Jamaican reggae music began in the 1960s and has grown into a rich global art form that encompasses many musical sub-genres. The evolution of reggae music is intertwined with American popular music. In reggae’s early decades, pop music flowed over the radio waves to influence Jamaican artists. More recently, as reggae has grown in popularity and new technologies facilitate communications, reggae and it’s dub and dancehall genres have returned the influence, affecting modern pop, hip hop, and electronica.

The most popular reggae music genres include ska, rocksteady, reggae, roots reggae, lovers’ rock, dub, dancehall, and reggae fusion.

Ska

Ska was the original reggae sound, and predates the term “reggae”. Ska music is typified by brass instruments (sax, trombone, and trumpet) leading the melody over bass guitars and drum beats. Ska music features an offbeat rhythm and occasionally features vocalists as well.

The history of ska music began in Jamaica in the 1960s with the formation of The Skatalites, who were primarily an instrumental band formed of studio and resort musicians. Ska music blends Jamaican mento and calypso with the American jazz and big band music that was being broadcast from New Orleans and Miami in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

The Wailing Wailers (later of Bob Marley fame) were originally a ska band as well, and some people describe the reggae anthem One Love as a ska song. Desmond Dekker, Byron Lee & the Dragonaires, and The Melodians were other popular ska bands. Today, The Heptones are a popular ska band based in Los Angeles.

The up-beat, syncopated guitar (or piano or horn) sound is sometimes called the “skank.” It originated with ska music and went on to influence modern punk music.

Rocksteady

Rocksteady music is another antecedent to reggae, like ska. It is slower than ska and the brass-led melodies are replaced by lead guitars and pianos for both melodies and rhythms. Rocksteady was influenced by American R&B music, with a slower, more prominent bass line that anticipates the reggae sound.

The King of Rocksteady was Alton Ellis, whose hit single The Rock Steady gave name to the whole genre. Other famous rocksteady musicians include The Wailers (again!), Toots & The Maytals, Bob Andy, and Ken Boothe.

Reggae

Reggae was the next step from ska and rocksteady music. Influenced by American rock music, reggae focuses on a heavy skank sound, with a tempo between ska and rocksteady, more complex melodies, and heavier emphasis on the bass line. Vocalists and lyrics are also more important in reggae than ska or rocksteady, as early reggae tracks focused on social and spiritual issues in the 1960s and ’70s, particularly the Rastafarian teachings of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I.

The Maytals released Do The Reggae in 1968, giving a name to the heir to the rocksteady sound.

Roots Reggae, AKA Foundation Rock

Roots reggae focuses on the religious, Rastafarian aspects of reggae with strong vocals often sung by groups of artists with vocal harmonies representing harmonious lifestyles and peace with every person. Today roots is also called Foundation.

Roots reggae rose to prominence in the 1970s with Bob Marley and The Wailers’ massive popularity. Roots remains very popular today, with roots artists such as Burning Spear winning reggae Grammy awards in recent years. Other popular roots artists and bands include Culture, The Abyssinians, The Mighty Diamonds, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, The Gladiators, and Midnite.

Lovers’ Rock AKA Rockers

In addition to addressing social and spiritual issues, many roots reggae singers also wrote love ballads. Lovers Rock is slower than reggae, ska, and rocksteady and strongly emphasizes smooth melodies, the vocalist, and the song’s lyrics.

Famous lovers rockers include Beres Hammond (who is still releasing albums and touring today), Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, and Freddie McGregor. Modern lovers rockers include Luciano, Maxi Priest, Sanchez, and Bitty McClean.

Dub

Dub reggae is created by remixing reggae music and adding audio effects to the track. It is usually instrumental or downplays the vocal samples so much that they lose their lyrical relevance. Although dub music stretches the limits of its reggae roots, the drum beats and bass lines typically retain a reggae skank.

The history of dub music began in the 1970s as simple vocal-free B-sides of reggae 45s. As dub tracks became increasingly popular at dancehalls, dub producers began to experiment and add audio effects to the tracks, splicing and looping them to create whole new creations. Over time, deejays began to sing and toast over these new creations, giving rise to dancehall, ragga, and hip hop music.

King Tubby and Lee “Scratch” Perry are the most famous originators of the dub genre. Although Tubby was tragically killed in the 1980s, Lee Perry continues to tour today. Other famous dub producers include Scientist, Linval Thompson, and Gussie Clark. Modern dub artists include Mad Professor, Bill Laswell, Adrian Sherwood, Dub Syndicate, and Salmonella Dub.

Read more about dub music here.

Dancehall

Reggae sound systems began releasing dancehall reggae in the 1980s, as some reggae listeners grew tired of the heavy messages of roots reggae music and became interested in a more fun, danceable form. Dancehall music is typically electronic, with a strong focus on a faster drum beat. Dancehall artistes typically deejays who toast or chat on the mic. Some are also singjays.

Famous dancehall aritsts include Wayne Smith (whose Sleng Teng is considered the original electronic dancehall album), Yellowman, Sugar Minott, Tenor Saw, Eek-A-Mouse, Supercat, Ninjaman, and Charlie Chaplin. Although early dancehall lyrics were often violent, sexist, and aggressive, modern dancehall releases demonstrate the increasing popularity of “conscious” lyrics.

Dancehall remains popular today, with artists such as Mavado and Elephant Man influencing and sometimes producing crossover tracks with hip hop artists. Other artists such as Terry Lynn push dancehall into new directions via collaborations with music producers in other genres such as electro, grime, and pop.

Read more about dancehall music here.

Fusion Reggae

Dub, dancehall, and reggae music continue to evolve and commingle with other musical forms. Much modern reggae refuses to fit a neat label (sometimes even blurring the line between reggae and other popular genres), and as a result is best described as “fusion” reggae.

Modern fusion reggae artists include Collie Buddz, Sean Kingston, Mikey General, Warrior King, Junior Kelly, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Stephen Marley, Ziggy Marley, Julian Marley, Ky-Mani Marley, Richie Spice, Bambu Station, Sister Carol, and Queen Omega.

Reggae music continues to grow and change.