...Tim Dunnigan Dr. Frye Reggae Music Reggae isn’t just a genre of music, it’s a way for Rastafarians to express their way of life in their own unique way. The most famous Rastafarian and Reggae artist of them all was Bob Marley. His way of expressing his political opinions and messages in hit songs not only influenced in Jamaica, it had an impact on the entire world. He gave Rastafari an international identity and is the reason some people converted. Famous groups like the Rudeboys and Maytals helped Reggae to become what it is today. Reggae music was not always the most popular form of music in Jamaica. Reggae was influenced by the music genre of Jazz that was sweeping the nation. A lot of Jamaicans used Jazz to entertain the tourists. In the 1950’s Jazz Bebop became the new fad music for the youth of Jamaica and Jazz orchestras weren’t as common as in years past. In the 1960’s Ska was introduced and was the first style of music created by Jamaicans, this gave them a sense of identity. Ska was created by working class Jamaicans and they used it to express themselves and tell their stories. It was important because R&B singles weren’t being released as often, and didn’t attract as many listeners as it once did. Ska music consisted of the combination of Caribbean mento, calypso, and Jazz. The main reason for Ska’s popularity was because the music fit the moods of the time. People had the mind state to accept anything unique to Jamaica especially because they...
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...Jamaica Reggae Music Band Makita Johnson Music of the World Prof Malfatti August 31st, 2012 Jamaica Reggae Music Band This paper will focus on the history of reggae music and focus on the group Jamaica Reggae Music Band." In the early 1960’s, a new form of music, blended from a religious movement, Rastafarian, and numerous musical influences such as rhythm and blues, rock steady, African, and ska, emerged in Jamaica and spread quickly throughout the world. The music known as reggae, defined a nation of people for decades and helped develop various musical movements worldwide. This paper discusses the history of reggae and the major artists of the art form. Further, the writer discusses how the art has changed, both in its original nation as well as how the music has been altered for American audiences. "Reggae music, born of a combination of R&B, blues, jazz, and traditional African music, and combined with a religious tradition, was unique to Jamaica at a time when the country was looking for her identity. The combination of political messages, religious connotation, and raw sound was ideal for the changing society of the time. However, to be pushed to international stardom, the music was altered and rerecorded by milder, less powerful white British artists who helped internationalize the genre. Jamaica music can be divided into several genres. The most notable genre of Jamaica music is reggae music, which incidentally it can be divided into...
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...The History of Jazz and Reggae In the history of music the smooth sounds of jazz and reggae has influenced listeners all over the country for many years. Although some prefer to listen to Hip Hop and R & B the genuine sounds of Jazz and Reggae is some of the most delightful music to listen to. Jazz and Reggae has been two of the most popular and unique musical categories with similar styles but different in their own way. When these particular styles of music was introduced they made great impressions in the music industry. In the early 1800’s jazz was born in the city of New Orleans where it was performed in festivals such as the Mardi gras also at funerals. In 1940 they began to broadcast the music over the radio when the music was played people found themselves dancing, clapping, and singing to the musical sounds being played. Jazz is considered to be a mixture of blues and marching band music when it first started out it was played by african americans and creole. When jazz hit the music charts and became more popular the europeon and african culture got together and presented a new sound for jazz to make it even more exciting. It has continued to be performed in the streets of new Orleans, night clubs, dancehalls, and concerts throughout the countries up until this present time jazz is still popular more than ever. The roots of reggae music originated in Jamaica in the 1960’s introduced in dancehall clubs where people danced to the low beats and rhythm of this particular...
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...the African dance musical genre-reggae, which was first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The music of Jamaica includes Jamaican folk music and many other popular genres. Therefore, Jamaican popular music since 1960 can be roughly divided into four eras each of which had a distinctive beat – ska, rocksteady, reggae, and dancehall. (Chang and Chen W, 1998, x) But this African dance musical genre “reggae” has gained immense popularity since it was first introduced in the music world and since then it is one of the most popular genres of music. Hence, it is one of the most significant music genres in Western musical market. In my paper, the focus of the reggae music genre is from 1965 till 1975 as these were considered as the major years or a decade for reggae music when it flourished. This was the time period during which the culture of reggae music was civilized and spread widely in the parts of Jamaica. Bob Marley is known as one of the best artists of this genre and the impact he made and contributed has made beyond the shores of Jamaica and globally as well. Reggae was created by the Jamaicans and still it is the only music genre which is so much popular and not created by Europeans or Americans. It has gained immense popularity since its introduction and in the recent years as well that it is the first model in which a third world country is exporting, selling, and trading its culture to various audience and market. ORIGINS Reggae was created by the Jamaicans and...
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...Jimmy Cliff Jimmy Cliff | Cliff performing in 2012 | Background information | Birth name | James Chambers | Born | (1948-04-01) 1 April 1948 (age 66) Somerton District, St. James, Jamaica | Genres | Ska, reggae | Occupations | Musician, singer, actor | Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano, conga, keyboards | Years active | 1962–present | Labels | Island, Columbia, Trojan, EMI, CBS[1] | Jimmy Cliff, OM (born James Chambers, 1 April 1948)[2] is a Jamaican reggae musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer and actor. He is the only living musician to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honour that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievements in the arts and sciences. Cliff is best known among mainstream audiences for songs such as "Wonderful World, Beautiful People", "The Harder They Come", "Sitting in Limbo", "You Can Get It If You Really Want" and "Many Rivers to Cross" from the soundtrack to The Harder They Come, which helped popularize reggae across the world,[3] and his covers of Cat Stevens' "Wild World" and Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now" from the film Cool Runnings. He starred in the film The Harder They Come. Cliff was one of five performers inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. Early life, 1960s and 1970’s Jimmy Cliff was born in Somerton District, St. James, Jamaica.[4] He began writing songs while still at primary school in St. James, listening to a neighbour's sound system. In 1962...
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...Analysis of Music Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation One of the advantages of breaking rules and exploring beyond is that one comes out with something that has never been experienced before. For this reason, Beethoven and The Beatles established themselves in the music industry because they created a norm that every new artiste followed. Composers that followed them always tried to be like them. On the other hand, there is a cost in breaking the existing musical rules. People always want to hear what they love from their past musical experiences. Introducing a new genre may not auger well with the popular style. Despite being radical composer, Beethoven actually composed what people liked. R. Murray Schafer has been successful in breaking the musical composition rules. One of his radical music was East, composed in the year 1972. It was totally different from the traditional techniques at that time. It had slow glissandos and the performers sung and hummed on top of playing the instruments. Generally, Murray employed his compositional creativity to challenge his listeners as well as the performers of his music. The spice girls joined the Pop music in the 90s and became successful. Their strength was largely due to the perfect combination of each individual talent and voice in addition to their youthful vigor. Michael Jackson broke the rules of the existing Pop music and introduced a style that was outstanding for four decades. Michael introduced sophisticated...
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...“The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively. – Bob Marley”. Famous reggae musician and songwriter Bob Marley didn’t just speak to you mind with his tranquil jams, he spoke to the soul. Even though going through early life in poverty and receiving little education, Bob managed to find tranquility in music. Emerging from a third-world country isn’t the easiest thing to do, but somehow Bob was able to find his way out. “Born in Ann Parish, Jamaica; money was always a problem with the Marley family. With Bob’s dad fleeing back to America after he was born his mother was left with no support.” Bio.com. A&E Networks Television. Web. 19 May 2015. . “During...
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...Unlike many other forms of art, music is universal and can be reached by anyone, anywhere. It is recognized as one of the earliest art forms due to the several mentions of music in the Bible. When you ask anyone the question, “What is music?” many of them will reply, “Music is life!”, “Music is the voice of the world!” and I totally agree with them in saying that. In my opinion music is a powerful art form that uses one of the most vital senses to portray a message. Music evolves feeling; it is a mean by which individuals (artiste) express their beliefs and ideas, address issues and share stories and experiences to the world. In this essay, I will be assessing the role that reggae has played in the development of the Caribbean identity. Music is part of our cultural identity, it’s prevalence in the region helps define the Caribbean civilisation and identity gained through time. The root of Caribbean identity lies in slavery, race, language and the ecology of the region but the term transcends further to include the various types of cuisine, music, ethnicities, religions and cultures present in the Caribbean today. The Caribbean remains one of the most diverse regions on earth, it can be referred to as multi-racial, multi-lingual and some might even say, multi-cultural. The history of music in the Caribbean dates as far back as the Neo-Indians who inhabited the region pre-Christopher Columbus. They had a ceremony referred to as “areito” at which the indigenous people sang...
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...have a high interest in music from the Caribbean. The diverse sounds of the musical genres such as Reggae, Dancehall, Soca and Chutney are great examples of the growing musical trends that distinguish Caribbean music from other musical cultures. Dancehall music isn’t for the “boring” folk. You either are ready to sing and chant, or perform one of the latest dance moves, if applicable to the song. I recently attended an event for a friend’s birthday at a local nightclub, which featured performances from both signed and unsigned dancehall artists. Attendees, both young and old, raved all night long and sang the songs of each performer with enthusiasm. Being that typical West Indian parties last all night, there was an abundance of music to be played. A few of my fellow dancers and I displayed some dance moves and event taught some of the guests how to do them. I is a wonderful feeling to see people of different ethnicities enjoying themselves, whether they understood the lyrics to the songs or not. To gain a better understanding of the rise of Dancehall music, you first have to explore the genre that led to its birth: reggae. Reggae is a long-established art form that has a huge influence on Caribbean culture and other musical styles. It was first introduced in the Jamaica in the late 1960’s which was distinguished by regular chops on the back beat, known as the skank. Reggae lyrics focused on the constant struggles people on the island were faced with. The...
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...1. On page two of the assigned reading, the historical development of Reggaeton is discussed. In your own words, describe this development and its key characteristics. Reggaeton is influence of Jamaican reggae which was travelled to Puerto Rico and Panama, where descendants of Jamaican workers begun performing what came to be called reggae en Espanola. During the same time frame, through the circular travels of New York based Puerto Ricans, who had participated in development of hip hop from the beginning, where it was soon indigenized as rap en Espanola by artists like Rico C, with lyrics in Spanish, this music had enormous appeal in Puerto Rico, where Jamaican dance hall had already achieved wide spread popularity. Indeed DJ like Playoro and Nelson developed the sound further, they were so drawn to a Sabba ranks song called “Dem Bow”, with its minimalist dance hall beat punctuated by snare drum accents that this “riddim”, initially created by producer bobby digital became a defining characteristics of the reggaeton and around the mid 1990 the music that combined these elements coalesced and came to be known as Reggaoton. 2. Who Considered the “Queen of Reggaton” and why? What makes this particular person well suited to hold that tittle/distinction? Ivy Queen is considered the queen of Reggaton because she was one of the few women in a male dominated and often misogynistic environment who could compete as an equal. She had lots of hit singles, her collection of old...
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...Rastafarianism The Rastafari movement grew out of the darkest depression that the descendants of African slaves in Jamaica have ever lived in. Out of this filth and slime arose a sentiment so pure, so without anger, so full of love, the philosophy of the Rastafari faith. Freedom of spirit, freedom from slavery, and freedom of Africa, was its cry. I believe that Rastafarianism, or Rasta, is a true religion because it comes with a historic background, it sets standards for it’s believers, and a simple philosophy. Rastafarianism is a religious movement native to the island of Jamaica. There are different groups of Rastafarians, each with its own ideas. But basically they all agree on one thing, that the late emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. Rastafarians can associate themselves in groups one being Creation Heights. They viewed themselves as part of creation, just as the animals and plants are. Lightning, thunder, and other natural phenomena are viewed by them with awe, as though God were speaking. Rastafarianism, like any religion, comes with set standards that their believers should follow. They refuse to eat meat, fish, or anything of that sort, the idea being that these things die and rot, and so would those who eat them. On the other hand, vegetables, such as spinach, keep growing after their stalks are cut. So those who feed on such things have the potential for everlasting life, they think. They did not use plates or cups, cleaned-out...
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...was known for their emotional ballads and complex harmonies. Michael Jackson’s unique contributions to music and dance, along with a highly publicized personal life, made him a prominent figure and one of the most successful entertainers of all time in the R&B and pop culture. Reggae genre is popular music originating in the West Indies. Bob Marley was widely known Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician, which made him the influence voice of political and cultural nexus of Jamaica. Inner Circle is a reggae and alternative hip hop group that is responsible for the 1987 song “Bad Boys.” Jazz is another genre of popular music that originated in New Orleans around 1900 and developed through increasingly complex styles. Jackie Paris, was a jazz singer and guitarist that introduced the first vocal of Thelonious monks classic “Round Midnight.” Harry Crosby another respectable singer and actor was the most popular entertainer of the pre-rock n roll years. The artists in each genre are examples of style and category of the popular music. Outline Topic Sentence: Music Genres. A. Major Support: Rhythm and blues 1. Minor Support: Boys II Men 2. Minor Support: Michael Jackson B. Major Support: Reggae 1. Minor Support: Bob Marley 2. Minor Support: Inner Circle C. Major Support: Jazz 1. Minor Support: Jackie Paris 2. Minor Support: Harry Crosby Conclusion: Artists in each genre are examples of style and category of the popular...
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...University of the West Indies Open Campus – St. Lucia Name: Cecilia Clovis I.D. No.: 309100682 Course Code: FOUN1301 Course Title: Law, Governance, Economy and Society Course Coordinator: Mr. Orville Beckford E-tutor: Mr. Lance Gibbs Assignment No.: 2 Date: June 26, 2012 Historically, Jamaican and other Caribbean musicians gave the world a conscience as they became the ‘voice for the voiceless’ not just at home, but also internationally. Has the current crop of musicians in the region deviated from this practice? Explain your response. The Caribbean is home to many of the world’s greatest and renowned musicians. Musical icons like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Mighty Sparrow and Jimmy Cliff worked hard; and with their great musical talent were able to use their music to inspire and create a level of consciousness in black people of the region and all over the world. These men, through the lyrical content of their music touched the lives of the down trodden, lifted the spirit of the hopeless and stirred in the hearts of men and women the passion to fight against the injustices of their own region and in so doing sensitised the universal world. Bob Marley’s music is just as popular today as it was in the early seventies when he released the single ‘Get Up, Stand Up’ and has continued to live on even in his absence. His music and that of his fellow counterparts; has continued to be the voice for the voiceless, regionally and internationally...
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...Anthropology 210 October 2013 Writing Assignment 1, Question 1 Both the countries of Brazil and Jamaica have similar histories when it comes to black slaves. In the fifteenth century sugar plantations were booming in Brazil and wealth was being accumulated very quickly (McMurray, n.d.). The Brazilians could not rely on the Indians who once inhabited the country for labor, because new diseases were introduced to the Indians so many of them died off. Because of this, Brazilians began importing slaves to Portugal as early as 1433, and throughout the next three centuries over three and a half million slaves were brought to Brazil (McMurray, n.d.). Jamaica had a similar experience. After piracy became a common and almost accepted experience in the seventeenth century, the stolen loot was actually able to fund the development of plantations in Jamaica. The island’s elite imported hundreds of thousands of West and Central African slaves over the next three centuries to work as laborers on the sugar plantations (McMurray, n.d.). Not only do the two countries have a similar history, but also they have a lot in common in their culture and music. Brazilian music has a lot of influence from the African culture and has several origins that relate back to Africa, and a common theme in Brazilian music is resistance. One of the forms of music, Candomblé, was used as a form of resistance, because it aimed to keep Africa and African gods alive in the minds of the Africans that were...
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...However, historical analysis shows the period 1898 to 1992 as the period of “cross pollination” of the bass culture. This period saw the incorporation of the UK hard-core sound into the bass culture. The process included incorporating hard-core sounds from different countries such as the Belgium, Germany, and the Holland. Therefore, this essay discusses the ways in which the bass culture had developed in the UK and period when it witnessed greatest significant influence on the culture. How the Bass Culture occurred in the United Kingdom over the Last 6 Decades The bass culture was introduced in the UK by the influx of the Jamaican reggae musicians in the early ages of the 1950’s. However, it did not emerge as expected due to constraints such as violence against minorities. In the year 1980, a larger population of the UK was exposed to the reggae with core intentions of spreading the message of rebel against the state. Introduction of the industrial techno and the hard house or the happy hardcore brought new scenes into the bass culture in the years 1985 and 1990. The breakbeat hardcore of the United Kingdom memorial scene (the acid house rave...
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