Introduction: I bought an issue of magazine INMUSIC (音乐时空), October 2007, which published an introduction about a musician, 罗比松 (Nogabe, his Madagascan name), a Madagascan living in Beijing, and his music story. However, it doesnot mentioned his English name. I read the article, but there was a word I never met, which is '雷鬼' in Chinese, I find it called 'reggae' in English. So the article let me know the reggae, a music style, which I have never know about it.
Reggae, one of many music styles, originated in Africa, and inspired by New Orleans R&B, combining traditional African rhythms and original folk music of Jamaica.
The roots of modern Jamaican music can be found in the sound systems of the 1950s. As the 60s began, the music began to take off in its own direction, leading to a completely new sound, the frenetic Ska, which was followed by the more melodic and soulful vibes of Rocksteady later.
The 1970s were the most creative decade in Jamaica's musical history, as Rocksteady mutated into the more bass driven and political Reggae music.
At the centre of this sound was Roots, a 'conscious' political form of reggae. Rivalling this in local popularity was the work of vocal DJs or toasters. Out of the need to create instrumental 'versions' for toasters came Dub, featuring spacious soundscapes of rhythm and bass and reverb.
The UK had always been a big market for Jamaican music, and in the mid 1970s developed its own, hybrid of the form – Lovers Rock.
In the 1980s the culture of DJing developed into Dancehall, featuring harsher, faster rhythms, usually accompanied by explicit lyrics. In the 90s this mutated into the more hip-hop influenced Ragga and Bashment sounds. But it wasn't all about slackness – dancehall had its pop practitioners, and – as the 90s progressed – a more cultural and lyrically conscious offshoot developed, realigning itself to traditional Rastafarian values. (from bbc.co.uk)
Bob Marley (1945-1981), the international face of reggae - a title as true now as it was when he died a quarter of a century ago. Marketed as a Third World rock star, Bob (with the help of the Wailers) became one of the superstars of 1970s music. (from bbc.co.uk)
www.bobmarley.com can give us very much information about Bob Marley's life and his music.