History of Reggae Sound Systems

Sound Systems started in downtown Kingston in the 1950's. They took over from the bands in the dance halls. The sound systems would put the speakers on the streets, for all to hear and would be mainly playing American R&B.

Reggae Producers
Some of the first producers of reggae music were:
  • Coxson Dodd (Studio One)
  • Price Buster

    As they ran sound systems they started recording music to ensure an exclusive supply of records. They tested new styles of music on the sound systems, nearly all the Jamaican music - ska, rock steady, reggae, dancehall and a like has been created because of the competition between the sound systems for something new to attract a crowd.

Sound systems equipment was also a competition between the sounds. As who had the heaviest bass or the most speaker boxes. This competition moved into the clashing of sounds. A clash is where 2 or more sound systems would compete against each other in a dance to find the best sound. The crowd would normally choose the best sound on the night. Sounds would have "Specials" produced for the sound system exclusively sometimes just for this one clash by reggae singers and DJ's in a bid to win the clash.

See a short video clip from the BBC Richard Daley has he explains the sound system culture

Rock Steady Reggae

Around 1966 reggae was changing again into a slower and more refined style which was named Rocksteady this was influenced by the R&B that was been played at the time. Rocksteady stayed popular until around 1968.

Roots Reggae

By the 1970's Roots Reggae had started to develop which focused on the suffering of the people, truth and rights and ghetto suffering. Roots reggae used Rastafarian belief in the lyrics of their songs.

Dub Reggae

Started in Jamaica in late 1960's around the system sounds, dub does not have any main vocals, lots of reverb in parts of the track and a heavy bass line.

 
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