1. By Shannon

2. Reggae first began in 1969. It was the third pop music style which Jamaica had seen
in the previous ten years. And although reggae was to become the most famous
of these, the earlier pop styles, (such as ska, which I’ll talk about later) which were
important in helping to shape reggae.
Reggae songs have four basic musical ingredients. The lowest is the bass part. Usually
this is a short bass guitar tune which is repeated over and over again, and forms a
musical foundation for the song. Musicians call this a riff, and a reggae riff is
played very loudly.
REGGAE
• From 1969 and on
• Bass guitar tune
• Percussion rhythm
• Chords on second and fourth beats
• Serious words

3. One of the first pop music styles was called ska which first started in the late 1950’s. It was the
music that influenced the later styles of music, rock steady and reggae. Musicians that played
Ska took the firm rhythms of American rhythm ‘n’ blues music, and combined them with
ideas from mento, (a Jamaican folk music). The words of ska songs were often about the poor
living conditions of some Jamaican people. The songs became popular through the use of
sound systems. These were amplifiers and loudspeakers through which ska records were
played in areas where people could not afford their own gramophones. The sound systems
were turned up very loud and could be heard far away, so that many people were able to
hear the music.
SKA
• 1959-1965
• Rhythm ‘n’ blues influence
• Mento influence
• Serious words

4. Rock steady is a music genre that originated around 1965. A successor to ska precursor
to reggae, this music was played by Jamaican vocal harmony groups such as The
Gaylads, The Maytals and The Paragons. It began as a slowed-down version of ska.
Because of the slowing down rock steady singers could make up more complicated
melodies. Another difference between ska and rock steady was that the bass
guitar became more important in rock steady.
ROCK STEADY
• 1965-1969
• Slowed-down ska
• Bass guitar tune
• Chords on fourth and second beats

5. The more modern type of Jamaican music is a style known as bashment aka dancehall which dominated
most of the 1970’s and mid 80’s. Bashment is a term meaning party, in some parts of the
Caribbean.
Vybz Kartel, a dancehall musician, has already had several collaborations with international hip-hop and
pop stars. In terms of singles sold, he has had the second-best year on the reggae charts for 2003
(outsold only by Elephant Man) and has released 2 albums for UK/US based label Greensleeves
Records Ltd. He was also featured twice on the Def Jamaica project, and nominated for
Source, VIBE and UK MOBO awards although his UK MOBO award nomination was withdrawn
amidst controversy over the homophobic content of his lyrics.
RDX, two Jamaican musicians which have made various dancehall songs, are also one of the more
modern artists included in this music. In most music videos they have created they team up with
people such as Selly Belly and Bermubda kid.
Bob Marley birth name Robert Nesta Marley, was a very famous reggae musician before he died in 1981
(aged 36) in Miami, Florida. He is still very well known now and people still listen to his music. Bob
Marley was one of the main reggae musicians. Marley's best known hits include "I Shot the
Sheriff", "No Woman, No Cry", "Could You Be Loved", "Stir It Up", "Jamming", "Redemption
Song", "One Love" and, together with The Wailers, "Three Little Birds”, as well as the posthumous
releases "Buffalo Soldier" and "Iron Lion Zion".