When was reggae invented?

[menelik]

As far as I know, Theophilus Beckford's Easy Snappin' was the beginning of the ska era, which lasted until cca. 1966 when rocksteady came. 2 years later, in 1968, Toots Hibbert of the Maytals used the word "reggay" in one of his song's title (Do the reggay), however it was still a rocksteady song. In the same year many of real reggae songs were published. 3 of them are disputed to be the very first reggae tracks:

Larry Marshall's "Nanny Goat"
The Beltones' "No More Heartache" and
Lee Perry's "People Funny Boy"

In my opinion the last is rather still a rocksteady...

[kalcidis]

In Beth Lessers and Dave Kingstons excellent magazine Reggae Quarterly they refer to Nanny Goat by Larry Marshall as the track defining Rocksteady. Even though I think this is wrong I've always classified that track as Rocksteady.

[Fabroots]

Menelik, since far that i list the roots reggae i have never hear a definitive version for be CERTAIN of the origines for the name "reggae", its some RUMOURS telling your Toots version but more rumours exist...
The only thing sure for Toots: its the first time that somebody write the word "reggae" in a Jamaican album...
Another rumours:
-A certain guy called Reggie Hammond have maybe influenced somebody who had take his nick and change it for "reggae".
-Another one say that "reggae" come from an populary name for certain type of girls in Jamaica, i have forget all the points for this one...
And anothers rumours exist!
Nobody can say EXACTLY and WHEN the word REGGAE come and from where! Inutile to look in a special book cause you can find différent versions with anothers!

The prob is a bit the same for know who had sing the first roots song, but for this one the lp's can help, not for know who had change the name...

[capp]

Wasn´t it Clancy Eccles who came up with the term Reggae?

I also recall that it might has something to do with women, as Fabroots stated above.

[John Public]

Well Fabroots, I guess you mean that they used to call these girls streggae, wasn't it?

I also heard about, Toots and Perry. But there was another tune. I read it was by Stranger Cole and was called Barrang or something like that. I can't tell you, because I didn't hear it and I am not into Stranger Coles music.

[Don Dread]

"Bangarang" was by Lester Sterling & Stranger Cole and produced by Bunny Lee. A timeless Jamaican music classic!

[Fabroots]

maybe the "streggae's" yes, its far far ago that i had read about, i dont know really now.. :/
"bangarang" of Stranger Cole is more Ska/Rocksteady that roots, maybe its some roots songs in Bangarang cause i dont have list all the tracks, BUT:
"Forward in the land of sunshine" of Stranger Cole is a wonderfull roots album that every rootsman need! Believe me, very mystical and great feeling, full spleen album! Have it!
"The patriot" is not too good but is another right roots album of Stranger...

[John Public]

Forward In the Land of Sunshine? Sounds very good how you describe, have to get that

[DUDLEY 1NE]

i would say 1968, key point records are do the reggay / toots, nanny goat / larry marshall, bangarang / lester sterling, easy snapping / theo beckford [2nd cut 4 clancy eccles], there is a couple more but i don't remember them off hand. but reggay started to florish when rocksteady was slowing down in putting out their brand of music. that's my 2 cents.

[mr raggae]

reggae was invented properly by lee scratch perry dont meck no body fool you. this bredren slow down ska gave rock steady a regular base line mix the music and harmonies with a low pitch.no body knows the exact date of this process,due to not getting any credit for your work in these time.
one thing we must never forget the greatest reggae band started of with lee scratch perry.