Reggae » Roots Reggae

A cross between American rock and ska/rock steady, Roots Reggae is typified by strong vocals and devoutly rasta lyrics; it is perhaps the most easily accessible form of reggae, and the most successful globally. Roots reggae emerged during the early 1970s, immediately following the development of rocksteady.

Roots Reggae Artists Highlights

Bob Marley

Marcia Griffiths

Peter Tosh

Sly & Robbie

Jimmy Cliff

Lee "Scratch" Perry

More Roots Reggae Artists

Roots Reggae Album Highlights

Bob Marley & the Wailers / ...

Legend: The Best of Bob ...

Horace Andy

Dance Hall Style

Lee "Scratch" Perry

Roast Fish, Collie Weed & ...

Lee "Scratch" Perry / The ...

Super Ape

Jimmy Cliff

The Harder They Come ...

Various Artists

Trojan Box Set: Tighten Up

More Roots Reggae Albums

Roots Reggae Song Highlights

Title/Composer	Performer	Stream
No Woman No Cry Vincent Ford / Bob Marley	Bob Marley / Bob Marley & the Wailers
King Tubby Meets the Rockers Uptown Augustus Pablo	Augustus Pablo	Spotify
Legalize It Peter Tosh	Peter Tosh	Spotify
Return of Django Lee "Scratch" Perry	The Upsetters
Roast Fish and Cornbread Lee "Scratch" Perry	Lee "Scratch" Perry	Spotify
What You Gonna Do Dalton Browne / Clement "Coxsone" Dodd / Freddie McGregor / Paul "Limey" Murray	Freddie McGregor	Spotify
East of the River Nile Horace Swaby	Augustus Pablo
Natty Don't Fear Tony Robinson / U-Roy	U-Roy	Spotify
War The Wailing Souls	The Wailing Souls
Time Will Tell Bob Marley	Johnny Clarke

More Roots Reggae Songs

Other Styles in Reggae

- Dub
- Dub Poetry
- Lovers Rock
- Nyahbinghi

- Bluebeat
- Contemporary Reggae
- Dancehall
- DJ/Toasting
- Dub
- Dub Poetry
- Lovers Rock
- Nyahbinghi
- Political Reggae
- Ragga
- Reggae-Pop
- Rocksteady
- Roots Reggae
- Ska
- Smooth Reggae
- Sound System