43 Interesting Facts About Reggae Music That You Must Know!

Reggae is a musical form that is well accepted and loved by people worldwide.

Originated in Jamaica, it has inspiration from many music forms incorporated in it. Reggae has a unique style that makes it instantly identifiable.

This genre of music has transformed from being a mode of expression of the Jamaican youth to becoming a global phenomenon. Reggae acts can have spiritually conscious lyrics and upbeat party lyrics.

Reggae fever has impacted communities globally, attributing to the development of so-called counter-cultural movements, particularly in the United States, Europe, and Africa.

Fun Facts About Reggae Music

Reggae is a genre of music that comprises many different sounds and vibes to outline what musical form is called reggae. In the late'60s, Jamaican musicians with African roots originated reggae. Reggae bands mostly have soul, ska, rocksteady, rhythm and blues, soul, and calypso. Reggae is regarded as one of the most socially aware genres of music.

• Reggae is deeply rooted with spiritually conscious lyrics and inclined with the religion of Jamaica and Rastafarianism that has existed in Jamaica since the '30s, and most of the reggae artists belong to this religion.
• Specific prevailing themes are sung in the reggae genre, associated with the Rasta lifestyle, peace, love, and social justice. Hip-hop lyrics also have earned a lot of motivation from reggae.
• Reggae is comprised of a sacred trinity, the emotional depth in the soul, passion, and triviality of ska and the holy ghost of reggae which is the profoundness of the Jamaican mento.
• Reggae is different in recreating rhythm. It follows three principle rhythms; the steppers, based on a bass drum serving a constant quarter-note heartbeat.
• The second is rockers, a four-quart note beat in each bar. The rockers give scope for syncopated freedom within the song. The third is one drop beat that accents backbeat from the snare and kick, and this beat includes a 16th note pulsing as stable as a train.
• The rhythm guitar in this genre usually recreates the off-beat.
• Reggae music has introduced the culture of summer fests called Reggae Sunsplash, where the biggest musical acts are celebrated for a week, including traditional reggae night.
• Reggae Sunsplash festival is celebrated in Jamaica and it sees participation from Jamaican stars who are internationally famous.

Reggae Music Artists

Reggae is a segment of unique bouncing music with a catchy beat emphasizing bass and percussion. It was created out of ska, rocksteady, and mento. Reggae made way for several sub-genres of folk styles, leaving an incredible mark on famous music, and it is even credited for being the influence behind hip hop.

• To begin with, the first reggae star who introduced the genre to the world is Robert Nesta Marley or Bob Marley, with his 'Natty Dread' album that topped Jamaican national charts.
• Peter Tosh, with commanding baritone, composed distinctive Reggae hits including 'Equal Rights', 'Reggae-Mylitis', 'You Gotta Walk', 'No Nuclear War', 'Rastafari Is', 'Mystic Man', and 'Legalize It'.
• Gregory Anthony Isaac produced unforgettable hits with his silky-smooth tenor, including 'Private Beach Party' and 'Red Rose For Gregory'.
• James Chambers, the Jamaican reggae musician, is the only reggae musician alive to have acquired the Jamaican Order of Merit.
• Performing under his stage name of Burning Spear, Winston Rodney won the Grammy Award in 2000 and 2009 for his music.
• Toots, a remarkable reggae musician from Jamaica, is famous for his energetic, funky, and gruff delivery of undeniable soulful songs.
• Bunny Wailer, or Jah B's actual associate of The Wailers, is a Jamaican reggae singer, songwriter, and percussionist is known for his album 'Rock 'N' Groove'.
• Tanya Stephenson has delivered hits like 'Come A Long Way', 'Warn Dem', and 'No Means No'.
• Black Uhuru and Culture are also reggae artists of Jamaica known for their good music.

Who was the first reggae singer?

Since its evolution, many singers and musicians have been inspired by ska, mento, and rocksteady. Artists have combined the music and the then society situations to bring out the best music. Reggae reflected the rebellious youth of Jamaica initially until it became popular globally.

• Undoubtedly among the first noted names on the Jamaican Rastafarian music front, is Bob Marley, who has made the world sing the tunes of Reggae.
• The influential reggae musician marketed 20 million records to his credit.
• Bob Marley is the first international star to arrive from the 'Third World' and is regarded as one of the trendsetters of reggae. His music is still highly popular today.
• A fusion of reggae, rocksteady, and ska was the hallmark of his music.
• Bob Marley claims that the word reggae means the king's music in Spanish.

Who is the founder of reggae music?

Reggae emerged out of an earlier genre known as rock steady music. This genre reached the peak of its limelight during the '60s, and many singers practicing reggae style evolved during this time, becoming well known locally and internationally.

As people didn't appreciate this form of music for its name, many singers tried to bring it to life through their efforts.

• The famous singers of the foundation years of the genre reggae are Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, Toots and the Maytals, Lee Scratch Perry, Dennis Brown, Steel Pulse, and Black Uhuru.
• There has always been a debate on the creator of the first form of reggae in Jamaican music.
• It's fair to say that Bob Marley made reggae famous worldwide. He brought this music from Jamaica and made the style of reggae famous all around the world.
• But although it's Bob Marley who made reggae famous globally, the founder of the style of music is still called into question.
• Ras Cardo, who states that he was Bob Marley's mentor, claims that reggae music was created in his backyard in 1962 in Trench Town, Jamaica.
• Ros Cardo also states that he was the one who formed the word reggae and paved the way for numerous artists from that era.
• Ras Cardo is from Trench Town and regards his own style as Trench Town rock. Artist Bob Marley also hails from the same neighborhood.
• Songs such as 'Turn Your Lights Down', No Woman No Cry', 'Get Up Stand Up', 'Buffalo Soldiers', 'One Love', 'Is This Love', and 'Waiting In Vain' are some of the most famous reggae anthems.
• A few other artists including Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, and Jimmy Cliff, were also critical to stretch this genre's boundaries.
• Another popular musician, Morgan, utilized his organ and guitar to make the foremost reggae rhythm.

Facts About Reggae Music's Origins

The music form of reggae took birth in Jamaica, evolving itself from its original form, and reached fame by the '60s. Many music forms that evolved from the '50s and '60s from Africa mainly related to the social issues and problems of youth which were failing to be recognized by older generations.

• The word reggae officially is dissected from the first reggae song, 'Do The Reggay', which introduced the music genre.
• The first true reggae song ever composed was 'Long Shot' by The Pioneers.
• Reggae is usually associated with social gossip, political commentary, and news.
• The origin of the reggae genre is associated with rocksteady and ska.
• Ska stemmed in the late '50s in Jamaican studios, designing from a blend of mento, American rock bands, and calypso music.
• From ska evolved rocksteady, a quieter genre featuring less prominent horns and more ideological lyrics.
• Reggae carried over the benefit of the rocksteady genre and used the bass as a percussion or special instrument.
• This form of Jamaican music is immediately recognizable from the inverse, connecting the off-beat rhythm section and the drum and bass downbeat.
• Talking about the genre and reggae artists, it is quintessential to mention its links with the Rastafari, the Afrosenic religion conceived in Jamaica.
• Reggae songs are strongly impacted by standard Caribbean mento, rhythm and blues, American jazz, and calypso music with a mix of English gospel music.
• Reggae local musicians depicted Jamaica's youth and the willful, crude, and assertive boys in their own folk styles.