Welcome, this page
features information on Jamaica's Music Scene
MUSIC
Reggae
Jamaica's
popular music has achieved world fame through the emergence of reggae,
a music form that emerged from traditional indigenous Jamaican music
with African and Black American roots. Many reggae artistes have
won international fame for original compositions, recordings and
performances--notably the late Robert(Bob) Marley. For his cultural
contributions, Marley received Jamaica's third highest national
honour--the Order of Merit.
Although
he died in 1981, this legendary Jamaican still lives on as one of
the greatest musical philosophers of all times, evidenced by the
fact that his name was recently enshrined in the American Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame.
Since
the inclusion of a reggae category in the United States of America
Annual Grammy Awards organized by the National Academy of Recording
Arts and Sciences in 1989, several Jamaican artistes such as the
Melody Makers, Black Uhuru, Shabba Ranks and Shaggy "Mr. Boombastic"
have won the award.
The
1999 winners are Sly Dunbar and Robby Shakespeare.
Folk
Jamaica's
folk music is saod to have its origin in West Africa. Thus
it is both African and Jamaican. Mento and other traditional
folk music is encourage by the Jamaica Cutural Development Commission
(JCDC).
The
Jamaica Folk Singers led by Dr. Olive Lewin, who has researched,
recorded and documented Jamaican folk music, is the most accomplished
group which specialises in performing folk music. Other prominent
groups include: The University Singers; the Carifolk Singers
and the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC).
Other Music Forms
Other
forms of music include: Jazz, which is becoming more recognised
in Jamaica, Rock Steady and Ska. The early music of the 1950s
and 1960s has evolved to what is now our modern day reggae.
Classical,
though not widely popular, has its own audience. Gospel is
not as established as Reggae but is very popular with a large audience.
Soca/Calypso
has been adopted from the Eastern Caribbean. It has become
very popular especially since the introduction of the Jamaica Carnival.
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