Reggae, << REHG ay or RAY gay, >> is a type of popular music that developed in Jamaica in the 1960’s. At first it was primarily performed by and for poor Jamaicans. It later became popular throughout Jamaica and also in England and the United States. Reggae has influenced soul, rhythm and blues, and rock music.
The words in most reggae songs deal with the social concerns and religious beliefs of poor Jamaicans. The songs are in 4/4 time and feature strong accents off the beat. Short rhythmic patterns are repeated many times by electric guitars and drums. They are also sometimes repeated with organ or piano. The rhythms in reggae are sometimes complex, but the harmonies are simple. As with rock music, the volume of reggae is loud.
Loading the player...Jamaican popular music
Reggae has its roots in traditional African music, Jamaican folk music, and North American popular music. It developed from two other types of Jamaican popular music–ska and rocksteady. Reggae began to gain popularity outside Jamaica in the late 1960’s through the recordings of a number of reggae musicians. The most important was Bob Marley, who grew up in the slums of Kingston , Jamaica. Marley led a group called the Wailers, founded in 1964. He was the most famous reggae star internationally until his death in 1981 at the age of 36. Songs that became hits in the United States include Eric Clapton’s “I Shot the Sheriff” and Johnny Nash’s “Stir It Up” (both written by Marley) and Desmond Dekker’s “The Israelites.”
