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History of Reggae Timeline
(Late 1960s - Present)Reggae is a genre of popular music that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s, evolving from earlier ska and rocksteady styles. Characterized by its distinctive offbeat rhythm, prominent bass lines, and socially conscious lyrics, reggae became a powerful vehicle for spreading Rastafarian ideas and messages of peace, love, and resistance. Artists like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Jimmy Cliff propelled the genre to international fame, making it one of Jamaica's most influential cultural exports. More Less
Origins
Introduction of the 7-inch single format
1949
The 7-inch single was first released in 1949 and would soon supersede the 78 rpm records that Jamaican entrepreneurs had begun issuing in the early 1950s. Phonograph records became central to the Jamaican music industry's development.
Image source: Single (music)
First recordings of mento music released
1951
In 1951 the first recordings of mento music were released as singles, showcasing two styles of mento: an acoustic rural style, and a jazzy pop style. Mento was a key precursor to ska, rocksteady and reggae in Jamaica.
Image source: Mento
Jamaican entrepreneurs begin issuing 78s
1951
In the early 1950s, Jamaican entrepreneurs began issuing 78 rpm records, though this format would soon be replaced by the 7-inch single. In the latter half of the 20th century, phonograph records became of central importance to the Jamaican music industry.
Image source: Reggae
Chris Blackwell founds Island Records
1960
Chris Blackwell founded Island Records in Jamaica in 1960, creating one of the most important labels for promoting reggae music internationally in the decades that followed.
Image source: Island Records
Ska emerges as Jamaica's popular sound
1961 - 1967
Ska was originally a generic title for Jamaican music recorded between 1961 and 1967. It emerged from Jamaican R&B, which was based largely on American R&B and doo-wop.
Image source: Ska
Jamaica gains independence; ska becomes youth anthem
1962
When Jamaica gained independence in 1962, ska became the music of choice for young Jamaicans seeking music that was their own. That same year, Chris Blackwell relocated to England, where he continued promoting Jamaican music.
The Wailers formed by Marley, Tosh and Wailer
1963
The Wailers, started by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer in 1963, is perhaps the most recognized band to make the transition through all three stages of early Jamaican popular music: ska, rocksteady and reggae.
Image source: Bob Marley and the Wailers
Millie Small hits internationally with 'My Boy Lollipop'
1964
Millie Small, best known for her 1964 blue-beat/ska cover version of 'My Boy Lollipop', achieved a smash hit internationally, helping bring Jamaican music to a worldwide audience.
Image source: My Boy Lollipop
Reggae defined in Dictionary of Jamaican English
1967
The 1967 edition of the Dictionary of Jamaican English listed reggae as 'a recently established' term, marking the genre's entry into formal documentation of Jamaican language and culture.
Image source: Jamaican Patois
Organ shuffle signals shift from rocksteady to reggae
1968
The shift from rocksteady to reggae was illustrated by the organ shuffle pioneered by musicians like Jackie Mittoo and Winston Wright, featured in transitional singles such as 'Say What You're Saying' by Eric 'Monty' Morris and 'People Funny Boy' by Lee 'Scratch' Perry.
Key Facts
- Reggae originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s, evolving out of earlier genres ska (early 1960s) and rocksteady (mid-1960s).
- The term 'reggae' was first used in the 1968 song 'Do the Reggay' by Toots and the Maytals.
- Bob Marley and The Wailers brought reggae to global audiences in the 1970s with albums like 'Catch a Fire' (1973) and 'Exodus' (1977).
- The genre is deeply connected to Rastafari culture, with lyrics often addressing spirituality, social justice, resistance, and African identity.
- In 2018, UNESCO added reggae music to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognizing its global impact.
Source
This History of Reggae timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.
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