Reggae Music: How Jamaica Conquered the World! (Part Two) Artwork

American Song

American Song is a podcast that traces the origins and development of American - and ultimately world-wide - forms of modern musical entertainment. Over time, we will trace every major genre from its origins through the current day.American Song looks at the development of our music through the lens of social, political, and economic changes that were occurring in each case, and we'll feature the most important musicians in each genre.Every episode is chock-full of the music we love and where possible, we include archival interviews so you can hear about, in the actual words and voices of these great musicians and singers, the motives and passions that drove their creativity.

All Episodes

American Song

Reggae Music: How Jamaica Conquered the World! (Part Two)

August 02, 2023 • Joe Hines • Season 3 • Episode 5

This is part two of a two-part focus on Reggae music.

The heart of Reggae music has always been politics and spirituality.

In this two part episode, you'll learn about some of the musical and political forces in Jamaica's colorful past that all contributed to the music that we celebrate as reggae today. From Marcus Garvey, the modern-day prophet who had a vision for the black people living in the new world, and Ethiopia's Emperor Hailie Salassie, whose formal title included "Lord of Lord, King of Kings, and Conquering Lion of Judah", and claimed to be a direct descendant of King Solomon and the Queen of Shebah, to great early reggae musicians like Derrick Morgan, and Desmond Dekker, to the firey Peter Tosh, and the brilliant reggae, who brought reggae to the rest of the world, Bob Marley - they're all here and you'll learn their stories, hear their music, and understand the major forces that fused to create a brand new genre.

In this latest episode, learn the inside story of how Bob Marley came from crippling poverty in one of Jamaica's poorest neighborhoods to became reggae's greatest musical luminary, and how he then faced off against the brutality of systemic Jamaican racism to permanently change his country and the rest of the world.

In This Episode

Bob Marley and the Wailers
1. Trench Town Rock
2. Simmer Down
3. 400 Years
4. I Shot the Sheriff
5. Rebel Music (3 0'Clock Road Block)
6. War
7. Exodus
8. Is This Love
9. Survival
10. Could You Be Loved

Also in this episode:

Interview with Bunny Wailer, formerly with the Wailers
Interview with Marlon James, Jamaican author of A Brief History of Seven Killings

Continue the experience on line.
Visit American Song Podcast Facebook page.