In When Rock Met Reggae, Steven Blush takes a spirited, cross-genre perspective in this "illuminating chronicle" (Booklist) of the crossover of Jamaican, British, and American sounds that changed the face of popular music. Library Journal notes that "Blush’s nimble outline of the interplay between reggae and British punk will appeal to music fans.” Bringing the same incisive, cross-genre perspective he offered in When Rock Met Disco, Steven Blush gives a spirited survey of the crossover of Jamaican, British, and American sounds that changed the face of popular music in When Rock Met Reggae. The inspiration of ska, rock-steady, dub, and reggae—heard on independent recordings played on “soundsystems” from Kingston and Brixton—created a new rock tonality and attitude, spanning from Eric Clapton to The Clash. Meanwhile, the “Two Tone” sounds—traversing The Specials, Madness, and UB40—fueled the ‘90s ska revival of Sublime, No Doubt, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and beyond. Attentive to the racial, political, and artistic aspects of this intricate story, Blush gives a memorable account of one of the most fertile cross-pollinations in pop music history.

The team of writer Chris Salewicz and photographer Adrian Boot have brought together 50,000 words of text and over 400 images from the ReggaeXplosion Archive to create a history that contains a potent cocktail of drama, turbulence, pride and protest. From the earliest emergence in the 1950s of the fiercely competitive sound systems, fighting sonic battles in downtown Kingston, the story of Jamaican music is traced through ska, the birth of reggae, dub, roots reggae and the impact of Bob Marley to the new, harder-edged developments that have emerged in the last twenty years, including dancehall, ragga and jungle. Unpublished transcripts of interviews with key figures like Lee 'Scratch' Perry and Prince Buster introduce the authentic voices of reggae history to the book - which blends researched facts, graphics and rare images to create not only a sense of the pulse of the music, but also the contrasts of poverty, humour, desperation and joie de vivre that typify both the island of Jamaica and its music.

Third in the Trilogy that includes When Rock Met Disco and When Rock Met Reggae.

Told in the voices of reggae's major participants, these authoritative accounts chart the history, characteristics, and broad appeal of the music that originated in Jamaica, but has spread like wildfire throughout the world over the years to rise up in Africa and South America as well as England and America.

Provides a complete historic overview of the sounds of the entire English-speaking Caribbean region, bringing together informative essays on the development of a range of music styles and the industry's top performers. Original.

A history of Jamaica's contribution to world culture--reggae--traces the history of the form from African rhythms to the slums of Kingston and the international recording industry.

'Kate Simon has always been one of my favourite photographers. She captures intimate moments that we have never seen.' - Cedella Marley 'When I took the Kaya portrait. It wasn't a formal photo session or anything. I was wearing my swimsuit, that's how informal it was.' - Kate Simon 'Kate shot in an honest, direct manner. She did not seek to expose, but to shoot the picture her subject pictured - the joyful, mutable moments. How fortunate we are to have these images...' - Patti Smith 'She had a sort of war correspondent feel to her; she would get right into it. Somehow she had the ability to communicate and to get everybody to relax and to take the great pictures that she got.' - Chris Blackwell Rebel Music: Bob Marley & Roots Reggae is a tribute to the leading icon in music, Bob Marley. In 1975, after meeting Marley in London, photographer Kate Simon gained unique access to the Wailers, capturing intensely personal moments and momentous events. Rebel Music presents over 400 photographs from Kate Simon's remarkable archive, most of which are published here for the first time. Alongside Kate Simon's photographs are the stories behind the images. Introduced by Patti Smith, Kate Simon's own narrative is expanded by a cast of 24 contributors, including ex-Wailers guitarist Junior Marvin and bass player and band leader Aston 'Family Man' Barrett; the Wailers' cook and close friend Antonio 'Gilly' Gilbert; musicians such as Steven Van Zandt, Spencer Davis, Junior Delgado, Paul Simonon, and Steve Jordan; filmmaker Don Letts and producer Danny Sims; and Island Records founder, Chris Blackwell. Simon captured it all: live photographs from The Wailers' 1975 concert at The Lyceum in London, where the legendary performance of 'No Woman No Cry' was recorded; photographs of the reggae greats of the late Seventies such as Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh; candid shots of The Wailers on the Exodus Tour and the One Love Peace Concert where Bob famously united Jamaica's opposing political leaders. Finally, in 1981, she rode with the funeral cortege from Kingston to St Ann and Bob Marley's final resting place. Marley permanently altered the sound and impact of popular music, and his body of work continues to inspire generations of musicians and fans worldwide.

In his new book, Jaffe reveals the world of the Wailers during their early years as an international act from 1973 to 1975, a socially and politically transformative period in Jamaican history. He also explores the start of Peter Tosh’s solo career in 1976 with the revolutionary album, Legalize It. Lee Jaffe is a cross-disciplinary visual artist, musician and poet whose photographs highlight the Wailers featuring Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer during the last three years that they performed together. Jaffe and Marley first met in the New York hotel room of Traffic drummer and songwriter Jim Capaldi, starting a close creative partnership and friendship with the reggae legend. He lived with Marley at 56 Hope Road in Jamaica for three years, and was a participant in the international emergence of reggae music. He became a member of the band, performing on stage and in the studio with Marley, as well as working with Peter Tosh, producing his iconic debut album, Legalize It. He later produced records for seminal Jamaican acts including Joe Higgs, Wailing Souls, Barrington Levy, and Morgan Heritage. Throughout their time together, Jaffe’s portraits of these legendary performers are set against the backdrop of a politically and socioeconomically turbulent Jamaica. His detailed first-person accounts and stories are accompanied by his photographs, providing music fans with key moments that inspired some of Marley’s most beloved lyrics and songs. This book embodies the energy of reggae culture.

Jamaican music can be roughly divided into four eras, each with a distinctive beat - ska, rocksteady, reggae and dancehall. Ska dates from about 1960 to mid-1966, rocksteady from 1966 to 1968, while from 1969 to 1983 reggae was the popular beat. The reggae era had two phases, 'early reggae' up to 1974 and 'roots reggae' up to 1983. Since 1983 dancehall has been the prevalent sound. The authors describe each stage in the development of the music, identifying the most popular songs and artists, highlighting the significant social, political and economic issues as they affected the musical scene. While they write from a Jamaican perspective, the intended audience is 'any person, local or foreign, interested in an intelligent discussion of reggae music and Jamaica.'.

Robert Nesta Marley, OM, born on February 6, 1945, and transcending into eternity on May 11, 1981, was more than a mere musician; he was a luminary figure who indelibly shaped the landscape of Jamaican music. Renowned as a singer, songwriter, and musician, Marley's artistic journey was an exquisite fusion of reggae, ska, and rocksteady, underscored by his distinctive voice and unique compositional style. Heralded as a pioneer of reggae, his musical tapestry unfolded like a rhythmic masterpiece, leaving an indelible mark on the global cultural landscape. Bob Marley's artistic odyssey traversed the realms of creativity, bringing Jamaican music to the forefront of the world's sonic palette. Even beyond his mortal existence, his cultural influence persists as a testament to the power of his craft. Marley's commitment to Rastafari infused a spiritual essence into his music, elevating it beyond the mere realm of entertainment to a spiritual experience for many. Beyond the musical realm, Marley emerged as a symbol of Jamaican identity, culture, and a vocal advocate for democratic social reforms. His unwavering support for these ideals did not come without its share of controversies, as evidenced by a politically motivated assassination attempt on his home in 1976. Undeterred, Marley continued to champion causes close to his heart, advocating not only for the legalization of marijuana but also embodying the principles of Pan-Africanism.