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Reggae Music
Reggae is an African Caribbean style of music
developed on the island of Jamaica and is closely
linked to the religion Rastafarianism, though not
universally popular among its members. Reggae is
founded upon its rhythm style, which is
characterized by regular chops on the backbeat,
played by the rhythm guitarist. The origins of
reggae can be found in traditional African Caribbean
music as well as US R&B. Ska and rocksteady are
1960s precursors of reggae. In 1963 a young Jamaican
boy named Jackie Mittoo was asked by a man named
Coxsone Dodd to run sessions and compose original
music at a studio on Brentford Rd. called Studio
One. It was here at Studio One that Jackie Mittoo
took the traditional ska beat and turned it into
what we know know as reggae. Bob Marley, who later
popularized the style on a world-wide basis, also
recorded rocksteady records early in his career. The
style of reggae he made famous is called roots
reggae or roots rock reggae, and was and is still
used by many artists such as Black Uhuru, Burning
Spear, Culture, Prince Lincoln Thompson, Israel
Vibration, Delroy Wilson, UB40, The Skatalites, and
Toots & the Maytals.
In Jamaica however, new styles are nowadays
becoming more popular, among them, dancehall and
ragga (or raggamuffin reggae). Dub is an
instrumental sub-style of reggae. Mixing techniques
employed in dub probably influenced Hip hop, drum
and bass and other styles. In any case, the toasting
or dee jaying of raggamuffin reggae—first used by
artists such as Dillinger or U-Roy—had a world-wide
impact because Jamaican DJ Kool Herc used them as he
came up with a new style later called hip hop or rap
music. In the Jamaican sense of the word, a DJ is an
MC or rapper, whereas the DJ is called (music)
selector in Jamaica. Therefore what is called dee
jaying or chatting in Jamaica is called rapping in
most other parts of the world.
Jamaican reggae music festivals
Reggae Sunsplash, Ocho Rios, Jamaica,
Sting reggae music festival, Kingston, Jamaica
Reggae Sumfest, Montego Bay, Jamaica
International reggae music festivals
LB27 Reggae Camp, Komarom, Hungary
Reggae on the Rocks, Morrison, CO, USA,
Soca Reggae Riversplash, Tolmin, Slovenia,
Chiemsee Reggae Summer, Übersee, Germany
Summerjam, Cologne, Germany
MIDEM Reggae Showcase, Cannes, France
Notting Hill Carnival, London, UK
Bob Marley Outernational Day, Perth, Western
Australia
International Reggae Festivals at ReggaeSeen
(http://www.reggaeseen.com)
Spanish Reggae Festivals at Reggae News (http://www.reggae-news.net)
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