What is Reggae?

Reggae is a musical genre originally developed in Jamaica in the late 1950s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of music Jamaican the term reggae more specifically indicates a particular type of music that originated the development of ska and rocksteady.The pinnacle of reggae occurred in the 1970s, when this genre spread throughout the world.
It features a danceable rhythm and smooth, but with a very characteristic beat. The guitar, bass and drums are the most used musical instruments.
The lyrics of reggae songs speak of social issues, especially the Jamaicans, and highlight religious issues and problems typical of poor countries.
Reggae is constantly associated with the Rastafarian religious movement, which, in fact, influenced many of the apologists style reggae musicians in the 1970s and 1980s. Anyway, thereggae deals with various matters, not restricted to the Rastafarian culture, such as love, sex and especially social criticism.
In the 1950s, began to appear the big names in reggae, for example, Delroy Wilson, Bob Andy, Burning Espear and Johnny Osbourne and the bands The Wailers, Ethiopians, Desmond Dekker and Skatalites. At this time, most radio stations in Jamaica, owned by white people, refused to play reggae. Only since the 1970s, reggae takes shape, with singers who make the music world. Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley reggae style make the hit musical worldwide. In 1971, the song I Can See Clear Now Johnny Nash takes the top on the list of various music radio in Britain and the United States.
The 70s (1970s) was the era of the great success of reggae. Several songs epoch and reached the top of the list of successful radio: with Peter Tosh Legalize It and No Woman, No Cry by Bob Marley.
Several singers and bands pass to incorporate the style of reggae from the '80s (the 1980s). Eric Clapton, Rolling Stones and Paul Simon make music, using danceable beat and sound and smooth. Currently, several singers and bands are successful in this genre: Ziggy Marley, Beres Hammond, Pulse, UB 40 and Big Mountain.