Reggae

1. Reggae Contemporary Music & Its Effects On Society

2. Most influential in Jamaica • Has roots in American rhythm & blues (R&B), Caribbean calypso, and mento • Characteristic Sound of Reggae: • Pronounced accent on beat 3 in 4/4 time-on the bass drum (demonstrate) • This is called the “one drop” • Bass commonly serves the function of the lead instrument • Became international phenomenon in the 1970’s Reggae

3. “The History of Reggae” by Stuart A. Kallen • Blends of: “…history, protest, deep spirituality, celebration of daily joys of life in the tropics, and commentary on the realities of life, crime, poverty, and despair in an underdeveloped nation.” • For Natives-music represents roots from Africa…they were brought over for slavery Reggae

4. Music in Jamaica is a way of life: • Street Culture • Biblical Culture • Precedes Rap • Famous Performers: • Bob Marley & the Wailers • Peter Tosh • Jimmy Cliff Reggae

5. Sub Genres of Reggae: • Dub-remix of a popular song • Generally, singing is removed, bass and drums turned up louder than on original, and new tracks added • Toast-when someone talks over the dub • Dancehall-by far most influential to society • Way of life & most popular • Style of clothing-riske, flashy, “divas” • Haircuts • Jewelry • Dance • Jamaican Language-new words and phrases invented nearly every night. • Very sexual Sub Genres of Reggae

6. Ebo drum-made from hollow log with a sheepskin head stretched over hole • Kyando-Bass drum, from wood of breadfruit tree Instruments of Reggae

7. Burru-“talking drum”, hold drum under one arm and squeezes cords running between drum heads attached to each end of the instrument. • Changes pitch. Instruments of Reggae

8. Rattles: Shaka or shake – made from a jawbone of a horse and teeth loosened • Rhumba Box: combines percussion with musical notes, related to African zanza Instruments of Reggae

9. Rumba Box

10. http://windworld.com/bart/invented-instruments/lamellaphones-rumba-boxes/http://windworld.com/bart/invented-instruments/lamellaphones-rumba-boxes/ • Coramantee Flute: long black reed that produces a low mournful sound & played with nose • Conch Shell: Blown to announce meetings… • Abeng: loud bellowing cow horn made from horn of bull Instruments of Reggae

11. Bob Marley: Born 1944-May 11, 1981 • Married and both devoted to Rastafarianism • Rastafarian religion developed around 1930 when Ras Tafari was crowned king of Ethiopia • Believed African Monarch was a Living God • Believed he was the returned messiah-a black Jesus • Believed Ethopia is the true paradise • Controversial view of marijuana, called “ganja”, as a holy herb • Smoked in large quantifies ostensibly to bring Rastas closer to a deeper understanding of their religion and themselves Bob Marley

12. Reggae today: http://www.reggae4us.com/aboutus.html • Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers • Bob Marley’s Son and Ziggy’s siblings • “Red Red Wine” Originally done by Neil Diamond • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su4KS05mN4M&feature=related • “Red Red Wine” • http://m.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&hl=en&client=mv-google&v=Rg1iEBWxVeQ • (UB40) • Incorrectly attributed to Bob Marley Reggae

13. In class writing: • http://www.lyrics.com/dont-look-back-lyrics-peter-tosh.html • http://www.lyrics.com/one-love-lyrics-bob-marley.html • 1. Write about Lyrics • 2. Listen to music & rethink writing portion Class Input

14. Calypso-distinctive in its texts-wry and witty commentaries on social conditions, events, and personalities • Song Style of Trinidad (but established in Jamaica) Calypso

15. The lyrics of traditional Calypso music are generally quite political in nature, but because of strict censorship, are cleverly veiled. (http://worldmusic.about.com/od/genres/p/calypso.htm) • Calypso is a genre of Afro-Caribbean • Harry Belefonte (Born March 1st, 1927): • Popularized in calypso in the U.S. during the 1950’s • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpNk860pTO4 • More Listening Examples: • http://www.ecaroh.com/audio_clips.htm Calypso

16. Kalindas-were quarterstaff duels involving processions of fighters that were accompanied by bands of their supporters (mid 1830’s) • Communication between slaves and entertainment • Remain important part of the calypso sound and band set up • More Listening Examples: • http://www.ecaroh.com/audio_clips.htm Calypso

17. Mento:A distinct form of Jamaican music originating in the 1900’s • Band Consists of: • Guitar • Banjo • Gourd Shaker • Rumba Box (not as common) • Usually instruments made from scrap materials that are available Mento Music

18. Greatly influenced Ska and Reggae • Sometimes called Jamaican Calypso • Mento’s Makeup: • Innuendos • Jamaican Folk Music • Draws on tradition-brought over from African slaves • Now regarded as “country music” • Blend of music, dance, narrative, & tropical commentary • Favored music of rural poor Mento

19. Mento Bands : • Performed for cruise ships & on docks welcoming and bidding farewell to tourists • Lord Messam & the Calypsonians • Count Lasher’s Calypso Quartet • Reynolds's Calypso Clippers • Mento Music: • Wry humor about everyday life among Jamaican poor • References to sex • Precursor to reggae • Died out in 1960’s Mento

20. Ska: Short for Skank Rhythm • Ska-also short for Skavoovie which was a salutation/greeting • Read page 42 “Hail Skavoovie” • Fast dance music with horn-section arrangements • Driving beat that is danceable • Syncopated-music that is played on weak beats • Horn players play melodic jazz riffs • Jazz riff-improvised phrase • Up-tempo version of the skank rhythm • http://www.stratoblogster.com/2010/08/skank-rhythm-guitar-lesson.html • (begin 2:16) • Early Hit: “My Boy Lollipop” by Millie Small’s • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCUcbRTB6Rs Ska

21. Ska Vocals: • Singers chanted unintelligible words, noises, and sounds in a complex rhythmic pattern known as polyrhythm. • Scat Singing-improvised string of nonsensical syllables with vocal growls and rumbles • Very popular in Jazz • Roots in Africa • Bob Marley Scat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq5tZwddVc0&feature=related • Ella Fitzgerald Scat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbL9vr4Q2LU Ska Continued

22. Ska Instrumentals: • More prominent than the vocals • Complex Chords • Chords-what make up music harmony • Talented musicians vs. average person (quality) • Emphasis on beats 2 and 4 (explain difference) • Bass is American form usually (walking style) • Johnny “Dizzy” Moore-strong influence on ska • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFObUDW5-s8 • Components of Ska: • Popularity took off in the 1960’s • Developed into Ska-punk rock in the 1980’s • Drew from Reggae, mento, calypso, and American Jazz and R & B • 3 Waves of Ska Ska Continued

23. Politically: • Popularity coincided with Jamaica’s recent independence • Derrick Morgan “Forward March” “Gather together brothers and sisters for independence We’re Independent Join hands to hands children, start to dance we’re independent We’re Independent Don’t be sullen, no, the Lord is still with you Because the time has come, when you can have your fun, so tag along” Ska Continued

24. Skatalites • Played 1st gig (performance) June 27th, 1964 at the Hi Hat Club in Kingston • Hi Hat- • 9 Members: • 3 saxes • 1 trumpet • 1 trombonist • 1 pianist • 1 drummer • 1 bass guitarist • 1 guitarist • Referred to as “Kings of Ska” • Dancing at their concerts became so intense injuries occurred • Name other types of dancing this occurs • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHxEijSG7fg Skatalites

25. Disbanded/Broke-up for several reasons: • Previously stars in their own right-personality conflicts • Theory-band wasn’t the same after trombonist Drummond stabbed his girlfriend to death on New Year’s Day in 1965 • Said he had a mental illness • Their creativity broke new ground: • Covered Beatle’s song “I Shoulda Known Better” • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TCEU6--wis • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=107pfhyf31s Skatalites

26. Covered Duke Ellington’s jazz great “Caravan” (which was renamed “Skaravan”) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoTaDw2ZXTo • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4XKHkzDggk • Skankaroos • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0BNeEHiabc • 3 Waves of Ska • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AesId12OKsY More Ska & Skatalites

27. Had about 6 month popularity in USA • Bigger in United Kingdom • “My Boy Lollipop” helped bridge gap • “…this music [My Boy Lollipop] was enjoyed by Jamaican immigrants, but when it became trendy among English white youth, it’s success was guaranteed…” • Ska’s impact in Britain was long lasting • Disappeared for a time but came back in the 1970’s and early 1980’s by English Bands: • Specials • Madness • The Beat • Revived in US by “No Doubt” (2002) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvuVFHTvdaY Ska International

28. Ska lead to Reggae and Rock Steady • More laid back • Bass lined changed-drowned out in Ska but more prominently featured in rock steady • Vocals became more important Ska Concluded

29. Read “Assassination Attempt” for class • Discuss main points of these genres & write down main points Summary

30. Write a timeline including: • Reggae-when it became popular • Mento-when it originated and died out • Calypso-when and who it was popularized by • Ska-3 waves-give decades • Bob Marley-when he was born, decade he was popular in, & assassination attempt • Skatalites-What years they were popular • Rude Boys-what decade they developed in • Rastafarian religion- what decade it developed • Harry Belefonte-when was he born and popular Timeline Assignment

31. Music of the 21st Century (Armonk, NY.: Sharpe Reference, 1999) • Kallen, Stuart A. History of Reggae, The (Farmington Hills, MI.: Cengage Learning, 2006) Sources