Reggae

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Reggae is unique. No other style has made so much out of its original musical resources to present itself in so many different guises with only a couple of structural changes in over 40 years. No other style has so accurately reflected the people that create and consume it. Jamaican music’s relationship with its people is such that it is not unusual for music to influence political and social change as much ...

Source: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music, general editor Paul Du Noyer
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One of the greatest achievements any guitar player can attain is an immediately recognizable signature tone and style. And though many guitarists have realized this goal, few have done it as emphatically as Police guitarist Andy Summers (b. 1942). From the chord stabs of ‘Roxanne’ and ‘Don’t Stand So Close To Me’ to the arpeggios of ‘Message In A Bottle’ and ‘Every Breath You Take’, Summers’s chiming, shimmering Telecaster tones are ...

Source: Rock Guitar Heroes, consultant editor Rusty Cutchin
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(Vocal/instrumental group, 1978–present) This dreadlocked crew – Dr. Know (guitar), Darryl Jenifer (bass) and Earl Hudson (drums) – ditched jazz-fusion for thrash-punk. They wowed New York’s hip CBGB club, and released the excellent Rock The Light (1983). The volatile H.R. (‘throat’, not vocals) left and rejoined, as they incorporated reggae and funk on the likes of I Against I (1986) and God Of Love (1995). Worshipped by Henry Rollins, they also ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocal/instrumental group, 1973–present) Derrick ‘Ducky’ Simpson co-founded this mighty Jamaican reggae outfit in the early 1970s. The line-up settled with Michael Rose on lead vocals, Puma Jones and Simpson harmonizing, and the legendary Sly and Robbie acting as rhythm section. A deal with Island paved the way for the group’s international reputation. The Grammy-grabbing Anthem (1984) established them in America, and though they never quite attained superstar status, their atmospheric, melodic ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Guitar, vocals, 1945–81) The man responsible for popularizing reggae worldwide, Bob Marley’s career began in 1963 in the original Wailers, a six-piece vocal group, later slimmed to a trio, operating out of Kingston, Jamaica and enjoying great success locally. In 1969, Marley worked with producer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, who introduced him to the Barrett brothers – Aston (Family Man) on bass and Carlton (drums) – who would become a vital component ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocals, b. 1951) Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Isaacs is one of the top reggae artists of the last four decades. After a handful of records for smaller labels he started his own African Museum label with fellow singer Errol Dunkley. He also recorded for myriad other producers, and discs with Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and Sly and Robbie began to make his reputation. He signed to Virgin’s Front Line label and released ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocals, b. 1987) The former Jocelyn Stoker’s white-soul sound has helped her become one of the few British solo artists to gain American success. Her debut album The Soul Sessions reached No. 4 in the UK in 2003, while follow-up Mind, Body & Soul hit No. 1 just a year later. A move to the US ignited her popularity there, third album Introducing Joss Stone (2007) debuting at No. 2 in ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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‘Pass The Dutchie’, 1982 Based on The Mighty Diamonds’ reggae hit, ‘Pass The Kouchie’, Birmingham-based Musical Youth’s ‘Pass The Dutchie’ was a pro-cannabis hit that reached No. 1 in the UK. One of the fastest-selling singles of the year, they could not capitalize on its success, and had disbanded within two years. A reunion was mooted in 1993, but it ultimately came to nothing after band member Patrick Waite died of ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocal/instrumental group, 1987–present) Gwen Stefani (vocals), Tom Dumont (guitar), Tony Kanal (bass) and Adrian Young (drums) began life as a ska/punk band from California. Their eponymous debut album (1992) went against the grain of grunge and they were dropped by their label. Success followed after their self-financed Tragic Kingdom (1995) crashed into US charts on the back of the ‘Just A Girl’ single. A typical ballad ‘Don’t Speak’ made UK No. ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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Peter Tosh (1944–87), born Winston Hubert McIntosh, was the guitarist in the original Wailing Wailers. His mercurial temperament, provocative advocacy of the Rastafari movement and untimely death drew attention from his role in the most important band in the history of reggae. Tosh grew up in Kingston, Jamaica. His height (6ft 5in/2m) and temperament earned him the nickname Stepping Razor. Tosh began to sing and play guitar at a young ...

Source: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Guitar Heroes, consultant editor Rusty Cutchin
365 Words Read More

(Vocals, b. 1971) Born in Puerto Rico, Enrique Martin Morales, was a member of the Latin boy-band Menudo in the 1980s. As an actor he also enjoyed TV work in Mexico and America, notably as a singing bartender in General Hospital. Martin made his Spanish-language solo debut in 1991 and a string of albums like A Medio Vivur (1995) won him a devoted following in Latin music circles. These firm foundations ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
167 Words Read More

(Vocals, b. 1988) Barbados-born R&B sensation Robyn Rihanna Fenty’s rise began midway in the 2000s with her debut album Music Of The Sun (2005). Her second LP A Girl Like Me (2006) made the Top 5 in the US and in the UK, and included hit singles ‘Unfaithful’ and ‘SOS’. Good Girl Gone Bad (2007) became Rihanna’s most successful album to date on the back of monster chart hit ‘Umbrella’. An ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
115 Words Read More

(Production team/rhythm section, 1975–present) Sly Dunbar (drums) and Robbie Shakespeare (bass) both worked for various reggae artists, including Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, before coming together at Kingston’s Channel One Studio in the mid-1970s, where their innovative, but funky combination powered the new ‘rockers’ sound. They backed practically every Jamaican artist of note, from Peter Tosh to Gregory Isaacs, forming their own label Taxi. They toured with Black Uhuru and played sessions and/or ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
178 Words Read More

(Rapper, b. 1971) Raised in Long Beach, California, his teenage years often found Calvin Broadus – a.k.a. Snoop Dogg – in trouble with the law. He was fortunate that Warren G., his collaborator in early rap explorations, was stepbrother of Dr. Dre of N.W.A.. Dre gave Snoop’s laconic style a break on early solo material, notably the classic The Chronic (1992). A solo career began with Doggystyle’s (1993) tough sexist verbose sex-girls-ganja-gangsta ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
173 Words Read More

(Vocal group, 1987–97, 2004–present) Although Wyclef Jean and cousin Prakazrel ‘Pras’ Michel had Haitian backgrounds, The Fugees came together in New York, with Lauryn Hill completing this multi-instrumental compositional singing and production trio. Blunted On Reality (1994), released as Fugees Tranzlator Crew, contained most of the components of their sound blending in acoustic guitars and reggae along with traditional beats and hip hop musical motifs. The Score (1996) was perfection, blending ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
181 Words Read More
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