Listen the History of Jamaican Music: From Folk to Mento
History…From Folk to Mento…When most people think of music in Jamaica, they think Reggae. And while Reggae music has been one of Jamaica’s great exports, there was a definite evolution to reach that point. Many people also know of Reggae’s ‘grandfather’ Ska and Reggae’s predecessor Rock Steady. But before those 2 genres…there was more. First […]
Listen the History of Jamaican Music: The Tennors
The Tennors… The Tennors were a vocal group at the forefront of changing times and styles. As Ska started to lose it’s influence with younger people, the horns and bop influenced solos began to move to the background. Vocals gained a new prominence. This very status was key in the ‘new’ music’s ability to talk […]
Listen the History of Jamaican Music: The Skatalites
The Skatalites…In addition to heading into the recording studio to back almost every Ska singer[s] of note on record, the Skatalites were and are such gifted musicians that they remain the pre-eminent Ska band to this day. While many of the original members of the Skatalites have passed on…they passed on the torch that keeps […]
Listen the History of Jamaican Music: The Paragons
The Paragons…The Paragons were one of the most important success stories to lead, and then emerge from, the 1966 – 68 Rock Steady era. Their’s was a sound that impacted on vitually every phase of Jamaican music right up to today. Their classic ‘The Tide Is High’ was taken to the top of the international […]
Listen the History of Jamaican Music: Toots and the Maytals
Toots and the Maytals…Toots and the Maytals…Always one of Jamaica’s most soulful voices, Toots Hibbert and the Maytals, Jerry Mathias and Raleigh Gordon, began recording back in 1961. Toots had honed his vocal skills, along with his 4 brothers and 3 sisters, at the Baptist church. In the late ’50’s he garnered quite the reputation […]
Listen the History of Jamaican Music: Gregory
Gregory Isaacs…The Cool Ruler…Gregory Isaacs, got his start recording great songs with producers like Alvin Ranglin and Glen Brown. Mixing ‘Lover’s’ themes with more cultural material during the Roots period Gregory, along with Dennis Brown and Freddie McGregor, became the most successful singers of the era. Gregory worked with many of the producers as his […]
Listen the History of Jamaican Music: Beres Hammond
Beres Hammond…Beres Hammond started out singing R & B influenced songs and also enjoyed some limited success with the vocal group Zap Pow. In fact Beres spent quite a period of time ‘paying his dues’ before he became Reggae music’s premier male vocalist. Donovan Germain’s coupling of Bere’s voice with dancehall stars like Tony Rebel, […]
Listen the History of Jamaican Music: Marcia Griffiths
Marcia Griffiths…Marcia Griffiths is, over the long haul, Jamaica’s # 1 female musical superstar. She began recording with Coxone Dodd back in the later 60s during the Rock Steady era…. and she’s still going strong. Also a member of Bob Marley’s backing trio – the I 3s, much of her earliest success came from her […]
Listen the History of Jamaican Music: Rude Boy Music
Rude Boy Music …Rude Boy Music was a phenomenon that acted as a musical bridge in Jamaica in the mid 1960’s. As Ska was making its final impressions from its ‘hey-day’ and as Rock Steady was developing and emerging as the new musical style of choice, a significant number of artists took Ska and pumped […]
One Minute Reggae History : Burning Spear
Winston Rodney best know by his stage name Burning Spear made his recording debut in 1969 on Coxone Dodd’s ‘Supreme’ label with the song ‘Door Peep’. His themes of choice, from the outset, were the oppression of the Black race, Marcus Garvey – who also hailed from the Spear’s home parish of St. Ann, and […]