Roots reggae
Stylistic origins	Ska, rocksteady, early reggae
Cultural origins	Jamaica
Typical instruments	Drums, Bass, Guitar, Vocals, Percussion
Mainstream popularity	Highest in late 1970s
Derivative forms	Dub
Other topics
List of artists - Rastafari - Haile Selassie

Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that concerns itself with the life of the ghetto sufferer.^[1] Lyrical themes include poverty, social issues, resistance to government oppression, repatriation, and Rastafari.

The heyday of roots reggae is usually considered the latter half of the 1970s – with singers such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Max Romeo, Horace Andy and Lincoln Thompson, and groups like Black Uhuru, Steel Pulse, Burning Spear and Culture – teaming up with producers such as Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Bunny Lee, Joseph Hoo Kim and Coxsone Dodd. The experimental pioneering of such producers within often-restricted technological parameters gave birth to dub, and is seen by some music historians as one of the earliest (albeit analogue) contributions to modern dance music production techniques.

Roots reggae, having its origins in the Jamaican landscape, also became very popular in Europe in the 1970ies, specially among left-wing white youths in Western Europe. ^[2] When Jamaicans turned to dancehall, a lot of black, white and mixed roots reggae bands were formed in Europe. Later on roots reggae also made its way into the United States with the mass migration of Jamaicans to New York. This took place with the reforms made to American immigration laws in the early 1960's. Along with localized traditions and food, reggae music was inevitably brought as well, contributing to the New York City soundscape. ^[3]

Since the pinnacle of roots reggae in 1970s Jamaica, a internationally renowned reggae scene has been flourishing in the Virgin Islands, especially the island of St. Croix. The Virgin Islands reggae scene has achieved much popularity throughout the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, the United States and Europe. Prominent reggae artists from the Virgin Islands include Pressure, Midnite, Dezarie, Army, Abja, Daga Don, Pressure, De Apostle, Niyorah, Bambu Station, Inner Visions, Sebattical Addah, Eno, Revalation, Iba Wicked, Jah Rubal and many more.

Title: Reggae: the Story of Jamaican Music. Author/Presenter: Lloyd Bradley and Dennis Morris. First Aired: 4th August 2002 BBC2. Prince Buster, Jimmy Cliff, Bunny Wailer, Lee Perry, Shaggy and Beanie are just some of the artists contributing to a three-part series chronicling the story of reggae.

See also

• List of roots reggae artists

External links

• Roots-Archives - Searchable database of Jamaican Roots Reggae albums from 1970 to 1985
• A paper on the wider influence of Jah Shaka and Roots Reggae on UK music
• Roots Reggae Club: Independent Roots Reggae website with definitions, reggae artists biographies, news, articles, updates..."
• Adrian Sherwood on a "very English Roots Reggae"
• Don Letts on the contribution of Roots Reggae to Punk Rock and English Society
• Drum and Bass and Junglist have their Origins in Roots Reggae
• The Clash DJ Scratchy Explains his Roots in Punk and Roots Reggae in London
• Interview with 1990s UK roots reggae band: The Disciples
• Examining the use of psalms in Rasta lyrics
• Strictly Vibes : Roots Vinyl Database
• One Drop Radio Weekly Reggae, dancehall, lover's rock, foundation Podcast
• Roots Reggae Artist Information

References