Reggae music has its origins in Jamaica in the mid 1960’s, emerging through ska and rocksteady styles of music that were popular at the time. It is heavy based with a driving rhythm. When one thinks of Jamaica, it’s hard not to think of reggae music. Many great reggae artists emerged, with several of them using their music as a platform to speak of social injustice and praise Jah, although others kept the lyrics a little more light-hearted. Here are some of the best Reggae bands or performers of all time.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
The most iconic reggae artists ever, Bob Marley & Wailers brought reggae music to a more international stage. The Wailers got their start in 1963 as a ska group with Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh. Band members changed throughout the decades and although Marley & Tosh passed many years ago, different formations of The Wailers still tour. Bunny Wailer lives in Jamaica to this day. The Wailers songs were very political, talking of injustices in Jamaica and the world over. Their influence can be heard in several genres of music. Their children and family members carry on the reggae torch performing internationally to this day.
Burning Spear
After an encounter with Bob Marley while walking up the hills of St. Ann’s in Jamaica, Burning Spear (Winston Rodney) went to Studio One on Marley’s suggestion and started recording reggae music. Burning Spear has been performing for over 40 years and spreads a message of love and peace to his fans. He makes his music and performances spiritually uplifting as he delivers his message and the beliefs of political activist, Marcus Garvey. He still performs to this day and if there’s a chance to see him, take it.
Israel Vibration
Israel Vibration consists of Lascelle “Wiss” Bulgin, Albert “Apple Gabriel” Craig and Cecil “Skelly” Spence who met as children in a rehabilitation center for polio, from which they each suffered. Israel Vibration would not form until 1970 though. By the mid-seventies, Israel Vibration was opening for such acts as Dennis Brown and Bob Marley. Dancing with their crutches onstage, the band puts on lively positive live shows. The band, minus Craig, is still active releasing its latest album, Play It Real, in 2015.
Culture
Another group formed in the 1970’s that rose to popularity is Culture. Culture’s sound was hard driving roots reggae and the band became extremely popular in Jamaica as well as in the UK with punk rock fans. The band made several records and continue to tour to this day, although Joseph Hill’s son, Kenyatta, took over the lead vocals after his father’s passing in 2006.
Desmond Dekker
Desmond Dekker helped pave the way worldwide for reggae music when “Israelites” became a hit in both the UK and the US in 1968 and 1969. His music, although not as violent or militant as some of the other artists of the time, introduced some of the social injustice going on in Jamaica with the rude boy culture in the 1960’s and ’70’s. He had hits throughout the 1970’s, but his record sales fell off some in the 1980’s. Dekker passed away in 2006.
Sly and Robbie
Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare are two of the best known reggae music producers and performers in Jamaica. It is estimated that they have played or produced on some 200,000 recordings. After producing many acts, they decided to form their own group in the mid 1970’s. Their music is rhythm centric and they are credited with starting up the “Rub A Dub” sound that started in the 1980’s as well as using more digital computer sounds in their music. They continue to produce music with some of the biggest music celebrities of recent years, including Khalifa and No Doubt. 