Bob Marley (1945-1981) was an Jamaican singer, songwriter and musician. He was one of the pioneers of reggae and his contributions to music increased the visibility of Jamaican music worldwide, and made him a global figure in popular culture for over a decade. Reggae is a music genre that developed from a mixture of calypso, jazz and rhythm ‘n’ blues (R’n’B) in Jamaica in the late 1960s. It is characterised by:
- electric guitars and drums line-up
- amplified bass guitar riffs – short repeated patterns
- an association with Rastafarianism – a religious movement worshipping Haile Selassie
- a rhythm in 4/4 with emphasis on the missing beat
- use of repeated offbeat quavers
- use of dub remixing techniques where effects such as delay are added
- simple chord sequences
- verse-chorus form
- political themes in the lyrics
Reggae lyrics are often about struggle, but the music has a laid-back feel. The drums and bass guitar create the rhythm. Listen out for the strong accents on the second and fourth beats of the bar.
Hayes Music blog 