Music. Everybody loves music. Whether it soothes the soul or makes you want to dance, everyone has their different preferences. One genre that many people have probably heard of but may be less familiar with is reggae. The word was devised in Jamaica during the early 1960’s due to its “ragged” style of dance like music. Although soon after the word was invented, reggae started to pick up more of a steady beat, and less “raggedness” in its rhythm. What is ironic about this genre of music is that it wasn’t founded in Jamaica, like most people tend to believe, but in the United States and Africa. Jamaican music was first known to be associated with gang violence, and was extremely popular in the UK thanks to an artist known as Prince Buster in 1967. It wasn’t until 1969 when reggae started to become known for “peace and love”.
Well-known music artist Bob Marley can be thanked for spreading the popularity of reggae. Starting as a member of the band, the Wailers, he helped promote the first album of reggae in 1970. A few years later he branched away from the band and recorded his own music, becoming more popular with hits such as I Shot The Sheriff, and Stir It Up. Reggae started to especially become popular on radio stations out west thanks to the movie “The Harder They Come”. This soothing, and empowering genre of music has steadily increased its popularity throughout the years and is continues to expand to this day.
