How Reggae Finally Conquered America

[@lawrencenjawe9875]

Undoubtedly Toots and the Maytals were very instrumental in settling Reggae music in the early years with their blend of Roots Reggae and classic 60s Soul of Otis Redding, Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson among others... California is a major hub of Liberal America, quite natural it should be anchored there...Thanks @Reggae Appreciation 👍

[@krucialkevkalamity2055]

Bad Brains are a very popular American Reggae punk band from the 1970`s that were the first band to introduce Reggae music to the rock world.

[@aaronjaben7913]

Very cool! Thank you for featuring the great Blue Riddim. From Kansas City, USA

[@watsonunlimitedmusic]

I'm surprised Bullwackies / Wackies didn't get a mention. NY was producing some really classic roots reggae recordings from the mid 70s onward. Artists like Horace Andy, Junior Byles and more released tracks on the labels. Also could have mentioned The Rastafarians - a seminal group in California that formed in 1980, one of the earliest Afro-Caribbean bands in America. Great content as always though !

[@krikon575]

Aksumites-Africa fede Africans is a major NY classic not to be forgotten as well, its one of the few places in the US that has/had a decent Reggae scene

[@MichaelSmallin]

Well bullwackies what can you say what a tuff producer Lloyd Barnes made a lot of killah chunes and his connections with Lee scratch Perry bullwackies need to be mentioned I agree..

[@drawingdownthestars]

We need an episode on the Skatalites or at least on Lloyd Knibbs. His drums changed the course of music history.

[@MichaelSmallin]

I totally agree Lloyd knibbs is the back bone of the skatalites he makes his self known on the drums 🥁 what a wacked instrumental dubbing band knibbs and the skatalites they made tuff killah chune if I say so myself..

[@christopherseeley5760]

Part of the magic of the SoCal Reggae scene was the ability to actually go see all of the legends live:

[@fredericocr1]

Reggae is simple but also profound and amazing. Perfect for fusion also

[@jahlanclaps21]

It was a hard place to conquer emperor gong was puzzled how is music was not breaking tru but with determination it finally come true 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

[@anthonymackey222]

Interesting, another good one. I'm learning more about this music that I discovered by accident by the British bands just like they took from Soul and R&B from the US.

[@gregoryspevack2263]

Nice work my friend, you covered a lot in a very short time. in the early 70's two songs landed on the charts and got a lot of air play. Millie Small's " My boy lollie pop " Desmond Deckker's " Israelites. Also during the 80's Reggae became so popular they brought " Reggae Sunsplash t" to America. Through a multi city tour every Summer. It was a different line up every year, I know I remember seeing my friend Shinehead and Papa San play. The Polynesian market is huge artist like J.Boog, Katachafire, Fiji, The Common Kings and others draw big crowds. Once again, thanks for making me feel like a thousand bucks. I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing ! Jah Love my friend. One day I hope we can meet at a huge Reggae fest like Rototom !

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Blessings mi lion. Thanks for the support. You're a legend in American reggae. Big up ✌️

[@willieluncheonette5843]

weren't those two songs in the 60s, not the 70's? one is ska, the other very early reggae.

[@lawrencenjawe9875]

Blue Riddim Band voted co-best band in Sunsplash 82😳😳!!! When you had monsters like Third World, Black Uhuru and Steel Pulse on the menu.. Interesting and amusing at the same time...I wonder which other Reggae band shared that honour.... Reggae Appreciation

[@anthonywhelan8220]

Would like to see a video about stephen chang who recorded and released a rocksteady record in 1967, surely one of the first non jamaican artists to record there. Thanks. Love all the videos.

[@jorgemojica611]

Big up Rastafari !!!!

[@brianmitchell8479]

Big up 🎤🎼🎶🇯🇲🇬🇩🇹🇹🇬🇾🇺🇸

[@nixonkwanzaatimothy286]

Yes Reggae is my blood line. I learned it from my father’s collection in the 70’s! He was one of the first to play Bob Marley on our then local radio station W.R.A.P! Even though I heard Jimmy Cliff and Johnny Nash! It was Bob Marley brilliant lyrics that transformed my way of thinking and eventually became part of the Rastafarian way of life! So moving forward I pray this great muzic to continue with its brilliance. As a tribute to the pioneers.Salute! 💪🏾

[@mikecaetano]

Don't forget The Harder They Come and its awesome soundtrack. From the NYT: "As reported by [New York Times film critic Vincent] Canby, 'The Harder They Come' ran for 26 weeks at the Orson Welles Cinema in Cambridge, Mass., in 1973. A true cult film, it was brought back in 1974, where, as Jonathan Rosenbaum and I wrote in our book 'Midnight Movies,' it remained another seven years. In April 1976, The Times ran an article, noting that 'The Harder They Come' had played 80 consecutive weekends at the Elgin Theater in Chelsea. (The run would continue there for months.)" ( ‘The Harder They Come’: A Pop Classic That Has Hardly Faded, NYT, Aug. 21, 2019)

[@DE100ify]

Don't forget Stevie Wonder sang a reggae version song about Bob Marley dat was a hit in the US exposing Marley and to his fans base, also great mini documentary as always King nuff respect.❤👊💯 I wish u could of done a mini documentary on artist who were not Jamaican born who still had an influence with the transition of ska to rock steady an then to reggae for i.e Lord Creator, Jackie Opel, Nerlin Taitt etc etc💯

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Yes I that Stevie Wonder song was huge. Glad you liked the video. Great suggestion there, will work on it

[@SameDayparlay]

Bless up!

[@jeanetterawls4752]

Reggae music forever sounds

[@robertmathurin739]

One Love,, Rastafari 🇱🇨👊🏼🇯🇲👍🏼♥️🔥🔥🔥💯💯💯☝🏻

[@FCReggae]

Do die hard Roots fans in Jamaica listen , or pay any mind to Hawaiian and Cali style roots reggae ? I’m both from the Bay Area and Maui , Peter Tosh living in Berkeley when I was young is how my Big Brothers discovered the sweet reggae beat, I have been hook ever since I first heard the tink-tink. I would add Ookla the Moc from Oahu and Bad Brains as 80s pioneers . I love this channel, Aloha Reggae.

[@rodneywiggan1441]

Great work man!!!!

[@juanrodriguez7729]

No mention of Big Mountain??

[@koko-uk4706]

Good video, a bit surprised you never mentioned UB40

[@zillogullu33]

Di man a talk bout America breda ...

[@lawrencenjawe9875]

​@@zillogullu33Hmm ...well come to think of it, i believe your respondent is right...UB40 was one of the early consistent reggae charters on the Billboard 100 single lists starting from the Labour Of Love 1&2 albums and The Rat in The Kitchen LP of 86 and subsequent ones....Their contribution in promoting Reggae can't be ignored.

[@zillogullu33]

@lawrencenjawe9875 ub40 was one of the most popular reggae bands outside of Jamaica white or not...but the point is the documentary is about reggae in America ...why would he mention ub40 which Is a Brititsh band.

[@koko-uk4706]

Exactly, it doesn't matter where UB40 was from, they still had a major impact on American Reggae just like as Bob Marley did and he was from Jamaica. I know, because I lived in NYC for over 21 years and UB40 is a very popular group there@@lawrencenjawe9875

[@lawrencenjawe9875]

@@zillogullu33 My point is even though non-jamaicans they did contribute to spark interest in Reggae among the American audience.. Actually many discovered Reggae thru UB40 ....

[@Infinitebrandon]

My father knew the horrors of Nam. An athletic scholarship hometown hero studying to be a doctor, totally dropped out, refusing to heal KIDS the US was deliberately hurting and killing. He became a low key rocknroll equal rights hero, yes in California and Hawaii 😂🎉. So I mon bon rasta. I was never pressured nothing, my dad said, "my children will figure it out." Ya my dad was Kapena's 1st Roady; long story. His name was Tom, one of my best eternal friends; yes us jedis can still talk to each other lol.🥲 Jah Live!

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Wow!! Thanks for sharing this Brandon

[@rama_lama_ding_dong]

you mos def missed Operation Ivy and Bad Brains

[@GabrielDread]

Can't believe you failed to mention Groundation, the greatest US / Califa reggae band of all times! And their spin off Rising Tide!

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

I have something epic about them and couple others coming up...

[@soujaar8346]

What RAS forget Harrison Stafford of Groundation !😢😢😢😢😢. This band make me discover the New reggae when i was about to think that Reggae is Dead cause of dancehall. Groundation come with Hebron Gate. When i heard this reggae made by Whitemen. I réalise that "Rasta never died" as Lucky dube sung.

[@PahelBrunis]

why are Bad Brains not mentioned?!😮

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

I have something about them coming up soon...

[@zillogullu33]

USA was a hard market for reggae cause its the belly of the beast aka babylon..

[@jahlanclaps21]

Reggae on the wall of fame 💪🏿🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

[@dee24874]

Exactly!!

[@djaldd420]

Most US/Cali groups claim 2b roots reggae but have no consideration for the actual "root" (H.I.M.). Also, general ignorance of Rastafari culture and the injection of liberal political ideologies. They make $$$ tho...

[@lawrencenjawe9875]

I was appalled listening to Rootz Underground, 10 foot Ganja Plant and such groups labelled as Roots Reggae...Punky music in my opinion with reggae influences😄😄 Jah Malla's are an exception though not totally to my liking. Same goes to Canadian band Messenjah

[@rasempress9724]

Johnny Nash used our artists… btw, his hit album wid ‘I can see clearly now’ had Fab 5 band as the musicians….”Nash “recorded with reggae group the Fabulous Five Inc. as his backing band”, Billboard notes; but what the article doesn’t mention is that Fab 5 was never paid for the work they did on Nash’s platinum-selling album, I Can See Clearly Now.”…damn tief

[@MichaelSmallin]

You see this is what I can't understand fabulous 5 is a well respected band and to hear that they didn't get paid or any credit for the album they did with Johnny Nash this is not good if you make music you must get paid simple as that 😢

[@rasempress9724]

@@MichaelSmallin read this book….u wi get some eye-opening info ….Reggae My Life Is Paperback - Feb. 3 2023 by Copeland Forbes (Author), Rob Kenner (Foreword), Clyde McKenzie……”Copeland Forbes is one of the most consequential figures in the history of modern Jamaican music. Through his roles as personal and tour manager for some of the most iconic personalities in music, Forbes has been a witness to and a participant in some of the most intriguing dramas in the annals of modern popular music. Forbes is a much sought after speaking at music symposia and seminars across the world where his name is often a prime attraction and his vast knowledge a source of enlightenment and entertainment. Forbes has copped numerous awards for his outstanding contribution to the music industry including the Order of Distinction from the Government of Jamaica in 2017. In Reggae My Life Is, Forbes provides riveting accounts of incidents and colorful portraits of personalities that have helped to shape our society and our culture. It is a matter of easy concession that Forbes has led an exciting life. He has seen so many places and has made so many things happen during the 60 years he was entrusted with handling the affairs of some of the most celebrated figures ever to grace our planet. Among some of the fascinating figures making appearances in Forbes’ retrospective Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Dennis Brown, Jimmy Cliff, Bunny Wailer. Rita Marley, Frankie Crocker, Danny Sims, Marcia Griffiths, Gregory Issacs, Chris Blackwell, Mick Jagger, Mark Zuckerberg, Richard Branson, Don Taylor, Sly and Robbie, Grace Jones and Don King. Forbes, with his prodigious recall, is able to situate some of the more seminal moments in the history of Jamaican music with clarity and humor. His knowledge of venues, dates and personalities is encyclopedic. Yet Forbes’ intention is not to provide fodder for the gossip mill. His aim is, instead, to clarify and contextualize in order to provide important lessons for those who seek to learn from art and life. “

[@kingyellowman5762]

Sublime was actually 1986-1996

[@haolekoa737]

If you're interested in current Hawaiian reggae, look up Kanaka Fyah.

[@fredericocr1]

I could tell you first-hand how reagge conquered Portugal 😃

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

I'm sure you had a role 😊

[@krikon575]

As much as i love Reggae i dont think it's even close to haveing conquered America, there are isolated enclaves like in Florida and NY but as a whole it's not a big genre here. Forget Cali, their stoner fratboy/Slacker verision of Reggae sucks.

[@austinkaluba8786]

Missed Yankee Reggae. Otherwise a good production

[@PahelBrunis]

first!

[@Omowalemayasa]

More like america conquered reggae. Lol

[@zillogullu33]

Move yuh bc conquer which reggae ...reggae created hip hop

[@Omowalemayasa]

@@zillogullu33 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Omowalemayasa]

@@zillogullu33 what hip hop have to do with what I said ? Set your emotions aside and look at the facts. Aa genre created to inspire rebellion is ran by the people it was made to rebel against. Prove me wrong.

[@zillogullu33]

@Omowalemayasa if you put it in that context i get wat you say ....all the wealth the world poses in land minerals humans and animals have all been conquered then...reggae is a volcano might seem dormant but wait till it erupts a lava ground 🔥...bless up.

[@lawrencenjawe9875]

😂😂😂😂😂 Man I know what you mean....