Posted on 19th Dec 2013 @ 2:44 PM

The Land of Wood and Water has transformed into the land of Reggae

Jamaica's charm and magnetism has not only been acquired through the Island's beauty and warm people, but through the range and variety of Jamaican Musicians and their music. A visit to Jamaica becomes noteworthy because of its ambience, and the various forms of musical entertainment. Every memory that Tourists may harbor are usually serenaded by Jamaican sounds and rhythms.
 
Jamaica is a country that comprises of several forms of music, such as: Kumina, Niyabinghi, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, Reggae, Sound Systems, Lovers Rock, Dub, Dance Hall, Dub Poetry, Toasting, Raggamuffin, Roots Reggae and Reggae Fusion, however, not all of these genres of music are heard around the island. There are five types of music that most Jamaicans can identify with, they are Ska, Rock Steady, Dub, Mento and Reggae.
 
The first popular music was Ska or Julian Jingles which was created in the early 60's. Ska is described as a fusion of Jamaican mento rhythms, R&B and American Music. Ska became very popular due to the middle class, a dance called "the ska" was eventually developed. Vocalists such as, Lascelles Perkins, Laurel Aitken, and Clancy Eccles  were instrumental in promoting ska to the top of the music charts. Groups like the Skattelites were formed; however, their fame was short lived due to another type of music emerging.
 
The Rock Steady sound swept Jamaicans off their dancing feet and began spreading to countries such as England and the United States. The first Rock Steady Band was Desmond Dekker in 1967. They arrived on the scene with musical hits such as "Shanty Town" and "Israelites". Their sound was embraced by the English working class, who were known as "skinheads", and by middle class Jamaicans. The rave for Rock Steady grew and the genre created another form of music called "skinhead reggae". Groups with the names like Symarip, Derrick Morgan and Desmond Dekker kept producing skinhead reggae music in order to satisfy the masses of audiences that craved that type of music.
 
Ska music and Rock Steady created a new fashion called "Rudeboys". They were bands and crowds who dressed in black & white clothing, expressing the disparity between blacks and whites in the communities in which they lived. Between 1966 and 1967, the terminology "rudeboys" became another name for Gangsters in Jamaica.
Reggae Music slowly evolved in the early 1970's and took hold of the worlds' hearts due to musicians such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer. Lyrics about Love, Redemption and Natural Beauty captured International audiences creating notoriety on the World Reggae Music scene.
 
Dub finally emerged in the mid 70's as enhanced musical versions of Artists' musical endeavors. Dubs were described as previously recorded songs remixed with bass. Dub records were developed by Lee "Scratch" Perry and King Tubby. Famous artists such as U-Roy and Big Youth were well known for their dub records and once again, a whole new generation of "Dubbers" were born. Teenagers of the era embraced dub music at parties and certain social gatherings.
 
The most heart warming form of music that brings back memories of yesteryear for Jamaicans is Mento music. Mento music is comprised of folk music, mento instrumentation and calypso. The first presenters of Jamaican mento music were the "Cudjoe Minstrels". However, the Hon. Louise Bennett-Coverly turned mento into an International art form with songs such as "Wheel and Tun Me" and "Long Time Gal Me Nevva See You".
 
During the past 51 years, there have been six musicians that have been Important Ambassadors in regards to keeping the genres of reggae, ska and dub alive. These musicians are as follows:
 
Robert Nesta Marley, also known as "Tuff Gong", born on February 6, 1945 in St. Ann Parish, Jamaica. Bob Marley was Jamaica's legendary, Reggae Artist and Song Writer. He celebrated the genres of ska, reggae and rock steady in his songs. Remembered for being the lead singer of Bob Marley and The Wailers, for songs such as, "I Shot The Sheriff", "No Woman No Cry" and "Redemption Song". Bob Marley died on May 11, 1981 of a cancerous melanoma that had spread to his lungs and brain.