I love that funky reggae music. From roots to dub to ska and back again.
Toots & The Maytals is one of my favorites. I actually got to hang out with Toots Hibert at a music festival, but didn't realize it was him until I saw him on stage the next day.
There is just something about this music that gets me going. I used to dig Bob Marley a lot when I was younger, but once you discover the other classic bands, he kind of pales in comparison.
I was never a huge fan until I discovered Jimmy Cliff and this little gem of a movie called "The Harder They Come" .
After I saw this and got my hands on a copy of the soundtrack, it was full on reggae fever. When you're 17 and stuck in a crappy little mid-western town, reggae music is almost like an escape. The gangsters,ganja, oppression and other bits of mythos that became regular subject matter in songs(see Clint Eastwood or James Bond for early examples) served as kind of springboard for personal change. I had a little more swagger in my step, started using a bit more slang and generally trying to copy the rudeboy style.
Over the years I have read up on the history and evolution of Reggae. These days I'm a bit more into dub than in the past. King Tubby, U-Roy,Prince Far I and Big Youth are amongst my favorites.
Anyone else have anything to share about reggae?


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