A definitive celebration of the distinctive art of poster and flyer design in the highly influential culture of Jamaican dancehall music, by one of the best-known voices in the genre.Combining the energy and vibrancy of vernacular Jamaican art with the cultural insight that only original ephemera can bring, the flyers and posters collected in this book are testament to the creativity and spirit behind one of the most influential and enduring cultures in contemporary music.Originating in Jamaica in the late 1970s, dancehall music is a club-friendly offshoot of reggae. The genre initially found particular resonance in the Jamaican diaspora and defined the soundsystem cultures that rose to prominence in New York and London in the 1980s and 1990s, which would influence the origins of hip hop. In much the same way that graffiti and paste-ups would for hip hop, the unique style of the artwork, coloring, and lettering of handmade flyers for dancehall nights became a visual language of the culture.Drawing on unrivaled private collections from Jamaica, London, New York, and Tokyo, this book is a window onto the colorful and effervescent world of dancehall—at once celebrating the ingenuity and beauty of the DIY flyers themselves, and chronicling the evolution of DJs, records, and venues that made the genre into the musical and cultural phenomenon that continues to captivate audiences to this day. Read more

A picture book based on Ziggy Marley's popular song celebrating music's many forms, from the sounds of ocean waves to laughter in the family kitchen."Some songs do not make the transition to picture books; this one elevates the form. A beautiful addition to any library." —School Library Journal“Readers are encouraged to find the music in everything in this picture-book adaptation of Marley’s exuberant song . . . The illustration of the family’s large and small clapping hands in a spectrum of skin tones sends a powerful, uplifting message about the universality of music . . . Close your eyes, listen to the music, and experience the joy of family with this buoyant tale.” —Kirkus Reviews"Music Is in Everything"--a single on More Family Time, the follow-up children's album to the GRAMMY Award-winning Family Time--celebrates how music is found in everything. From ocean waves to banging pots and pans in the kitchen, from a loved one's laughter to the "river's latest tune, " Marley reminds children everywhere that you don't need an instrument to create a beautiful song. With heartfelt illustrations by Ag Jatkowska--illustrator of Marley's debut picture book, I Love You Too--Music Is in Everything is a sweet and uplifting ode to the power and beauty of song. Read more

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From the legendary producer of Nick Drake, R.E.M., Toots and the Maytals, and Pink Floyd and author of White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960s comes a riveting, world-spanning tour de force illuminating the artists, histories, controversies, and collaborations that shaped global music.Paul Simon told Joe Boyd that when he first heard the accordion flourish that would open his multi-platinum album Graceland, it seemed to proclaim, “You haven’t heard this before!” Yet the 1980s “world music” boom that Simon’s album helped usher in had roots that extended back through the decades and across continents: tango on the eve of World War I, Latin dance across the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s, reggae in the ’70s, pre-War samba and pre-Beatles bossa nova, Eastern European ensembles filling capitalist concert halls during the Cold War, Indian ragas changing rock and roll in the 1960s, the folk music–inspired classical composers of the 19th and 20th centuries.In this sweeping history compiled from more than a decade of travel, research, interviews, and deep listening, Boyd sets out to explore centuries of fascinating backstories to these sounds. He shows how personalities, events, and politics in places such as Havana, Lagos, Budapest, Kingston, and Rio are as colorful and momentous as anything that took place in New Orleans, Harlem, Laurel Canyon, or Liverpool. And, moreover, how jazz, rhythm and blues, and rock ‘n’ roll would never have happened if it weren’t for the notes and rhythms emanating from over the horizon.The one-of-a-kind result is And the Roots of Rhythm Remain – a glorious, symphonic celebration of the music that shapes our world.With the audiobook comes a PDF of supplementary material, including 32 pages of photographs, the full bibliography, notes on sources and acknowledgements. A website where listeners can explore the music covered in the book can be found at rootsremain com.PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio. Read more

With an additional 30,000 words of compelling stories, research, and analysis, music journalist and In Defense of Ska podcast creator/host Aaron Carnes presents the case that ska never died, by jumping headfirst into ska's "lost years," i.e., the period after the 90s third-wave ska boom.New topics covered include LA's ongoing vibrant traditional ska scene and how young Latinos are keeping the ska torch aflame, how the devastation of Hurricane Katrina inadvertently kicked off a thriving scene focused on keeping community alive in New Orleans, a deep review of Christian ska group Five Iron Frenzy, who broke a Kickstarter record in the 10s while making progressive activists out of their fan base, a close inspection of a hipster rocksteady scene in Brooklyn that grew so popular it nearly kicked off a nationwide revival, and more secret ska past revelations with none other than Fall Out Boy lead singer Patrick Stump—who has a story that, up until recently, was carefully guarded.Plus, the book re-explores several bands featured in the first edition, revealing new layers and more details about all the bands fans love, like Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Operation Ivy, the Slackers, Hepcat, Mephiskapheles, and Reel Big Fish. With 30,000 additional words, this is the complete ska package. Read more

In the vein of Sound Man and The Soundtrack of My Life, a lyrical memoir from the founder of one of the greatest music labels of all time, Island Records, about his astonishing life and career helping to bring reggae music to the world stage and working with Bob Marley, U2, Grace Jones, Cat Stevens, and many other icons. Since its founding in 1959, Island Records has been home to legendary artists representing wildly divergent musical styles, yet who share the same maverick, outsider spirit of its founder, Chris Blackwell. Time and again, Blackwell and his Island cohorts identified and nurtured musicians overlooked by other labels, including Bob Marley, U2, Cat Stevens, Grace Jones, Roxy Music, Traffic, Nick Drake, Tom Waits, Robert Palmer, Free, the B-52’s, John Martyn, and Jimmy Cliff. Like these artists, Blackwell never took the conventional route. After a privileged early childhood in Jamaica—crossing paths with Ian Fleming, Noël Coward, and Errol Flynn—he was expelled from the elite British school Harrow for rebellious behavior at age seventeen. Within five years, he had moved back to Jamaica, and founded Island. Intertwined with the story of Island is that of Bob Marley and the Wailers. After an impromptu meeting with the band in 1972, Blackwell produced the groundbreaking album Catch a Fire, formed a deep bond of mutual trust and friendship with Marley, and became known for helping to bring reggae music to the world stage. He also opened the first Jamaican boutique hotel, on the property of Ian Fleming’s former home, GoldenEye, where all the James Bond books were written. This engaging memoir from one of the great raconteurs of the late 20th century makes for a giddy ride through some of that era’s most cutting-edge, enduring music. As Bono says, Blackwell “is an adventurer, an entrepreneur, a buccaneer, a visionary, and a gentleman.” Read more

In a multidisciplinary work spanning musicology, electro-acoustic composition, architecture, urban studies, communication, phenomenology, social theory, physics, and psychology, Jean-François Augoyard, Henry Torgue, and their associates at the Centre for Research on Sonic Space and the Urban Environment (CRESSON) in Grenoble, France, provide an alphabetical sourcebook of eighty sonic/auditory effects. Their accounts of sonic effects such as echo, anticipation, vibrato, and wha-wha integrate information about the objective physical spaces in which sounds occur with cultural contexts and individual auditory experience. Sonic Experience attempts to rehabilitate general acoustic awareness, combining accessible definitions and literary examples with more in-depth technical information for specialists. Read more

A revealing memoir of Jamaican reggae singer Bob Marley, from the woman who knew him better than anyone-his wife.   Rita Marley met Bob Marley in a recording studio in Trench Town, Jamaica when she was eighteen. A year later, they were married. The two of them set the world on fire. But life with Bob was not easy.   Written with author Hettie Jones, No Woman No Cry is an honest account of Bob and Rita’s life together, including never-before-told details of the famed songwriter’s life, from Bob’s multiple affairs to the attack that almost killed them both–and who did and didn’t come to his funeral.  No Woman No Cry is a must-read for any Bob Marley fan. Read more

The classic biography of reggae legend Bob Marley, updated and revised for the twenty-fifth anniversary of his deathBob Marley left an indelible mark on modern music, both as a reggae pioneer and as an enduring cultural icon. Catch a Fire, now a classic of rock biography, delves into the life of the leader of a musical, spiritual, and political explosion that continues today.Under the supervision of the author's widow and with the collaboration of a Marley expert, this fourth edition contains a wealth of new material on the Jamaican singer, songwriter and musician , including many revisions made by the author before his untimely death. An appendix to the new edition chronicles Marley's legacy in recent years, as well as the ongoing controversy over the possibility that Marley's remains might be exhumed from Nine Mile, Jamaica, and reburied in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where hundreds of Rastafarians live. The new edition also contains an expanded discography and is factually updated throughout. "Probably the finest biography ever written about a popular musician." ―San Francisco Chronicle"As close as rock journalism comes to transcendent literature."―Playboy Read more

Jamaican dancehall has long been one of the most vital and influential cultural and artistic forces within contemporary global music. Wake the Town and Tell the People presents, for the first time, a lively, nuanced, and comprehensive view of this musical and cultural phenomenon: its growth and historical role within Jamaican society, its economy of star making, its technology of production, its performative practices, and its capacity to channel political beliefs through popular culture in ways that are urgent, tangible, and lasting. Norman C. Stolzoff brings a fan’s enthusiasm to his broad perspective on dancehall, providing extensive interviews, original photographs, and anthropological analysis from eighteen months of fieldwork in Kingston. Stolzoff argues that this enormously popular musical genre expresses deep conflicts within Jamaican society, not only along lines of class, race, gender, sexuality, and religion but also between different factions struggling to gain control of the island nation’s political culture. Dancehall culture thus remains a key arena where the future of this volatile nation is shaped. As his argument unfolds, Stolzoff traces the history of Jamaican music from its roots in the late eighteenth century to 1945, from the addition of sound systems and technology during the mid-forties to early sixties, and finally through the post-independence years from the early sixties to the present. Wake the Town and Tell the People offers a general introduction for those interested in dancehall music and culture. For the fan or musicologist, it will serve as a comprehensive reference book. Read more

The first major account of the history of reggae, black music journalist Lloyd Bradley describes its origins and development in Jamaica, from ska to rock-steady to dub and then to reggae itself, a local music which conquered the world. There are many extraordinary stories about characters like Prince Buster, King Tubby and Bob Marley. But this is more than a book of music history: it relates the story of reggae to the whole history of Jamaica, from colonial island to troubled independence, and Jamaicans, from Kingston to London. Read more

'THE BOOK THAT EVERY REGGAE FAN SHOULD READ' John Masouri, Echoes'Rodigan can still claim a currency few presenters of his vintage can match. Perhaps it's because while his wider musical and professional milieu has been in constant change, his boundless enthusiasm has been constant. Reggae's been lucky to have him' Ian Harrison, MOJO'Rodigan was a major part of my childhood, he played the hottest tunes and in a style that just resonated with me and millions like me. Being able to contribute anything to a man that filled my life with such joy is an honour, respect, David Rodigan' Ian Wright'David is a pioneer in Reggae music. As a selector and radio personality, his vast knowledge of Jamaican music and its culture has helped to educate and fascinate music lovers around the world; he's an amazing son of the music, and an icon. We couldn't have made it this far without him' ShaggyThis is the unlikely story of David Rodigan: an Army sergeant's son from the English countryside who has become the man who has taught the world about Reggae. As the sound of Jamaica has morphed over five decades through a succession of different genres - from Ska and Rock Steady, to Dub, Roots and Dancehall - Rodigan has remained its constant champion, winning the respect of generation after generation of Reggae followers across the globe.Today, at the age of 63, he is a headline performer at almost all the UK's big music festivals, as well as events across the world. Young people revere him and he is a leading presenter on the BBC's youth network 1Xtra as well as a regular fixture at leading nightclubs such as London's Fabric and at student unions throughout the land. And he continues to go into the heartlands of Reggae, to the downtown dancehalls of Kingston and Montego Bay in Jamaica to compete in tournaments against the greatest sound systems. And yet, for all of this, David Rodigan is the antithesis of the stereotype of an international dance music DJ. 'I look like an accountant or a dentist,' he admitted to The Independent a decade ago. A man of impeccable manners, Rodigan prepares for a big sound clash by retiring to his hotel bed with a Thomas Hardy novel before taking a nap and then a cup of espresso before heading to the club. Rodigan is the inside story of this apparent paradox. It tells how a boy from Kidlington has become an admired international ambassador for a music form that remains as proud as ever of its African roots, a sound that emanates from and fiercely represents the ghetto poor. He now reaches across the age groups, from teens through to those of his own vintage. At the pinnacle of his career, Rodigan has become the DJ for all generations.'David Rodigan is a force of nature. His spirit and passion are a rare and wonderful thing. He has dedicated his life to carrying the torch for Reggae music and is hugely respected all over the world for his knowledge and talent as a broadcaster and a DJ. Long may he reign on our stages and on our airwaves' Annie Mac Read more

Bob Marley was a reggae superstar, a musical prophet who brought the sound of the Third World to the entire globe. Before the Legend: The Rise of Bob Marley goes beyond the myth of Marley to bring you the private side of a man few people ever really knew. Drawing from original interviews with the people closest to Marleyincluding his widow, Rita, his mother, Cedella, his bandmate and childhood friend, Bunny Wailer, his producer Chris Blackwell, and many others—Legend paints an entirely fresh picture of one of the most enduring musical artists of our times. This is a portrait of an artist as a young man, from his birth in the tiny town of Nine Miles in the hills of Jamaica, to the making of his debut international record, "Catch a Fire." We see Marley on the tough streets of Trench Town before he found stardom, struggling to find his way in music, in love and in life, and we take the wild ride with him to worldwide acceptance and adoration. From the acclaimed journalist, Christopher John Farely, the author of the bestselling AALIYAH and the reporter who broke the story on Dave Chappelle's retreat to South Africa, Legend is bursting with fresh insights into Marley and Jamaica, and is the definitive story of Marley's early days. Read more

Learn Authentic Rhythm & Lead Parts for Reggae, Ska, Rocksteady, Dub and MoreIt’s no understatement to say that reggae music forever changed the world. A compelling mix of soul, jazz, R&B and Jamaican mento, it’s the ultimate feel good music with its hypnotic, laidback grooves. The Reggae & Ska Guitar Book is a one-of-a-kind guide to the guitar styles at the heart of reggae.In fact, it’s is a chronological guide to the development of reggae through the decades and shows how to play its many sub-genres with authentic, stylistically accurate guitar parts.Your journey includes scheduled stops at:Ska, the early years – how American R&B combined with elements of calypso and mentoRocksteady – the bridge between the original ska and later reggae erasReggae – the emergence of seminal groups including Bob Marley & The WailersDub – how versions or “doubles” creatively expanded the sound of reggaeSka revival – explore the sounds of The Specials, Madness, The Selecter and moreThe Third Wave – Ska's California-based revival, with bands like Reel Big Fish, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and SublimeLovers Rock – reggae surfaces again, combining the sweet melodic soul of Motown with laidback Jamaican groovesGoing Full Circle – how reggae influenced artists such as Paul Simon, Eric Clapton and The PoliceDancehall and Beyond – fusing island musical sensibilities with hip-hop, dancehall adopted a new type of reggae drum groove that has influenced countless contemporary pop records ever sinceLearn the Essential Techniques of Reggae GuitarWith each sub-genre of reggae and ska came refinements and changes to the role of the guitar. There is so much more to it than hitting chord stabs on the up-beats! You’ll learn…The skank groove that forms the backbone of the ska soundHow to introduce double-stops, triplet ideas and sliding articulationsSingle-note pentatonic riffs and fillsHow to play the chicken scratch technique pioneered by Hux BrownAdding jazz, rock ‘n’ roll licks, and even modal scales to spice up single-note accompaniments in the style of the greatsDiscover the Unique Styles of the Reggae GreatsThere is still more to this unique book as you discover the styles of the pioneering guitar players who led the vanguard of each era of ska and reggae music. Each chapter features a “Guitarist in Focus”, explaining their influences, how to achieve their sound, and examining the unique aspects of their approach, plus a longer study piece in each player’s style. Discover the approaches of: Ernest Ranglin, Lynn Taitt, Al Anderson, Alva “Reggie” Lewis, Roddy “Radiation” Byers, Bradley Nowell , Dennis Bovell, and Andy SummersHear It!The Reggae & Ska Guitar Book is the most complete book you’ll find on the subject of ska/reggae guitar and its sub-genres. There’s nothing else like it!Because so much of reggae is felt rather than read, it’s essential to hear the music, and we’re delivering that to you in two special bonuses:Bonus 1: Download 112 free audio examples to hear exactly how each example should sound. The audio download also includes ska, reggae and dub backing tracks, which you can use to jam to and experiment with your own ideas.Bonus 2: We've created a special Spotify playlist to accompany the book. Throughout the book, seminal tunes are frequently mentioned and here they are, in one brilliant, chronologically organized playlist.Don’t settle for doing a generic impression of reggae guitar when you play! Get intimate with the authentic ska/reggae sound and buy The Reggae & Ska Guitar Book now! Read more

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(Guitar Recorded Versions). The Best Of Bob Marley & The Wailers 14 of his most memorable songs, including: Could You Be Loved * Exodus * Get Up Stand Up * I Shot The Sheriff * People Get Ready * and more. Includes lots of photos. Read more

Originally published in 1924, "The Holy Piby" (also known as the Black Man's Bible) by Robert Athlyi Rogers is a very rare, pre-Rastafarian book, which was banned in the 1920's by Jamaica for it's controversial proclamations; despite the ban, the book and it's followers succeeded in planting the seeds which would become Rastafarianism. "The Holy Piby" is the text of a religion called the Afro-Athlican Constructive Gaathly, which viewed the Ethiopians as the Chosen People of the Bible. This controversial text and religion made liberation inroads into the diamond mines of South Africa, Panama, and many other places were oppression laboured.Rogers' religious movement, the Afro Athlican Constructive Church, saw Ethiopians (in the Biblical sense of Black Africans) as the chosen people of God, and proclaimed Marcus Garvey, the prominent Black Nationalist, an apostle. The church preached self-reliance and self-determination for Africans. Read more

Bob Marley: The Soul of Reggae and the Voice of RevolutionFew musicians have left an impact as profound as Bob Marley. From the humble streets of Nine Mile, Jamaica, to the world’s biggest stages, Marley’s journey wasn’t just about reggae—it was about revolution, unity, and the power of music to change the world.With hypnotic rhythms, soul-stirring lyrics, and an unbreakable spirit, Marley gave a voice to the oppressed, a message to the hopeful, and an anthem to those fighting for freedom. His songs—One Love, No Woman, No Cry, and Redemption Song—are more than music; they are timeless calls for justice, peace, and love. Through hardship and triumph, Marley’s unwavering belief in his mission transformed him into a global icon whose influence still echoes through generations.This compelling biography takes you deep into the life and legacy of Bob Marley—from his early days in Trenchtown to his rise as a reggae pioneer, a spiritual leader, and a revolutionary force. Through political struggles, personal battles, and musical triumphs, Marley remained true to his message, proving that music is more than sound—a movement.Whether you’ve been a lifelong fan or are just discovering his magic, this book offers an intimate and inspiring look at the man who brought reggae to the world and changed it forever.Step into the world of Bob Marley—turn the page, and feel the revolution. Read more

Book by Henke, James Read more

The music that developed as rocksteady and early reggae gave birth to deejays, dub, rockers, lovers rock, early dancehall and 2 Tone was by turns brutal and revelatory.Including an extensive analysis of the decade’s major singles and albums, Pressure Drop includes eyewitness accounts and experiences of the decade from the likes of Burning Spear, Chris Blackwell, Gregory Isaacs, Bunny Wailer, Jimmy Cliff, Black Uhuru, U-Roy, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Augustus Pablo, Toots and the Maytals, Desmond Dekker, Sly & Robbie, Dennis Bovell, Don Letts and members of the Specials, as well as first-hand anecdotes of Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. Read more