Reggae – Definition
July 13th, 2002A development of the ska and rock steady genres born in Jamaica around 1968.
Kool Herc was one of the pioneers who created his own sound system nicknamed ‘The Hercoloid’ , along with Coxone Dodd at the ‘Studio One’ who produced Bob Marley and The Wailers. This pre-reggae period is known as “roots”. Bob Marley helped to define the reggae sound as it is known today by making the bass lines funky, adding “chaka” keyboards (syncopated chords), and rock riffs.
By 1967 the rock steady style became popular in Jamaica with the appearance of new artists like Ken Boothe, Bob Andy, Delano Stewart, Monty Morris, and Heptones. Other important producers were Duke Reid, Derrick Harriott, Joel Gibson, and Leslie Kong.
The artists who helped define the Reggae sound in the 60’s were The Chrystalites, The Upsetters and The Hippy Boys.
The reggae culture in Jamaica is strongly associated also with the Rastafari religion and the use of marihuana.