Reggae

Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the 1960s. It is similar to ska, an earlier Jamaican music genre, and has several subgenres of its own. After it became popular in Jamaica, reggae spread to other countries and firmly entrenched itself in the music world. Reggae music often contains themes of spirituality and rebellion. It is deeply rooted in the religion known as Rastafari. Developed several decades before reggae, the religion preaches about the suppression of blacks and their hope of returning to their African homeland. Bob Marley, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Jimmy Cliff, and Desmond Dekker are some of reggae's most influential artists. The cultural roots and worldwide influence of reggae were formally recognized in 2018 when the genre was added to the worldwide list of "intangible cultural heritage of humanity" maintained by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Brief History

Reggae developed from ska, another music genre with roots in Jamaica. Ska was influenced by rhythm and blues (R&B) from New Orleans, Louisiana. Developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s in Jamaica, ska was Jamaican artists' take on R&B. It generally had a faster tempo than R&B and featured staccato guitar chords and syncopated rhythms. Staccato is a musical style characterized by short, disconnected notes. A syncopated rhythm is interrupted, which makes it sound offbeat. Ska allowed Jamaican artists to be more musically expressive than before and helped to spread Jamaican culture.

In the mid-1960s, Jamaican artists began slowing down the beat of ska and created reggae. Reggae still featured staccato guitar chords and syncopated rhythms, just with a slower tempo than ska. Like ska, reggae afforded Jamaican artists great musical expression. In particular, it provided Jamaican artists with a platform to express the suppression of blacks.

It was not long before reggae became Jamaica's signature music genre. Jamaican artist Bob Marley was instrumental in popularizing reggae in Jamaica and, eventually, across the globe. From the mid-1960s to the early 1980s, Marley was the quintessential reggae artist, spreading reggae outside Jamaica and garnering worldwide fame. Reggae's worldwide popularity continued into the twenty-first century.

Reggae evolved over time. Several subgenres of reggae were created, including dub and roots reggae. Dub developed in the late 1960s. It involved the practice of remixing existing reggae recordings. King Tubby and Lee "Scratch" Perry were the main pioneers of dub. Eventually, dub made its way into other music genres besides reggae. Today many consider dub to be its own genre, and served as a major influence on hip-hop, house music, and other styles. Roots reggae developed in the early 1970s. Its signature characteristic is its message of rebellion and devotion to the Rastafari faith. Marley can be considered a roots reggae artist, as his music often included these elements.

Connections to Rastafari

Since its inception, reggae has been an important aspect of Jamaican culture. Many people in the country, especially those of African heritage, related to reggae's messages of spirituality and rebellion. Reggae has strong ties to Rastafari, also known as Rastafarianism. Rastafari is an African-based religion that originated in Jamaica in the 1930s after Haile Selassie I became emperor of Ethiopia in 1930. Followers of Rastafari, often called "Rastafarians" or "Rastas," among other names, believe that Haile Selassie is God. They believe that blacks are God's chosen people but have been suppressed as a result of colonization and slavery. They contend that Haile Selassie will lead blacks living in exile back to Africa, which will reinstate blacks' standing. Rastafarians also believe in reincarnation and eternal life. They do not believe in contraception or abortion. Black political activist Marcus Garvey was instrumental in developing theology that was then adopted by Rastafari. About one million people throughout the world adhere to the Rastafari faith.

Rastafari has a code of religious practice. Rastafarians must follow a strict diet, which primarily consists of natural fruits and vegetables. They usually refrain from meat and must abstain from alcohol. They are prohibited from cutting their hair. During religious ceremonies, spirituality is heightened through meditating, chanting, and drumming. Additionally, smoking marijuana to achieve heightened spirituality is part of the religious practice of Rastafarians. Female Rastafarians follow a different code of religious practice.

Rastafari is symbolized by a lion and certain colors. The lion symbolizes Haile Selassie. The dreadlocks hairstyle worn by many Rastafarians is meant to represent the mane of a lion. The colors of Rastafari are green, red, black, and yellow (or gold), which represent the flags of Jamaica and Ethiopia. The Jamaican flag includes green, black, and gold, and the Ethiopian flag contains green, red, and yellow.

Rastafari is characterized by a unique style. Because Rastafarians cannot cut their hair, they grow long dreadlocks. Many Rastafarian men grow beards. Rastafarians frequently wear clothing and accessories that feature the colors of Rastafari. For example, many Rastafarians wear crocheted hats called rasta caps that are green, red, black, and yellow. Rasta caps generally are large enough to tuck away dreadlocks. Many reggae artists practice Rastafari and employ the style of Rastafarians. For instance, Marley was known for his long dreadlocks and frequently wore clothing and accessories with the colors of Rastafari, including a rasta cap.

Influential Reggae Artists

Marley is widely regarded as the most influential reggae artist of all time. Born Robert Nesta Marley on February 6, 1945, in Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica, Marley moved to Kingston, Jamaica, to begin a music career at the age of fourteen. In 1962, he released his debut single, "Judge Not." The following year, Marley and five other artists—Peter Tosh, Bunny Livingston, Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso, and Cherry Smith—formed a group called the Teenagers. The group later changed its name to the Wailing Rudeboys, the Wailing Wailers, and then the Wailers. Eventually, the group became known as Bob Marley & the Wailers. Braithwaite, Kelso, and Smith eventually left the group. The remaining members—Marley, Tosh, and Livingston—became devoted to the Rastafari religion. Marley was pivotal in spreading the religion throughout the world.

Bob Marley & the Wailers recorded reggae music and helped popularize the genre. Among the group's early singles are "I'm Still Waiting," "Simmer Down," and "Let Him Go (Rude Boy Get Gail)." In the early 1970s, the group added brothers Aston "Family Man" Barrett and Carlton "Carlie" Barrett on bass guitar and drums, respectively. The group then signed to the major label Island Records. In 1973, the group released the album Catch a Fire. The album attracted worldwide attention and helped the group expand beyond Jamaica. Later in 1973, Marley and his group cut the album Burnin', which features the song "I Shot the Sheriff." The following year, popular British guitarist Eric Clapton covered the song, which earned him a top ten hit and brought more international attention to reggae in general and Marley in particular. Soon after the release of Burnin', Tosh and Livingston left the group. Marley then enlisted the I-Threes, a vocal group that included Marley's wife, Rita Marley—whom he had married in 1966—Marcia Griffiths, and Judy Mowatt. Over the next several years, other members came and went.

In 1974, Bob Marley & the Wailers released the album Natty Dread. The album includes the song "No Woman, No Cry," one of Marley's most recognizable songs. In 1976, the group dropped the album Rastaman Vibration, which was a hit in the United States. Marley and his group had helped to bring reggae to the masses.

Back in Jamaica, Marley was widely revered. His music, which covered themes such as spirituality, devotion, and revolution, struck a chord with many. Some also saw him as a threat. In late 1976, Marley was injured during an assassination attempt. The incident did not deter him, though; Bob Marley & the Wailers continued making music

In 1977, the group released the album Exodus, which was a success in the United States and the United Kingdom. The album includes some of the biggest hits of Marley's career, including "Jamming," "Waiting in Vain," and "One Love/People Get Ready." The album Kaya followed in 1978, producing the hit songs "Is This Love" and "Satisfy My Soul." The album was a hit in the United Kingdom but struggled in the United States, as US radio stations did not think the group's sound suited their format. Nevertheless, Bob Marley & the Wailers cut the album Survival in 1979. The album generated the songs "So Much Trouble in the World" and "Wake Up and Live." In 1980, the group dropped the album Uprising, which includes "Could You Be Loved," another memorable Marley song. The album was a hit in the United Kingdom and fared better in the United States than the group's two previous albums.

In 1981, Marley's life was cut short. He died of cancer on May 11, 1981, in Miami, Florida, at the age of thirty-six. Marley's success continued even after his death. In 1983, the posthumous album Confrontation was released. The album features the noteworthy Marley song "Buffalo Soldier." The following year, a best-of collection, Legend, was released. The collection includes many of Marley's greatest songs and was a huge success. Marley received many posthumous honors and awards, including a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in 2001, and he and his influential music are still celebrated today.

While Marley has become so heavily associated with reggae that he dominates popular perceptions of the music, he was by no means the only influential artist to work in the genre. Lee "Scratch" Perry was born on March 20, 1936, in Hanover Parish, Jamaica. In the late 1950s, he worked with ska producer Prince Buster and began selling records for Downbeat Sound System. He then began producing and recording music at Studio One. After working at Wirl Records, Perry formed his own label, Upsetter, in 1968. Perry's debut single for the label was "People Funny Boy," which was a success in Jamaica. Other singles that Perry released around this time include "Return of Django," "Clint Eastwood," and "The Vampire," all of which were instrumental tracks that found success in Jamaica. Perry had established himself as a significant—and eccentric—reggae artist.

In the 1970s, Perry released much dub material and opened a studio named Black Ark. At the studio, he produced some of Marley's tracks. Eventually, Black Ark burned down. Some speculated that Perry had burned down the studio. His mental state during this time often had been called into question, and many suspected that he was involved in heavy drug use. Perry soon left Jamaica and continued making music. Among his other material are the albums Jamaican E.T. (2002), Master Piece (2012), and Back on the Controls (2014).

Perhaps the best known international reggae star besides Marley was Jimmy Cliff. Born James Chambers on April 1, 1948, in Saint James Parish, Jamaica, he moved to Kingston at the age of fourteen to pursue a music career. Initially unsuccessful, Cliff found a hit with the single "Hurricane Hattie." He then had several other hits, including "Miss Jamaica," "King of Kings," "One Eyed Jacks," and "Pride and Passion." He soon became an important figure in the ska scene in Jamaica and Great Britain and, ultimately, had a large influence on reggae.

Cliff released his debut album, Hard Road, in 1968. He then had international success with the single "Wonderful World, Beautiful People." In 1969, he cut the album Wonderful World, followed by the album Another Cycle in 1971. Perhaps Cliff's greatest contribution to reggae, however, was the soundtrack to the film The Harder They Come (1972), which also stars Cliff and became an international success that helped introduce many around the world to reggae. Several of the songs on the soundtrack album are Cliff's compositions, and The Harder They Come is widely regarded as one of the greatest reggae albums of all time. Cliff went on to release many other albums, including Follow My Mind (1976), Cliff Hanger (1985), and Black Magic (2004). His global influence and popularity was recognized with his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

Desmond Dekker was born Desmond Dacres on July 16, 1942, in Kingston. He was an orphan as a teenager. In 1961, he auditioned at Studio One and at Treasure Isle. Although he was unsuccessful, Dekker eventually broke into the ska scene in Jamaica. In 1963, he released his debut single, "Honour Your Father and Mother," which became a hit in Jamaica. Other hits soon followed, including "Sinners Come Home," "Labour for Learning," and "King of Ska."

Perhaps Dekker's best known work is the hit single "007 (Shanty Town)," which appeared on his debut album of the same name, released in 1967. The song also appeared on The Harder They Come. In 1968, Dekker found success with the single "Israelites." He continued releasing material from the 1970s to the 1990s, including a cover of Cliff's "You Can Get It If You Really Want" and the albums Black and Dekker (1980) and Moving On (1996). Dekker died of a heart attack on May 25, 2006, in London, England.

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