a brief history of reggae by george d. goddard, b.a

Please ALL Rise and Join in Singing

The Jamaican National Anthem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8yo4xsOJbw

A Brief History of ReggaeA Music Genre Of

WORD, SOUND & POWER

Presented by

George D. Goddard, B.A. Music

Facts about Jamaica:● It is the 3rd largest island in the Caribbean.● It has 14 parishes, and Kingston is the capital.● Jamaican's have created their own “language”, called Patois.● Jamaica is most famous for it's “reggae” music and track athletes.

No Problem, Mon!

Welcome to Jamaica!!!

“Jamaican rap; that's what it is”Tom Browne, Funkin for Jamaica

This is Mento

From Ska To Rock Steady To Reggae

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYj9J4UH8ck

Rastafarian Influences● Marcus Garvey tells of the “crowning of a Black king”.

● When Haile Selassie is coronated in 1930 as Ras Tafari, many saw this as a fulfillment of Bible (and Garvey's) prophecy.

● Many of the young musicians in Jamaica, including the Wailers (Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer), would “convert” to Rastafarianism.

● The music of the Rastafarians, focused more on Biblical content, and “consciousness” became the mantra of these musicians.

● The music, now became a medium the spreading of the “Word of God”, and like American gospel music and blues, the difference between reggae and rock steady, lay in the lyrics.

From DJ Style To Dancehall

● At local parties, DJ's would play “dubplates”, on which they would add their own lyrics.

● This sometimes led to confrontations and “dee jay explosions”, where they would do battle, at first with words, then, if things boiled over, with violence.

● Biggie Smalls and other New York rappers, also became interested in these Jamaican dancehall artistes.

● Shabba Ranks broke the glass ceiling, then Buju Banton, followed by others would become international celebrities.

THANK YOU

So this concludes our presentation on the reggae music. If you walk away with nothing else, walk away with this: Not all music from Jamaica is reggae music. Reggae evolved out of mento, ska, and rock steady, however, for it to be really considered “reggae”, the lyrical content must be based on righteousness. To any Rastafarian, reggae, is WORD, SOUND, and POWER.

George D. Goddard