Records of early reggae music still live
World Greatest Reggae music Pioneers in the 1960's set a groovy mark in the reggae music industry, producing great reggae music of all times.
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These reggae legends broke grounds by writing powerful lyrics and producing soundly reggae music that deeply touched souls of reggae music lovers across the world.
They developed potent and efficacious rhythm, and with their dainty voice which identified their style of sing and bespeaking love for reggae songs to their audience.
Best reggae artist of all times in the likes of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Gregory Isaacs, Jimmy, Burning Spear, Culture, Steel Pulse, Cliff, Buju Banton, Dennis Brown and other produced reggae music pulling many audience to love their music.
History of Reggae music
Reggae music started in early 1960's and 70's in Jamacan island. Before the development of reggea music, cities in jamaca had already been exposed to "bluebeat". The word 'Reggae' was used to identify the "Ragged" style of dance music. The first noted reggae song was the rocksteady hit "Do the Reggay in 1968 . This style still has it root in the New Orleans rhythm'n'blues.
In 1954 the 'Ska' and 'Rocksteady' beat birth what we now know as the reggae music. The 'Ska' was defined by the group 'Voice of the people' in 1961. The tempo of the beat was slow down by Wailers, featuring the young Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingston in their first recording. Alton Ellis' hit Rock Steady in the 1966.
Lovers of these songs are known as "Rastafarians" and noted by the herbal weeds making the reggae music to be more of a ghetto type music . Neil Diamond's, a pop musician hit the first reggae song with the song called the 'Red Red Wine'. revived by UB40
Difference between reggae now and then
Early reggae musicians had a special style of enchanting and hexing the reggae spirits in their listeners, the kind of songs they sang and performed live on stage aroused and invoked the reggae spirit in their fans, just as the reggae singer does on stage.
Early reggae music inculcates many life lessons in their listeners. Most of their songs criticised social ills, and injustice in our communities, and informed the people of the need to come together and form alliances for social development.
Reggae artist of that time usually preached about the need for peace and embarking on peace trail through their songs. "Peace and Love", "Humble African" by Culture a true reggae legend, "Place of Peace", "Redemption Songs" by Bob Marley, the best-selling reggae artist of all time.
Many reggae music lovers say listening to reggae music teaches a lot. Reggae songs have great lyrics and beats with great harmonic variations. Listening to reggae of that time teaches one a lot about human nature and experiences and above all accustomed us to relate to our fellow men in our society.
Commitment to the reggae music
The early reggae artists has the passion and love for the reggae music they play both on and off stage. They involved themselves fully into the reggae music and played with their whole heart and soul attached to the music and for this reason their songs live for decades and played at all time.
The passion they had, agitates them to play and explore different style into reggae industry. In 1954 to 1960 the city in New Orleans was playing only the 'Ska' and 'Rocksteady' beat music. Then these reggae artistes through their unique style came up with what we now have as reggae. But till now no reggae artist have ever done any different invention of the reggae music. They slowed the tempo of the 'Rocksteady' music and came up with the reggae music.
For the fact that reggae trend hasn't change the later ones had not dare to break earlier records set by legends of reggae music.
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Musical Characteristics of early reggae music
Artist during that time developed the ability to play different musical instruments, making them the best musician of all times. They incorporated some of the musical elements of rhythm and blues, jazz, mento, calypso, and Latin American music, as well as other genres.
Artist during the era adopted electric instruments to replace the horns with the guitars, and promoted the bass to lead instrument, they virtually reduced the drums in the 'Ska'.
Compared to rock music, reggae music has the bass and guitar leading the music enabling it to blend with the voice of the artists.
Reggae in early years had great rhythm and best melodic musical content. They played the reggae music in the 4/4 off beat style and with the bass in the melodic walking lines make the reggae music different from other music. The reggae used extended musical chords like the major and minor 7th, 9th and 11th chords. Great reggae musicians Bob Marley used the major 7th in his (Waiting in Vain)
The musical characteristics of early reggae songs have attract many music lovers all over the world to love the reggae music despite their cultural background and values. The kind of reggae they produce in the early days has a syncopated beat which captures the hearts and psyche of many reggae music lovers despite their beliefs.
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References:
scaruffi.com
Dictionary of Jamaican English