving to focus on his solo career; their remaining members recorded two more albums before reforming with Andrew Bees as singer for one final album release.
Marcia Griffiths
Marcia Griffiths, often dubbed the Empress of Reggae Music, began her career singing for Byron Lee and the Dragonaires band in 1964. Shortly afterwards she recorded at Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One label with Feel Like Jumping as her debut track; later teaming up with Bob Andy she recorded several duets together before becoming part of I-Threes; an background group supporting Bob Marley and Wailers between 1974-81. Since then she has become an integral part of Jamaican music touring worldwide while recording continuously since she began performing.
Griffiths was born November 23rd 1949 and began her singing career by singing with the church choir. Her parents taught her to sing, encouraging her to take part in local talent shows and contests. At a neighborhood party she performed Carla Thomas’ No Time to Lose song in front of an appreciative audience; one attendee included Philip James from Blues Busters band who recognized her talent and introduced her directly to Byron Lee who included her on one of his shows.
Lee heard Griffiths sing again the next day and fell immediately in love. She was given a recording contract and manager to guide her career; quickly becoming famous for her strong, smooth love songs and captivating live performances; keeping alive the spirit of her mentors while staying true to reggae culture.
Electric Boogie was released as a single in 1989, becoming an instant global phenomenon thanks to the engaging dance moves inspired by it. This global hit became the highlight of her career and cemented her place as an iconic name within pop music circles worldwide.
Griffiths achieved success through solo albums, yet also performed alongside prominent Jamaican artists like Buju Banton and Beres Hammond. She received many achievements and awards during her lifetime, such as being honored on Hollywood Walk of Fame and receiving Jamaica’s Order of Distinction award. Alongside her music career, Griffiths supported her community via her foundation that channels donations towards programs serving women and children.
Bob Marley
Bob Marley, who passed away in 1981, was an iconic Rastafarian musician and one of the top selling musicians ever. Devoutly religious yet also deeply committed to black culture’s development through music, his style was heavily influenced by ska, rocksteady, American R&B as well as poverty and racism issues; many of his songs incorporated these styles. Bob believed it was important to share Rastafari with people worldwide in order to change society’s perceptions of blacks.
Marley was born in 1945 in Trench Town on Kingston’s south side and spent most of his life living there, having both white parents and black mothers. At an early age he learned to play drums before beginning a professional music career in 1962 with Joe Higgs and Peter Tosh’s first band called Wailers; their song Burnin’ was the first reggae song featuring “skengay”, an innovative rhythm guitar sound used to resemble gunshots hitting pavement as it conveyed rejection against established culture as well as sounds associated with street violence.
Reggae was inspired by African drumming, with its rhythms, bass lines and melodic structure often speaking of spiritual liberation. These sounds and influences can be heard in both Toots & the Maytals and Black Uhuru compositions; Marley was instrumental in developing reggae music, his songs becoming part of contemporary life as we know it today.
Although reggae songs often tackle religious and social topics, he was particularly focused on the plight of black population worldwide, including those scattered or colonized through slavery or imperialism. He stressed the idea that humanity needed to work together for survival (Dunkley and Shonekan 2018).
Survival was Bob Marley’s final album released in 1979 and called on Africans to unify against Babylon and free themselves. Unfortunately, Marley succumbed to acral lentiginous melanoma in 1981 and ultimately passed away.