(this section will eventually be expanded)

reggae, soul, funk, jazz and rhythm & blues, are probably the main genre's of music that artists look back to for their inspiration.

reggae itself has split into various sub-sections since it started out in jamaica as rock steady and ska, then brought over to the uk shores in the 1960's.  roots and culture, dub, steppas, ragga, lovers, dance hall - so much to cover, but the bulk of what will be covered on funk-me will be the earlier reggae and roots styles.  

to list a few pioneering artists and producers: gregory isaacs, dennis brown, horace andy, max romeo, lee 'scratch' perry, augustus pablo, mad professor, scientist, coxsone, king tubby, prince jammy and of course, bob marley and the wailers.

reggae is also responsible for the 'sound system', taking off in the 70's and still going strong, dj's would take their sound equipment and 'soundclash' with other dj's for the title of the ruling sound.  it's at these reggae dances where mc's would take the mic and improvise lyrics to the dub of a record - this dawned the era of ragga.  the main sound systems include: jah shaka, the mighty fatman, sir coxsone, aba-shanti-i, great tribulation (good times), manasseh.

last updated: 7th july 2003