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Reggae Music - What does it mean to House & Garage music? - 2002

The Jamaican influence in Dance music.

As I have mentioned on more than a few occasions via this website; that in my opinion, the 2 countries that dominated of what is best in black dance music - has to be America and Jamaica. For some reason or another these countries have the ability to "flip the script", and keep us guesing what else they have coming out of the sleeves next!!

For nearly over 50 years, both of these countries have constantly set the standards that the rest of the world has had to follow. On this website I have constantly followed different styles of music mainly from the Usa which have helped develop that music that we love and enjoy around the world today called - Soulful House and Garage music. Or music in general! However, the story wouldn't be right, or correct if I did not include a music that has helped to develop it as well. And that is "Reggae"

Without Reggae and its culture, it's unlikely the UK and Usa( to a smaller extent!!) dance music scenes would have developed in the way that it did. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that "other music's" haven't played their part in shaping the "English dance music sound and culture" and the Usa - Rap/Hip Hop culture that is a multi - million dollar industry today. That would be a very foolish thing to hang onto to.

However, many Jamaicans made up of half the total numbers of "immigrants" that came to the UK,Canada and the Usa from the Caribbean during 1950's and early 1960's. With that Jamaica music culture that was transported to England,Canada and the Usa during those times was always going to have a massive effect on how black dance music culture shaped itself in those countries.

Please listen to this wonderful doucmentary that was done by BBC radio (here in England) about the music scene and culture that is Reggae music. - REGGAE MUSIC DOCUMENTARY - CLICK HERE! - (* 30 minute documentary!)

The documentary tells us about when "Sound Systems" established themselves in London, England and New York, Usa in the early 1960's, they set a trend for how black music should be enjoyed. These can be found in terms of the Rig's bass capabilities, and also in parties (*environment of late night house parties or after-hours clubs) known as"Blues dances" in Jamaican terms.

One Sound system in one hall, there could be as many as 4 in the same hall!

These "Sound Systems" led to other music's such as Soul/Funk and Rare Groove music to be played in the same manner as would Reggae music would be on these same"sound systems" — Indeed the most famous of these were "Soul II Soul" (*Yes the Soul II Soul group, London, England!!) or "Good Times"(Norman Jay, London, England with the Rare Groove Movement in 1985/86 here in England.)

The Great Norman Jay, England -with his influencial Soul Sound System called "Good Times"

Please click on the link below to hear the Sound system infused sound of another English Sound System

Soul 2 Soul - England

Back to Life by Soul 2 Soul

The same scenario happened when "Sound Systems" started appearing in areas of New York, Usa such such as the Bronx and Brooklyn. Acknowledged as one of the founders Rap/Hip Hop music who goes under the name of Dj name of Kool Herc ( His real name being - Clive Campbell, born in Jamaica). Herc is often credited as being the Grand Father of Rap/HipHop music

Herc, with his system sound which he called "Hercules" managed to create a new style of urban black dance music by trial and error. After trying to introduce to Black New Yorkers, his countrys style of music which at the time was Dub Reggae and Roots Reggae. He noticed that it didn't hold the same "Swing". Try as he might they weren't down with this sound.

So he tried moving onto old disco records, old funk records and even old latin cut records were now being heard from his sets. He was often heard saying to anyone that asked him of his change from Reggae music, to Black Urban American music as...

"I'm in Rome, I gotta do what the Romans would do..."

Aimed with all of these new records ( Some of them incrediable funky), and with the tremendous power that his Jamaican Sound system could generate. He soon became the toast of the area. His sound system was so loud and powerful that he quicky gave it a second name. And that being "Not Responsible"

He also credited as what we call, or is known in HipHop terms as the "Breakbeat". The use or the playing of the songs percussive break or part in the song instead of playing the whole track through!

In other words Herc played the funky percussive parts in tracks such as the "Cymande" by Bra which sent the young black American audience wild with delight. Many B-Boys (Break Boys), would wait in the corner for that special break before doing their "moves". In a few short years Herc was to be superceded, by other Dj legends from the Bronx, New York, Usa. But he had shown them the door, and they were to go through it and come out the other side...smiling.

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