Considering it’s one of the most diverse music genres out there, choosing the top reggae artists is no mean feat. Originating in Jamaica in the 1960s, reggae shares its roots with jazz and blues and has influenced many other genres, including hip-hop, dub and drum and bass. It’s associated with messages of unity and hope, and the lyrics are often used by the artists as a platform for social and political messages, but its rhythmic percussion and bass also have a laid-back feel that conjures up days spent in the Caribbean sun.
In honour of International Reggae Day earlier this month – a celebration of Jamaican music culture, we’re going to take a look at some of the reggae artists out there who have played a part in highlighting this genre.
1. BOB MARLEY
Of course, we had to start with someone who’s considered the Master of Reggae. His music is instantly recognisable, whether you’re a fan of the genre or not. He formed one of the most well-known reggae bands ‘Bob Marley and the Wailers’ and their hits include ‘Three Little Birds’, ‘No Woman No Cry’, ‘Is This Love’ and ‘Get Up Stand Up’. He was often outspoken about his political beliefs and wasn’t afraid to stand up for what he believed in. Even 40 years after his death, the impact he had on music and the reggae culture is very much alive.
2. DESMOND DEKKER
Desmond Dekker helped define an era in London in the late 1960s when there was a divide between Caribbean immigrants and working-class British people. His hit, ‘Israelites’ in 1968, was the first Jamaican song to top the UK charts and it really showcased Jamaican culture. He was seen as a symbol of unity and his music had themes of resilience, rebellion, pride and family values.
3. JIMMY CLIFF
Jamaican-born Jimmy Cliff began writing songs while still in school and he recorded his first single ‘Hurricane Hattie’ aged just 14. He went on to release hits such as ‘You Can Get It If You Really Want’ which was included in the 1972 cult classic film ‘The Harder They Come’, which he both produced and starred in. The film, and its soundtrack, highlighted reggae as both an art form and a philosophy.
4. JANET KAY
London-born Janet Kay was the first black female artist to have a reggae number one in the UK charts, with her hit ‘Silly Games’; a song with a classic reggae beat that also shows off her amazing vocal range. She’d previously topped the reggae charts with a cover of Minnie Ripperton’s ‘Loving You’. She’s collaborated with a range of different artists, including Aswad and Fatboy Slim and has performed around the world, as well as having a successful acting career.
5. DAWN PENN
One of the most distinctive voices in reggae and dancehall, Dawn Penn is mostly known for her reggae anthem ‘You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No)’. The song was originally recorded in 1967 when she was just 15 years old, but despite its success locally, she stepped away from the music business, returning in 1994 to re-record it. The song, with its mix of rocksteady, roots and dancehall reached number three in the UK singles chart and has since been sampled and covered by artists such as Beyonce, Rihanna and Ghostface Killah. Dawn’s credited with paving the way for other female reggae artists.
6. EDDY GRANT
Guyanese-British Eddy Grant was the founding member of The Equals, one of the UK’s first mixed-race pop group, who had a hit with ‘Baby, Come Back’ in 1968. He went on to have a successful solo career with hits including ‘I Don’t Wanna Dance’ and ‘Electric Avenue’ in the 80s. In 1988 he released his anti-apartheid single ‘Gimme Hope, Jo’anna’ which ended up being part of a $300,000 copyright infringement case against Donald Trump, when he used it as part of his 2020 presidential campaign without permission.
7. UB40
Formed in Birmingham in 1978, UB40 are a UK reggae band with a diverse line-up, including musicians of English, Welsh, Irish, Jamaican, Scottish and Yemeni descent. They started out covering classic reggae songs and their hits, including ‘Red Red Wine’, ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ and ‘Many Rivers to Cross’. They’re one of the most successful reggae acts in history, having sold over 70 million records worldwide.
8. ZIGGY MARLEY
The eldest son of Bob Marley, Ziggy managed to carve out a successful musical career of his own that honours his father’s legacy, while making him a prominent figure in the music industry based on his own merit. He shares his dad’s passion for improving the world through music, activism and charitable work. He and his siblings formed a band in 1975 ‘Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers’, releasing ‘Tomorrow’s People’ and ‘Conscious Party’. Ziggy has won eight Grammy awards and worked with artists such as Mick Jagger and Pharrell Williams. He’s also a successful children’s author.
9. ASWAD
Best known for their chart-topping hit ‘Don’t Turn Around’ in 1988, Aswad started playing together in Ladbroke Grove, London, in 1975. Inspired by Bob Marley, they put a British spin on the traditional Jamaican ‘roots reggae’ style with themes of black pride (their name means ‘black’ in Arabic), spirituality and social justice. The band went on to have three Grammy nominations, and they were the first British reggae band to sign with a big record label – Island Records – which was seen as the home of reggae music and who had Bob Marley on their books.
10. SHAGGY
Orville Richard Burrell, AKA Shaggy, is well-known for being one of the most successful crossover artists of the 1990s, creating classic reggae songs with a modern twist. His hits included ‘It Wasn’t Me’, ‘Boombastic’, ‘Angel’ and ‘Oh Carolina’ and he’s collaborated with artists from many different music genres such as Sean Paul and Olly Murs. He also has a successful acting career.
Reggae is one of the most distinctive music styles out there, and its influence has spread to many other genres. For example, the following songs all have a definite reggae style to them:
- Roxanne – The Police
- Dear Future Self (Hands Up) – Fall Out Boy
- Do You Really Want To hurt Me – Culture Club
- Fire – Jake Bugg
- LDN – Lily Allen
- Mysterious Girl – Peter Andre
- The Tide Is High – Blondie
- Woman Like Me – Little Mix
For a genre that started out on a small Caribbean island, and that symbolises unity and hope, that’s not a bad legacy!
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