History of reggae

 

Reggae developed from ska, mento and R&B music in the 1960s. The change from rocksteady to reggae was illustrated by the organ shuffle, which was pioneered by Jamaican musicians like Jackie Mittoo and Winston Wright.

Early 1968 was when the first genuine reggae records were released: "Nanny Goat" by Larry Marshall and "No More Heartaches" by The Beltones.

The Wailers, a band started by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer in 1963

Notable Jamaican producers who were influential in the development of ska into rocksteady and reggae include: Coxsone Dodd, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Leslie Kong, Duke Reid, Joe Gibbs and King Tubby.

The 1972 film The Harder They Come, starring Jimmy Cliff, generated considerable interest and popularity for reggae in the United States.

In the second half of the 1970s, the UK punk rock scene was starting to form, and reggae was a notable influence.