The role of the bass guitar in reggae was established by bassist, producer, arranger, and engineer Aston "Family Man" Barrett. With his brother, Carlton "Carlie" Barrett, on drums, Barrett provided the essential rhythmic foundation for the recordings and performances by Bob Marley from 1969 until Marley's death in 1981. The undistorted but... [+] Read More

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Cosmo Fraser is not your typical reggae singer/recording artist. From Westmoreland, a Jamaican Parish near Negril Beach, Cosmo's route to recording reggae came via a totally different route than most of the island's historic artists. It began like the careers of American soul artists: Stevie Wonder, Carl Carlton, Darrow Fletcher, Lucky Peterson,... [+] Read More

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A pioneering force behind the rise of Caribbean music, guitar virtuoso Ernest Ranglin was born in Manchester, Jamaica in 1932. He began playing ukelele as a boy, soon graduating to guitar; while in his teens he began performing live both locally and in the Bahamas, often in tandem with the young Monty Alexander. Ranglin's session work at the... [+] Read More

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Named in honor of the legendary abolitionist, reggae unit John Brown's Body was led by singer/guitarist Kevin Kinsella, a longtime fan of Caribbean music who formed the group Tribulations while attending college in Boston in 1989. Three years later they took top honors in the annual Yamaha Soundcheck contest, touring Japan as a result; in 1993... [+] Read More

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As one of the most innovative soca bands to come out of Barbados, Krosfyah has managed to redefine the whole genre, forever changing the way the music is played and presented. Armed with an exuberant sound that adds touches of reggae and R&B to the soca mix, a funky and decidedly urban look accented with baggy pants and bandannas and a magnetic... [+] Read More

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Clifford Smith got the nickname Mr. Vegas from his schoolmates who thought he high-kicked the soccer ball like a Vegas showgirl. The dancehall singjay (someone who combines his singing with rapping, or toasting) started by singing cover versions of popular Jamaican tunes with little success. Despite being named after showgirls, Mr. Vegas was... [+] Read More

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One of the most endearing brats you're likely to hear, ambitious dancehall DJ Red Rat's semi-comical lyrics, spoiled brat delivery, and frequent intonations of "Oh no!" have won the St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica, native a following that spans all ages. Born into a musical family that includes a former guitarist for Byron Lee & the Dragonnaires (his... [+] Read More

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