Important Reggae artists

The Pioneers Long Shot in 1968 has been identified as the

earliest recorded example of Reggae music.
The man that really made Reggae popular however was Bob
Marley. His band The Wailers produced some of the earliest
recordings of Reggae and, after they disbanded, Marley became a
huge success as a solo artist, showing the planet reggae music
and becoming one of the best known musicians in the world
today.
Where are the important
reggae artists from?
Reggae originated from Jamaica, so naturally the most
important reggae artists come from there, such as Bob
Marley. With a strong sense of Rastafarianism in the
songs, non-Jamaicans have a hard time putting the
soul into the songs Rastafarians could.
Jamaica
Meaning behind the songs
Reggae music is very soulful and most songs are created
with inspiration from the world around the artist, from
nature to past experiences.
This applies to Bob Marley in quite a large way. Many songs
of his are created from his feelings and surroundings. Some
are simple observations, such as his song Three Little Birds
which is inspired by the canaries that flew by his home and
sit on his windowsill in Jamaica. Other songs are of his
emotions and conflictions, which is shown in Redemption
Song. It was written whist Marley was battling cancer in his
toe, which would later take his life. Taking verses from
Marcus Garvey, the song encourages listeners to
Emancipate yourself from mental slavery which mirrors
Marleys confliction with religion and medical treatment.
Rastafarianism
Rastafarianism is a African-based spiritual ideology that formed in Jamaica in the 1930s.
Although sometimes described as a religion many consider it a Way of life. Those who
follow Rastafarianism are known as Rastas or Rastafaris and don traditional dreadlocks
along with spiritual use of cannabis.
They worship Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia as Jesus Christ in his second
advent. As monotheists they believe in one god, Jah. Jah, in spiritual form, is believed to
be inside everyone. This has resulted in Rastafari using I and I instead of We or I
which refers to the person and Jah along with the belief of equality, as Jah is in
everyone.
Rastafari also believe that Zion (Africa and Ethiopia) was land promised to them by Jah.
They totally oppose modern western society, dubbing it Babylon which they see as
utterly corrupt and based on greed. They believe themselves to be the true children of
Israel and try to validate a solid link between Ethiopia and Israel, normally using the title
Lion of Judah as evidence.
As physical immortalists Rastafari believe a chosen few will continue to live in their
current bodies forever, which they refer as everliving. They will continue to live with
Jah as king and Amharic as the official language in their heaven which they think will be
on earth, more specifically Ethiopia.
The Image of Reggae
The main image of Reggae is normally associated with
the Ethiopian flag colours red, gold and green along
with dreadlocks. This is mostly due to Rastafarianism
being a large part of Reggae musics inspiration.
Dreadlocks
Dreadlocks are very commonly associated with the Rastafari
movement and Reggae music. Being copied from Kenya in 1953,
Rastas associate dreadlock with the spiritual journey of growing
dreadlocks, as patience is the key of growing locks, a journey of
the mind, soul and spirituality. The way to form natural dreadlocks
is to allow hair to grow in its natural pattern, without cutting,
combing or brushing, but simply to wash it with pure water.

Significance of Red, Green
and Gold
The red, green and gold is associated with
Rastafarianism in a large way. The 3 colours are
commonly seen on Rastafari flags, posters and icons.
All of the colours are on the Ethiopian flag and show
the loyalty of the the rastafari to Ethiopia from when
Haile Selassie was reigning. Red represents the blood
of the martyrs, green is the vegetation and beauty of
Ethiopia and yellow being the wealth of Africa.
Before Reggae
The development of Reggae came from a variety of
music styles including:
Ska
Rocksteady
Mento
Jazz
Calypso
Rhythm and Blues
Ska
Ska originated in Jamaica in the 1950s and was the precursor to Rocksteady
and Reggae. The origins of the word Ska has different theories, Ernest
Ranglin claimed that it was a word made by musicians to refer to the skat!
sound made by a scratching guitar stum.
Another theory made is from a recording session by Coxsone Dodd in 1959.
The double bassist Cluett Johnson told guitarist Ranglin to play like ska, ska,
ska, although Ranglin denies this, stating that Clue couldnt tell him what to
play. Some people think that it comes from Johnsons word Skavoovie, which
is how he would greet his friends. There are multiple other theories also.
Ska combined elements of Caribean mento and calypso whilst combining
them with American Jazz and rhythm and blues. It normally has a walking
bass line accented with rhythms on the upbeat (the skank). Hugely popular
in Jamaica in the early 1960s it also became big with British mods, then later
appealed to many skinheads.
(Information found on Wikipedia).
Rocksteady
Rocksteady is the successor to Ska and the predecessor to Reggae. Getting
its name from a dance style mentioned in Alton Eltons song Rock Steady, it
was performed by Jamaican vocal harmony bands such as The Maytals and
The Paragons in the 1960s.
It is the result of the combination of R&B, Jazz, Ska and Latin and African
drumming amongst other genres. As they took inspiration from US soul
songs, many Rocksteady tracks are love songs. Some are about religion and
Rastafarianism, though not to the extent of Reggae.
Several factors Rocksteady contributed to the creation of Reggae. The
advancement of Jamaican studio technology had a marked effect on he
sound and styles of recordings. Bass patterns became more complex and as a
result became increasingly more dominant over other arrangements. Pianos
were also replaced by he electric organ, horns could fade further in the
background, rhythm guitars were introduced and a more precise, intricate
and aggressive drumming style.
(Information found on Wikipedia)
Ethiopia
To Rastas, Ethiopia is the promised land. It is the
birthplace of Emperor Haile Selassie, whom they
believe was Jesus Christ in his second coming, making
Ethiopia a sacred place. Rastafarianism is dedicated to
African culture, with everything else being Babylon.
6 important/influential
recordings
Ska
Youre Wondering Now The Skatalites
This song has the characteristics of the skank which is
the accent on beats 2 and 4. There is also a walking bass
line and the instruments used are mainly acoustic
instruments. There is a quite simple chord progression.

Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqECGoEjm-M

Ska
Madness Prince Buster
This piece has the same skank with the up beat stabs. It
uses traditional instruments with a walking bass line. This
song was covered by the group Madness in the 1980s.
There is a trumpet solo that is improvised which comes
from the jazz genre. There is still a simple chord
progression.

Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZC6Ot1MLP0
Rocksteady
Queen Majesty The Techniques
Slower than Ska. There is a short intro before there is a
drum lick then the piece starts. The skank is still very
noticeable. Introduction of electric guitar for the skank
part. The bass part is simpler than a walking bass line but
it still has a rhythmic pattern.

Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58w2RM4vFDw
Rocksteady
Long Time Me No See You Girl The Sensations
Starts with the drum lick. Still a slower tempo than Ska,
This piece uses more traditional instruments than Queen
Majesty. The bass is using repeated notes with a rhythm
instead of a walking bass line. There is an instrumental
section which sounds composed instead of improvised
like with Ska.

Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz11lqM0nmc
Reggae
One Love Bob Marley and the Wailers
This is a very famous Bob Marley track. Notice the drum lick to
start off. There is a piano, but the skank is played on electric
guitar. The bass line is a mixture of rhythmic and walking bass
line. The production is better showing the development of
technology to record music. The chord progression is still quite
simple and the structure is strophic.

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdB-8eLEW8g
Reggae
Sunshine Ziggy Marley
This piece doesnt start like a traditional reggae track but the
skank comes in after the intro. The bass line is riffy and there is
a synthesizer showing how instrument technology has
improved. The middle section of the piece use a sitar which
shows a fusion with Indian music and the piece loses the
reggae feel before coming back in with the skank.

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chbmD4yfcO0
Non-West Indian Reggae
and the music
Steel Pulse is a roots reggae musical band from Birmingham
that was formed in 1975. They were the first non-Jamaican
band to win the Grammy award for Best Reggae Album.
Their first release with Island Records, Ku Klux Klan 45 was
one about racism and on stage they would normally parody
the hate group.
Christafari is an American Christian Reggae band formed in
1990 by religious minister Mark Mohr, a born again Christian
and former Rastafari. The goal of the group is to promote
Christianity to all, including Rastas. Their songs sometimes
use words of former Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I to
challenge the beliefs of the Rastas. An example of this is
their Teachings of His Majesty.