Reggae Revision Sheet

Reggae, Ska & Dub!

Revision Notes

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History: http://musictechstudent.co.uk/lessons/the-history-and-development-of-reggae-ska-anddub-music/!

Instrumentation:!

- Main Vocals! - Backing Vocals 3 or 4 part harmonies! - Guitarists x 2! - Piano, Keyboards, Organ, synthesizers! - Horn section Saxophone, Trumpet or Trombone! - Bass Guitar! - Drums and Percussion!
Performance and Arrangement:!

- The vocals of reggae are expressive! - A standard drum kit is generally used in reggae,! - The back beat of reggae music is relaxed but rhythmically tight! - Reggae drumbeats fall into one of three main categories: One drop, Rockers, and Steppers! - Reggae is played in 4/4 time! - Recognisable offbeat rhythms! - Staccato / choppy chords played by a guitar, piano or both on the offbeats of the measure,
often referred to as the skanking!

- The tempo of reggae is usually slower than ska and rocksteady, approximately 60 to 90 bpm! - Heavy use of syncopation! - A Melodic riff based Bass lines which plays a dominant role in reggae music! - Simple chord progressions! - Vocal call and response phrases! - Horn sections are frequently used in reggae, often playing introductions and counter-melodies!

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- The toasting vocal style is unique to reggae, originating when DJs improvised spoken
introductions to songs!

- Reggae is noted for its tradition of social criticism in its lyrics, although many reggae songs
discuss lighter, more personal subjects, such as love and socialising!

- Side stick on snare beat 3! - Organ shufe played in the left hand plays off-beat quavers! - A wide variety of percussion is used which includes shaker, tambourine and hand drums!
Technology and Production:!

- The bass sound is thick and heavy, and equalised so the upper frequencies are removed and
the lower frequencies emphasised, heavily compressed and plays a key part in the performance so is mixed relatively high.!

- Drums are isolated with the use of gating and compression to achieve a more punchy sound! - The snare drum is often tuned very high to give it a timbales-type sound! - Piano and guitar chops are EQed to sound unnaturally thin! - The horn section is sometimes produced with punchier, louder phrases for a more up-tempo
and aggressive sound.!

- Extensive use of the Delay and reverb effects to give a sense of space!
Stylistic Inuences:!

- Blues! - Rhythm and Blues (R&B)! - Jazz! - Mento! - Calypso! - Gospel! - Sole! - Other African and Latin American musical inuences!

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You should be able to give details about the following on all of the artists listed below;! What inuence he had on other artists and why?! Which artists inuences him and why?! Years of prominence!

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Any social contexts! Hit Albums! Hit Songs! What was their instrumentation / voice! What are they best known for and how did it change the music scene?! What technology are they associated with?!

Bob Marley & the Wailers - 1962 - 1981

- Bob Marley is from Jamaica and thats where he developed his sound.! - His sound is Reggae, Ska and Rocksteady feel.! - Popular songs No Woman No Cry, Three Little Birds, Redemption Song, I shot the
Sheriff!

- Most Popular album Exodus! - Bob Marley inuenced a wide array of artists including Eddy Grant, Fugees, Dennis
Brown, Gregory Isaacs, UB40, Ziggy Marley, Stephen Marley, The Police and Wyclef Jean to name a few!

- Political Issues like injustice towards blacks and poverty. Economic and Social
injustice. Revolution. Pan-Africanism meaning an anti-slavery and anti-colonial movement amongst black people of Africa. !

- Bob Marley guitar, vocals, Peter Tosh guitar, keyboard, vocals, Bunny Wailer
percussion, vocals!

- Bob Marleys key musical characteristics include guitar and an easy listening vocal
style, gentle, upbeat. A common musical structure of his music is to begins with the chorus and then move to the verse giving an instant identity to the tune.!

- The offbeat ska / skanking guitar rhythm, the unique drum patterns associated with the
genra (Steppers, one drop, rockers)!

- One of the rst reggae artists. He made reggae popular and believed in
Rastafarianism. He was against war, violence and political movements during his time.!

Alton Ellis - 1959 - 2008

- Alton Ellis is a Jamaican Vocalist.! - His sound is R&B, Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae! - He was inuenced by bands like The Skatalites, The Coasters, The Drifters and The
Moonglows!

- Popular songs Get Ready Rock Steady and Muriel!

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- Popular albums Mr Soul of Jamaica ! - He inuenced Gregory Isaacs, Maxi Priest and Sugar Minott! - One of the rst vocalists to enter the Jamaican music business, Alton Ellis was
generally revered as the greatest and most soulful singer the country ever produced One of the innovators of rocksteady who was given the informal title Godfather of Rocksteady. Started his career in the ska era!

- He had a smooth vocal style. Typical band line up included a small rhythm section,
horns, and backup singers!

- Alton Ellis was one of the rst to adapt American R&B songs into Reggae context!

The Skatalites 1964-65 Reformed 1983 to present

- The Skatalites are from Jamaica and their sound is Ska, rocksteady and reggae.! - Popular songs Guns of Navarone and The Return of the Big Guns.! - Popular albums Hi-Bop Ska, The Return of the Big Guns! - Roland Alphonso Tenor Saxophonist, Lester Sterling Alto Saxophonist, Don
Drummond Trombonist, Johnny Moore Trumpeter, Lloyd Knibb Drummer, Lloyd Brevett Bassist, Jerry Haynes Rhythm Guitarist, Jackie Mittoo Pianist and Tommy McCook Tenor Saxophonist!

- Their sound has an up beat lively tempo! - They are characterised as being a big band group with a prominent instrumental Ska /
Jazz inuence.!

- They were considered the rst band to fusion R&B and Jazz together and make Ska a

prominent musical genre !

Jimmy Cliff - 1962 - Present

- Jimmy Cliff is from Jamaica and his genre is Ska and Reggae.! - Popular songs include Wonderful World, Beautiful People, Vietnam! - Popular albums include Wonderful World, Beautiful People, Rebirth, Cliff Hanger! - His songs were about Independence and Freedom, Rastafarian Movement, Peace
against war!

- Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Conga, Drums and Keyboards! - He was one of the rst to be a reggae super star!

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Burning Spear 1969 - Present

- Burning Spear is from Jamaica and his sound is Reggae and Dub ! - Most Popular songs include Marcus Garvey, Jah is Real! - Most Popular albums include Calling Rastafari, Jah is Real, People of the World! - Political Issues like injustice towards blacks and poverty. Economic and Social

injustice. Revolution. Pan-Africanism meaning an anti-slavery and anti-colonial movement!

Dennis Brown 1968 - 1999

- Dennis Brown was from Jamaica and his sound was Reggae and a sub-genre called
Lovers Rock.!

- He was inuenced by Jazz, Pop, Swing and Soul. He had stated that he took inuence
from artists such as Sam Cooke, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Delroy Wilson.!

- Most Popular songs include Money In My Pocket, Wolf and Leopard, No Man is an
Island. !

- Most Popular albums include Words of Wisdom, Victory Is Mine, Visions.! - Dennis Brown inuenced Barrington Levy, Junior Reid, Maxi Priest, Aswad and
Shaggy. !

- As a young man Dennis Brown was part of a Political Organisation that allowed him to
develop and form bands and sing. This was part of the Jamaica Labour Party who promoted Jamaican music during the early 1960s.!

- Bob Marley cited Dennis Brown as his favourite singer, dubbing him The Crown
Prince of Reggae. Dennis Brown became very inuential to other up and coming reggae singers. His style is what made him stand out from other reggae artists. His voice was moving and remained consistent throughout his music career. !

Eek-a-Mouse - 1975 - Present

- Eek-A-Mouse is from Jamaica and his sound is Reggae and Dub! - He was inuenced by other Reggae artists such as Pablo Moses and Ranking Joe a
Reggae deejay!

- Most Popular albums include Bubble Up Yu Hip, Wa Do Dem, Mouse and the Man,
Eek-A-Nomics. !

- Most Popular songs include Wild Like a Tiger, For Hire and Removal, Ganja
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- Inimitable vocal style blended an unconventional melodic approach with rhythm and
humour and helped dene the term singjay.!

- He pioneered a technique called Singjaying, this is a style of toasting, an expressive

mixture of scat, gibberish, melodic riffs and rapping.!

Gregory Issacs -1968 - 2010

- Gregory Isaacs is from Jamaica and his sound was Reggae, Lovers Rock and Dub. ! - He was inuenced by soul and Reggae artists like Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and
Alton Ellis.!

- Most Popular songs include Night Nurse, My Only Lover, Border, Number One! - Most Popular albums include Night Nurse, The Lonely Lover, Private Beach Party.! - UB40, Steel Pulse, Beenie Man, Grace Jones. Simply Red did a cover version of
Night Nurse in 1997 and had a hit with it.!

- Gregory Isaacs Singer and Songwriter. His smooth singing style earned him the
nickname Cool Ruler.!

- His hit My Only Lover was credited as the rst lovers rock record ever made.!

Shabba Ranks - 1985 - present

- Shabba Ranks is from Jamaica and his sound is Dancehall, Reggae Fusion and
Ragga.!

- Inuenced by other Dancehall and rapping stars such as Yellowman, Josey Wales, URoy!

- Most Popular songs include Mr Loverman, Dem Bow, Respect.! - Most Popular albums include Just Reality! - His style is rapping and he has gravel toned, rough-sounding voice which made him
instantly recognized worldwide. Songs also featured strong electronic beats.!

- He is associated with deejaying and toasting (rapping) rather than singing! - Rude and Lewd lyrics which are typical of the Dancehall genre! - He was one of the rst Jamaican deejays to gain worldwide acceptance and
recognition for his slack lyrical expressions and content when ridin di riddim (meaning rhythm)!

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Damian Marley - 1996 - Present

- Damian Marley is from Jamaica and his sound is Reggae and Dancehall! - His father Bob Marley was a great inuence as well as Horace Andy, Peter Tosh and
his brother Ziggy Marley. Reggae, Dancehall and R&B!

- Most Popular albums include Mr Marley, Halfway Tree and Welcome to Jamrock. ! - Most Popular songs include Welcome to Jamrock,! - Damian Marley DJ, singer and songwriter. Sometimes associated with his half-

brothers Ziggy Marley, Stephen Marley and Julian Marley!

Madness - 1976 -1986, 1992 to present

- Madness are a group from London and their sound is Ska, Pop, 2 Tone, New Wave
and Reggae. !

- Inuenced by Pop/Rock, Jazz and Reggae. The Beatles, The Skatalites, The Specials,
The Wailers, Desmond Dekker and Prince Buster all inuenced Madness!

- Most Popular songs include Baggy Trousers, House of Fun, It Must Be Love, Wings
of a Dove.!

- Most Popular albums include Absolutely, Complete Madness, Keep Moving! - Chris Foreman Guitar Mike Barson Keyboards, Pianos, Vibraphone, Backing
Vocals Lee Thompson Saxophone, Percussion, Backing Vocals Chas Smash Trumpet, Backing Vocals, Harmonica, Guitars Graham Suggs McPherson Lead Vocals Daniel Woodgate Drums, Percussion Mark Bedford Bass Guitar!

- Their sound has an up beat lively tempo! - They are characterised as being a fun and energetic group !

The Specials - 1977-1984, 1996-2001, 2008-to present

- The Specials are a group formed in Coventry the UK and their sound is 2 Tone, Ska,
New Wave, Reggae.!

- They were inspired by Pop, Rock and Reggae. Artists like Jimmy Cliff, The Skatalites
and The Wailers!

- Most Popular songs include A Message To You Rudy, Ghost Town, The Boiler.! - Most Popular albums include The Specials, More Specials, In The Studio.! - They inuenced artists such as Blur, No Doubt, Sublime and Hepcat!

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- The Specials began at the same time as Rock Against Racism which rst organised in
1978. According to Jerry Dammers, anti-racism was intrinsic to the formation of The Specials, in that the band was formed with the goal of integrating black and white people. !

- Jerry Dammers - band founder and songwriter, Neville Staple toasting, vocals and
percussion, Lynval Golding rhythm guitar and vocals, Horace Panter bass guitar, Terry Hall vocals and songwriting, Roddy Radiation lead guitar and vocals, John Bradbury drums!

- Combining the highly danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punks energy and
attitude. !

- They focused on political and social subject matter.! - One of the rst groups to integrate both black and white musicians!

UB40 - 1978 - Present

- UB40 are a band formed in Birmingham the UK and their sound is Pop, Reggae, Dub
and Ska.!

- They were very much inuenced by Blues, Jazz, Ska, Reggae and early Lovers Rock.
This included artists such as U-Roy, The Skatalites, Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff and Al Green!

- Most Popular songs include Food for Thought, Red Red Wine, Cant Help Falling in
Love, I Got You Babe.!

- Most Popular albums include Signing Off, Labour of Love ! - They have inuenced Shaggy, Beenie Man, Big Mountain and Beres Hammond. ! - Ali Campbell Lead Vocals and guitar, Robin Campbell Lead guitar and vocals,
Jimmy Brown Drums , Earl Falconer Bass guitar , Norman Hassan Percussion, trombone and vocals, Brian Travers Saxophone , Duncan Campbell Lead vocals, Mickey Virtue Keyboards , Astro Trumpet and vocals!

- Their early musical style was unique, with a heavy inuence of analogue synthesisers,
psychedelic rock guitar, saxophone and dub producer techniques which were later perfected by Pablo Falconer!

- UB40s early music often tackled social issues such as racism and unemployment.
Other songs include love and heartache as subject matter.

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