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Description of Roots Reggae

 
Roots Reggae is classic reggae, which is the best-known reggae sound in the world. It incorporates strong lead vocals, rock-steady rhythms and lyrics about politics and Rastafarianism. Bob Marley was by far the style's most popular and influential artist, and all Roots Reggae performed in his wake strongly bears his influence.
 

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Roots Reggae Key Artists

 
Abyssinians

Roots reggae pioneers the
Abyssinians (Bernard Collins
and brothers Donald and
Linford Manning) formed in
Jamaica in 1969. The grou...

Alpha Blondy

The Ivory Coast's premier
Rasta, Alpha Blondy uses
Jamaican riddims and
myriad languages to convey
his political messages.

Aston Barrett

A deeply influential reggae
bassist, Barrett played with
Bob Marley for eleven years
and was an influential
producer as well. Barrett...

Augustus Pablo

One of Jamaica's greatest
and most ground-breaking
producers, Augustus Pablo
put his stamp on countless
reggae releases. Pablo wa...

Black Uhuru

Sly and Robbie provided the
rhythmic foundation for a
second wave reggae band
who've found decades of
international success. Wh...

Bob Marley

Jamaica's best known artist,
Marley is Roots Reggae and
Rastafari's musical
ambassador around the
world. Released in 1984,...

Bunny Wailer

One-third of the original
Wailers, Bunny Wailer went
on to produce some
stunning solo work. He still
records and tours. Thoug...

Burning Spear

A powerfully political and
socially conscious reggae
artist, Burning Spear has
been recording since 1969.
Burning Spear appropriat...

Culture

Joseph Hill, Albert Walker,
and Roy Dayes make up the
joyfully conscious
harmonies of the prolific
Roots Reggae band Cultur...

Dennis Brown

Brown was dubbed the
Crown Prince of Reggae
early on, releasing more
sides than almost anyone in
reggae. Brown was rever...

Gregory Isaacs

Isaacs' music is responsible
for more rockin' and rollin'
than Elvis Presley. A true
bad boy with a dangerous
reputation and a surprisin...

Israel Vibration

These Jamaican crooners
met in a polio rehab
hospital. They quickly
became one of Jamaica's
best vocal/Roots groups e...

Jacob Miller

A promising, talented
reggae singer who
performed solo and fronted
the band Inner Circle, Miller
died in a car crash in 1980...

Junior Murvin

A Jamaican
singer-songwriter best
known for his anthemic
1976 single "Police and
Thieves."

Max Romeo

Max Romeo was one of the
premier singers of the
early-1970s roots reggae
explosion in Jamaica. He
was one of producer Lee...

Peter Tosh

An early Wailer who went
on to an extremely
successful solo Roots
career, Tosh was a master
wordsmith and herb advo...

Richie Spice

Richie Spice is a dancehall
hitmaker from Kingston,
Jamaica. Spice's first
Jamaican single, "Killing a
Sound," was produced by...

The Congos

This band, aided by the
twisted genius of Lee Perry,
recorded one of Reggae's
seminal albums in 1977.

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