Roots Archives Forum

It is a widely held belief that Bob Marley is the King of Reggae.

I think that all of you will agree that Marley was most important for Reggae. It's a fact that it's Marley's achievement (with the help of Island Records) that Reggae stepped on the international music scene in the 70s. He introduced Reggae to a much wider audience and made Reggae popular all over the world. Many jamaican artists did benefit from this (and still do) as he opened the door to a much bigger market. That's the economic part of the story.

But what about his music? Maybe you are the most famous one, but does this automatically make you the best?

Some of you will maybe be upset and accuse me of blasphemy because of this question but I would like to know what you think.

Greetings
Lee

Hail

i seen this question on this forum bout 1 year ago.

Fact of the matter is Bob was great and every reggae artist has peer repect and admiration for Bob. However i wouldnt call him the King of reggae, i would call him one of reggae greats

In fact reggae is such a broad term for Jamacian music. People even overlook Bob's work in ska music. And it hurts me when reggae is generalised as just a Bob marley ting. I love bob, doesnt get me wrong.

But there is, and will always be great reggae singers. Example
Sugar minott, Johnny osbourne, horace andy, john holt, garnett silk, wayne jarret, winsten jarrett, frankie paul, johnny clarke, slim smith ..... to much names.

And there is and always will be great rocksteady, ska, mento,shuffle,calypso, dancehall and every other gernre of great singers. But for i-man no one is the "King of reggae music" its to much of a generalisation. Everyone has contributed to reggae even way before bob was born in the "golden days of mento" when i was a teenager in Jamacia.

People who read this, i beg u nah take offence. i&i could never disrepeck bob. seen. but everyone great artist is a star to me whether DJ, singer, harmony group, backing group, backing vocolist, producer even bands like roots rad or revolutionaries even i-self who used to DJ, we all contribute. so to crown one man king is almost like an insult in my opinion.

Respect fly out to all of Bob's work and the wailers to : R.I.P mi bredda.

JAH BLESS

bob marley is just a legend that changed reggae music, there are superior voices out there that sound way better than bob marley. i would rather cruise to some wailing souls over bob marley in a hearbeat.

Ranking Trevor & Lee

Excellent points very well put in words. I would agree with all you have said. I have had similar discussions with my own friends and we all have different views on Bob Marley King or Ambassador of Reggae.
Bob Marley no doubt was a great man like many others past and present. My first Reggae experience was the Catch A Fire lp and it laid a solid foundation for me to build my love for all Reggae singers & players on, artists like Max Romeo, Junior Byles, Gladiators, Culture, Prince Far I and the list could go on and on.

No disrespect intended to anybody and apologies in advance if anybody takes exception but I am much happier having a "Reggae Democracy" over a monarchy.

Slán,
le gach beannacht
Collie

"I am much happier having a "Reggae Democracy" over a monarchy."

That's such a good line, Collie. I like it!

Maybe it is better to think of Bob as the ambassador of Reggae music, rather than the King.

Marley is the king of accessible reggae. Personally I prefer his stuff for Lee Perry to the Island stuff - that was the stuff aimed at the JA dancehalls.

I totaly agree with Well Charge. Marley's music produced by Perry is simply the best Marley's stuffs IMO. Even among the best Jamaican music ever produced.

The point is Bob is king of reggae international. But when you listen to the music produced for the sound systems, people like Dennis Brown are the kings (even if he was "only" the Crown Prince Of Reggae).


wareika

Bob is king.
Check how mighty his music is. He reached the people internationally. Freedom fighters were singing his songs. He paved the way for others. He wasn`t afraid of the wolf pack and pushed on through.

His has strong lyrics which mean more than words could say: They carry the vibes.

... and he was also an originator. Which I feel is very important in a scene full of imitators.

i-lion-tafari i agre with u its true "they carry on the vibes" look how long reggae is came about and the good thing is that its getting known and recognized.