| Name of Artiste | Sources | Why We love Them... |
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Marley, Bob & the Wailers
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The Guiness Who's Who Of Reggae:
* Sole Jamaican group to achieve global superstardom. The group was formed in 1963. Simmer Down was their first record, released in 1963 under the group's name. It went to the number 1 position on the JBC Radio chart in January 1964, holding that position for two months and reputedly selling over 80,000 copies. During the period 1963-66 the Wailers made over 70 tracks for Dodd, over 20 of which were local hits. Their first album for island record was Catch a Fire. The song I Shot The Sheriff went to the number 9 position on the UK charts in 1974. Albums such as Exodus and Kaya enjoyed massive international sales. He later formed his own Tuff Gong label. In 1980, Marley and the Wailers played a momentous concert in the newly-liberated Zimbabwe to an audience of 40,000. In the summer of 1980, his cancer began to spread. To this day his name is synonymous with Jamaican music of which he had been the first authentic superstar.
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Marley especially, remains an inspiration to Jamaicans and the world over.
* Marley's contributions to the music industry is immense and his career did much to focus attention on Jamaican music and establish credibility for it.
* He was a charismatic performer.
* Great singer and superb songwriter.
* Positive messages.
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Marley, Rita
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The Guiness Who's Who Of Reggae:
Originally worked with Soulettes, a Studio One trio. She enjoyed several solo hits in Jamaica, among them Pied Piper. Her big hit came with One Draw, a pro-marijuana lyric recorded in 1981, shortly after Bob's death. She scored other single successes with Many Are Called and Play Play.
Roots Rocks Reggae:
* Wife of Bob Marley, mother of Ziggy Marley of the Melody Makers, and member of the I-Threes. Her three albums, issued in America by Shanachie all sat high standards. She also recorded under the name Ganette Mirum.
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Strong
* Supportive
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Marley, Ziggy & The Melody Makers.
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The Guiness Who's Who Of Regge:
* By the late 1980s they were a headline act especially in the USA. The song and album Tomorrow People was a big hit and One Bright Day, another delightful collection. They always resisted the temptation to record too many of their father's songs.
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Maturity and Wisdom.
* Original and Creative.
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McCook, Tommy
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The Guiness Who's Who Of Reggae:
* He attended Alpha Catholic Boy's Home where he learnt tenor saxophone, flute and music theory. He played with dance bands and later developed into a fine jazz player. In 1954 he joined a dance band in Bahamas, and further developed his jazz technique. He was also involved in the development of ska, emerging as a founder member of the Skatalites in 1963. Best examples of his work with the Skatalites are compiled on Ska Authentic.
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His understanding of Jazz, R&B and Jamaican musical forms helped to change the course of Jamaican music.
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McGregor, Freddie
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The Guiness Who's Who Of Reggae:
* First sang background vocals for the Claredonians at Studio One. In the early 70s he worked stage shows as lead singer with the Generation Gap and Soul Syndicate bands. He recorded Big Ship, which was released in the UK on Greensleeves. The album was a great success. In 1984 McGregor inaugurated his own Big Ship label with Across The Border.
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Reputed as one of the most gifted reggae singers, with the ability to turn his hand to lovers or roots material with equal potency.
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Miller, Jacob
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The Guiness Who's Who Of Reggae:
* In 1974, he recorded a number of singles such as Each One Teach One, Keep on Knocking, False Rasta, Who Say Jah No Dread and Baby I love You which were popular on the pre-release circuit in the UK. His biggest hits however came as a member of Inner Circle.
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Exuberant, amply proportioned man.
* He made excellent records.
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Minott, Sugar
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The Guiness Who's Who Of Reggae:
He first recorded in the mid-70s a couple of all time classics like Torturing and Party Night. He was later taken on as a studio apprentice, often providing percussion and guitar where necessary. He was a bigger star in the UK than Jamaica.
Roots Rock Reggae:
* While with Inner Circle, he made some crossover records that were too disco for American reggae fans in the 1970s. His nickname was derived from his sweet singing style.
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Remarkable songwriting talent.
* He fostered and developed the abundant talents in the ghettos of Kingston.
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Moses, Pablo
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The Guiness Who's Who Of Reggae:
* In 1975 Pablo made his debut recording I Man A Grasshopper. His first album, Revolutionary Dream was released in 1977, and still stands as a genuine mid-70s reggae classic.
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Talented.
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Mowatt, Judy
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The Guiness Who's Who Of Reggae:
She was initially in a dance troupe before joining with two others to form the Gaylettes. She later went on to a solo career recording both soul and reggae styles under a variety of names. The most notable of these releases was I Shall Sing, the first of a string of chart successes. She formed her own label, Ashandan and in the early 70s joined Marcia Griffiths on stage, alongside Rita Marley. She was the first to record at Bob Marley's Tuff Gong studio.
Roots Rock Reggae:
* Her early seventies solo work includes UK hits Emergency Call and I Shall Sing. Albums such as Black Woman and Only Woman were both released in the US and are front-line calls for equality that helped to redefined the roles of women in reggae. Her latest album was issued in Jamaica as Life and in the US as Rock Me. It contains mixed elements of sampling, hip-hop and dancehall to interesting effect.
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By being the first female artist to produce an album in Jamaica was not only outstanding, but it also offered an articulate voice for Jamaican women, who had previously been either under or misrepresented in the reggae idiom.
* The album Overdue earned her a Grammy nominee.
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Mutabaruka
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The Guiness Who's Who Of Reggae:
* He published several volumes of poetry (also writing for Swing magazine). His debut album Chinna was a genre classic. Apart from dub poetry, he also operates a health food store in Jamaica and broadcasts on Jamaica's Irie FM radio station.
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Jamaican dub-poet who combines social commentary with scathing personal analysis and endearing humour.
* Lashes out against oppression in his poetry.
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