Around the same time as the ska movement was establishing itself and evolving, another form of Jamaican music was also taking shape.
Reggae, the most commonly associated musical contribution stemming from Jamaica, was beginning to take shape around the early sixties, albeit in its crude form. The word itself, "reggae" originated from the "ragged" style of dance music that originated from New Orleans rhythm and blues style. Eventually, the chant like lament style of vocals was paired with the "ragged" dance hall style and reggae, as it were, was born. An emphasis on syncopated beats is the identifying element of reggae, the tell-tale pattern of the music - thump/thump, pause, thump/thump - being taken from more traditional African drumming styles while the traditional elements of bass and guitar are switched, with the bass becoming the lead and the guitar providing the rhythm. While, as mentioned, reggae seems to be synonymous with Jamaica and Jamaican music, the truth is reggae was created primarily from American r'n'b and African drumming and chanting, technically making it the least genuine musical contribution to come from Jamaica.
Reggae continued to ascend to popularity over the next decade. Island records, a small independent label, were responsible for bringing reggae outside of Jamaica and to the United Kingdom. Initially, it was associated with the ghettos of the UK and with the gang and crime elements and lifestyle; this changed when Jimmy Cliff's "Wonderful Beautiful People" laid down the ideology of the hippie movement popular in American music of the time and created a lasting association. Around the same time, reggae singles began to include an instrumental version of the main track as the flipside song on a release; this helped to popularize many producers and engineers and would end up being the accepted method of release for many singles from all genres from all over the world.
Reggae music was brought to worldwide recognition by Bob Marley and the Wailers. The Wailers had originally been associated with the rudeboy movement of ska, but they also ended up recording the first reggae album, "Best of the Wailers" in 1970. Later, Bob Marley would become more commonly associated with the political leanings of the music as well as the spiritual leanings; he would come to be recognized as the guru of the Rasta religion, with his music being the gospel component.
These elements propelled Bob Marley to stardom and his success continued with hits like "Stir it up", "No woman no cry" and "I shot the sheriff". At this time, reggae made its impression on the rest of the world, as such, it took on many stylistic trappings from other locations creating new styles of the core music - Rasta punk, rockers reggae, and some styles that were far more spiritual in nature. Peter Tosh, Burning Spear, Marcus Garvey and Gregory Isaacs - all rose to prominence during this time, most famously would be Garvey, whose notion of a mass-migration back to Africa made headlines.
Reggae, the most commonly associated musical contribution stemming from Jamaica, was beginning to take shape around the early sixties, albeit in its crude form. The word itself, "reggae" originated from the "ragged" style of dance music that originated from New Orleans rhythm and blues style. Eventually, the chant like lament style of vocals was paired with the "ragged" dance hall style and reggae, as it were, was born. An emphasis on syncopated beats is the identifying element of reggae, the tell-tale pattern of the music - thump/thump, pause, thump/thump - being taken from more traditional African drumming styles while the traditional elements of bass and guitar are switched, with the bass becoming the lead and the guitar providing the rhythm. While, as mentioned, reggae seems to be synonymous with Jamaica and Jamaican music, the truth is reggae was created primarily from American r'n'b and African drumming and chanting, technically making it the least genuine musical contribution to come from Jamaica.
Reggae continued to ascend to popularity over the next decade. Island records, a small independent label, were responsible for bringing reggae outside of Jamaica and to the United Kingdom. Initially, it was associated with the ghettos of the UK and with the gang and crime elements and lifestyle; this changed when Jimmy Cliff's "Wonderful Beautiful People" laid down the ideology of the hippie movement popular in American music of the time and created a lasting association. Around the same time, reggae singles began to include an instrumental version of the main track as the flipside song on a release; this helped to popularize many producers and engineers and would end up being the accepted method of release for many singles from all genres from all over the world.
Reggae music was brought to worldwide recognition by Bob Marley and the Wailers. The Wailers had originally been associated with the rudeboy movement of ska, but they also ended up recording the first reggae album, "Best of the Wailers" in 1970. Later, Bob Marley would become more commonly associated with the political leanings of the music as well as the spiritual leanings; he would come to be recognized as the guru of the Rasta religion, with his music being the gospel component.
These elements propelled Bob Marley to stardom and his success continued with hits like "Stir it up", "No woman no cry" and "I shot the sheriff". At this time, reggae made its impression on the rest of the world, as such, it took on many stylistic trappings from other locations creating new styles of the core music - Rasta punk, rockers reggae, and some styles that were far more spiritual in nature. Peter Tosh, Burning Spear, Marcus Garvey and Gregory Isaacs - all rose to prominence during this time, most famously would be Garvey, whose notion of a mass-migration back to Africa made headlines.
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