Jamaican Music
When people think of the incredible country of Jamaica, or more specifically, Jamaican music, reggae immediately comes to mind. Although reggae is Jamaica’s number one musical export, there is a lot more to the Jamaican music scene.
As far back as 1907, an anthology of Jamaican folk music was published by Walter Jekyll, called, “Jamaican Song and Story.” These 108 songs are available in the public domain, unlike the majority of Jamaican music. This collection served as a great tool for researching Jamaican folklore and folk music.
During the 1950s, a style of music known as Mento, was popularized thanks to the efforts of Stanley Motta to record and release the music. Mento is similar to calypso music, but does not have the Spanish influences. Although Mento never found a large international audience, it was very popular in the larger hotels of Jamaica. History has now come full circle and recordings by Count Lasher, Lord Composer and George Moxey have been given their proper recognition in Jamaican music history.
Another form, or presentation style, of music that became popular in the 1950s, is the mobile sound system. Although originally used as a showcase for American hits, the insatiable demand for new music needed to be filled by local artists. The most influential Jamaican band of that era was the rhythm and Blues duo of Higgs and Wilson.
Jazz also has a fairly rich history in Jamaica. The Alpha Boys School in Kingston, provided education and training for many stars of the Jamaican jazz scene. Unfortunately, opportunities for a career in Jazz in Jamaica was limited, which resulted in many talented musicians leaving to ply their trades in either American or London.
The late 50s in Jamaica saw the birth of Ska. Ska is a combination of Caribbean mento, calypso, American jazz and rhythm and blues. Count Ossie, a drummer in the Rastafarian community, is credited with the first ska recording. The signature sound of ska is a walking base line accompanied by rhythms on the upbeat. Prior to the arrival of reggae, ska was the dominant Jamaican music. It also found a home in the hearts of British mods and skinheads.
In the mid sixties, rocksteady became the music of a group of young men known as the, “Rude Boys.” Two of the innovators of this style are, The Wailers and The Clarednonians. Desmond Dekker’s solo outing, “007″ brought international recognition to the music. Where ska was focused around the horns and rhythm guitar on the upbeat, rocksteady focused more on the base line.
By the late sixties, reggae was the music that most represented Jamaica. Artists such as Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh and the enigmatic, Bob Marley, made reggae an international phenomenon. Marley’s Rastafarian beliefs raised him to the level of a messianic figure in the eyes of some fans. As his popularity grew, he became the voice of the struggles of indigenous peoples throughout the world. Marley is best remembered for his lyrics about beauty, love and redemption.
Jamaican music continues to evolve, but the roots of today’s popular Jamaican music do not stray too far from the groundbreaking music put forth by ska and reggae. Changes in vocalization, studio effects and electronic instrumentation continue to add to the music and maintain its world-wide popularity.
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