If you are seeking soul, look no further tender and powerful by turns, he could have fronted any US R&B act to great acclaim. So it is perhaps surprising that many critics failed to notice that their lead singer, Bunny Rugs, was one of the best reggae singers of the era.
They were regarded as “uptown” more than ghetto, and somewhat smooth, though did more than their fair share in dispensing the reggae prescription, particularly in the Americas. Third World was one of reggae’s biggest 70s and 80s crossover successes, scoring with a cover of O’Jays’ “Now That We’ve Found Love,” “Try Jah Love’ and “Cool Meditation,” mixing roots, US disco-funk and throbbing dub in one handy package. He remains one of the best reggae singers in history: the epitome of a living legend.Ĭlick to load video Bunny “Rugs” Clarke: Third World, First Class The Maytals disbanded in the late 70s and Toots now tours with a band tagged The Maytals.
When Kong passed away suddenly, in 1971, the group joined Dynamic Sounds and cut the likes of “Louie Louie,” “It Was Written Down’ and the classic Funky Kingston album in 1974. In 1963-64 they cut ska hits for Coxsone Dodd at Studio One, went on to score more for Byron Lee and Ronnie Nasralla at BMN, took a brief break while Toots sorted out some legal difficulties, then returned in 1968 to record with Leslie Kong, who produced the majority of the songs they are best remembered for, including “54-46 That’s My Number,” “Monkey Man,” “Pressure Drop’ and more. Toots won fame as the lead singer of the vocal trio The Maytals, alongside Raleigh Gordon and Jerry Mathias. You’ll hear the packed dancehalls, sweaty and loud. You’ll hear the countryside, green and lush. You’ll hear the cry of the prisoners in jail. You’ll hear someone celebrating a wedding. In his voice, you’ll hear the sound of the Jamaican churches in the late 50s. He is all of them, yet the fact remains that Frederick “Toots” Hibbert is, simply, one hell of a reggae singer. He’s been marketed as a kind of folk icon, a soul man, and a gospel singer. Hear: Bob Marley And The Wailers, “Sun Is Shining”Ĭlick to load video Toots Hibbert: Living Legend Other singers have covered his songs, but they just can’t reach the heights he did as one of the best reggae singers in history.
Reggy bob marley full#
Whether welcoming you to his you’re-all-invited bash that is “Jamming,” or lost in the supernatural connection to the universe that is “Natural Mystic,” Bob was in full command of his material and the music – and your soul. Bob was an amazing singer, the sort that compels you to listen, and which you recognize the moment you hear it. To then use that voice to make your belief system understood and respected throughout the world is unique. To do all that and succeed, he would have to have been blessed with a wonderful voice. He sang folk tunes, went a touch funky in the early 70s, and then proved that a Jamaican voice could reach the whole world. He made glorious rocksteady songs that revealed his ability to be both cheekily salacious, romantic, and political.
There’s the image, pinned to numerous students’ walls. While you’re reading, listen to our Best Reggae Songs playlist here.
Whether they fronted bands or made a name for themselves as a solo artist, here are the 20 best reggae singers of all time. From versatile voices such as Bob Marley’s, to the soul- and gospel-tinged style of Toots Hibbert and the fully committed, utterly convincing messaging of Winston Rodney, the best reggae singers of all time are a varied bunch proving that the music has much more to offer than the obvious stereotypes.
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