Identification

• The first use of the word "reggae" was by The Maytals in the song "Do the Reggay." A number of musicians began using the term in the late 1960s. It is believed to stem from a Jamaican word for ragged clothing.
  
  

History

• Reggae was developed in the late 1960s in Jamaica. It descended from a slower version of rocksteady and ska. The musical form also was strongly influenced by traditional African music and American rhythm and blues.
  
  

Features

• The instrumentation in reggae is usually played in a very simple 4/4 time. It features a rhythm section that focuses on the third beat with a walking bassline most commonly played in a two-bar riff. The guitar and keyboard focus on staccato chords played on the second and fourth beat. Vocals vary between artists but often feature a tremolo vocal oscillation effect on the voice.
  
  

Considerations

• Within the genre of reggae, a number of subgenres exist. This includes roots reggae, dub, rockers, dancehall, reggaeton, reggae fusion, lovers rock and skinhead reggae. Most of these subgenres are defined by content and influence from ska, rocksteady, hip hop and Latin sounds.
  
  

Famous Ties

• The most famous reggae artist in the world is undoubtedly Bob Marley. With his band The Wailers, Marley's music focused on a wide spectrum ranging from ska and rocksteady to funk and folk. He performed and recorded from 1963 until his death in 1981.