One Drop: The Global Influence of Reggae
If music be the food of love, play on…William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Act 1, Scene 1 He didn’t speak much English—just enough to drive an Uber and follow directions – but Gustavo* (not his real name) was having a great time as he drove me, listening and humming to Bob Marley’s classic Is this Love. […]
What Inspired Bob Marley’s Song “Zimbabwe”?
On April 17, 1980, reggae icon Bob Marley stepped onto the stage at Rufaro Stadium in Harare to perform at Zimbabwe’s independence celebration. His song “Zimbabwe” rang through the air as a newly free nation celebrated the end of colonial rule. But the story behind the song goes deeper—shaped by Marley’s connection to Africa, the […]
Legendary Jamaican Artist, Sizzla Receives U.S. Congressional Honour and Key to the City of Lauderhill
Reggae icon Sizzla Kalonji was recently honored at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center in Florida, where he received the prestigious Key to the City and a special citation from the United States Congress. The celebration was part of Jamaica’s 63rd Independence festivities, showcasing not only his contributions to music but also his role as a […]
Powerful Live Performances Honour Freddie ‘Big Ship Captain’ McGregor at the 2025 Art of Music Festival
On August 17, 2025, reggae royalty was celebrated in grand style at the Art of Music Festival at the scenic Sunset Cove Amphitheater in Boca Raton, Florida. Thousands of fans, families, and friends came together for Freddie McGregor & Friends, a star-studded tribute to one of Jamaica’s most beloved icons. Freddie McGregor & Friends Meet […]
Did You Know Haiti Inspired Bob Marley’s Song “Get Up, Stand Up”?
Bob Marley is one of the most famous musicians of all time. His music has touched people across generations, races, and borders. Songs like “One Love,” “Redemption Song,” and “Three Little Birds” are known around the world. But there’s one song that stands out not just for its rhythm, but for its powerful message — […]
Reggae Sumfest 2025 Global Fete: Sound Clash, Star Performances and Pure Energy in Montego Bay
In the lead-up to Reggae Sumfest 2025, the much-anticipated Global Fete pre-event put Jamaica’s musical and sound system culture on full display. Held at the Catherine Hall Stadium Complex, in Montego Bay on July 17th, the event featured a high-energy mix of live performances, sound clashes, and top-tier DJs. From the outset, the growing crowd […]
The Story of São Luís: How a Brazilian City Became the Reggae Capital of South America
São Luís, the capital of Maranhão in Brazil’s northeast, is often referred to as “Brazilian Jamaica.” It’s not a tourism tagline, but a reflection of how deeply reggae music has become embedded in the city’s social and cultural fabric. What began as imported music from the Caribbean has, over the last five decades, evolved into […]
Remembering Joe Harriott: The Forgotten Jamaican Free-Form Jazz Pioneer
Born Joseph Arthurlin Harriott on 15 July 1928 in Kingston, Jamaica, Joe Harriott was a visionary saxophonist, composer and pioneer whose contribution to jazz remains underappreciated, despite his innovations shaping the genre in profound ways. From the halls of the Alpha Boys School to the clubs of London, Harriott’s musical journey was one of brilliance, […]
Reggae Legends Bob Marley and Toots Among Rolling Stone’s Best Albums of 1975
Four reggae albums that helped shape the sound of 1975 are being recognized by Rolling Stone as part of the magazine’s curated list of the 75 Best Albums of 1975. The list includes celebrated projects from Bob Marley & the Wailers, Toots and The Maytals, Burning Spear, and Lee “Scratch” Perry, affirming reggae’s growing global […]
In His Father’s House: Addis Pablo on the Life and Legacy of Augustus Pablo
Born Horace Swaby on June 21st, 1953, in Kingston, Jamaica, Augustus Pablo was a revolutionary force in reggae music. A visionary producer, musician, and the man who made the melodica a spiritual signature of dub, he transformed the soundscape of Jamaican music in the 1970s and beyond. His influence can still be heard around the […]