Do you remember the seventies? Back then, Tim Stahl and John Guldberg formed a group called The Starbox Band and there was chemistry between them from the beginning. However, The Starbox Band project was short-lived after a horrible show they had, opening up for the Kinks, when people literally walked out on them. The band broke up shortly after that show.

As new technology started to arrive later in the 70s (what we would now call ancient history in terms of technology), John had built a home studio and had Tim come over to start jamming regularly again and using the new technology to create new sounds (some would call electronic).

Their new group that formed from these jams, who called themselves Laid Back, released their debut album in 1981 and had a number 1 single with their first release. The band wasn’t a Reggae group, but their second single, which also went to number 1, had a Reggae sound. The title of that track was Sunshine Reggae. If you look around online, you will still see people arguing about whether or not it is a “reggae song“. In my opinion, that’s not something worth arguing about, especially when we’re talking about such a positive vibe in a melody. You either like it or you don’t, it’s as simple as that. Take a listen, watch the video, and decide for yourself.

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I have been trying to compile a list of my favourite reggae tunes for you all but to tell the truth I think I am on mission impossible with that one. My laptop is completely full with reggae music from all over the world and it would take me more than the rest of my life to listen to it.

What I am doing for you though is narrowing my list down so I can at least introduce you to some more new stuff soon. In doing so I came across a tune that would certainly figure in my top 5 reggae tunes of all time, it’s called ‘one good spliff’ by none other than Ziggy Marley.

I posted recently about songs that stick with you through summer and this track reminds me of happy summer days lazing around in the park.  I dedicate this to Stacy White, Shaun Alexis, Luis Oreamuno and all the guys at Cottons Rum Shack as they put up with me playing this continually!

Enjoy one good spliff!

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Many might wonder how an island closer to Venezuela than to Jamaica can have such a shocking surge of reggae culture, as opposed to a greater influence of Latin American music. Trinidadian reggae artists are often remarked as lesser to Jamaican reggae artists, but the plight is all the same.

It is indeed hard to ignore (Trinidadian-born) Mr. King’s, “Laventille”, but most people gravitate towards the more renown likes of Damian Marley’s “Welcome to Jamrock”.

Poverty is indeed a problem on this island republic, and most of the local reggae artists have covered this topic in many of their songs. Especially with focus on Laventille; an area in north Trinidad which hails the most drug and gang related crime in the country. These reggae melodies usually plead to the young people to put down their guns and unite.

Both Jamaica and Trinidad are going through the same crisis and reggae provides a good format to express feelings as a struggling person who feels like every move is being taken under surveillance.

There is no doubt that music speaks to people and entertainers have the power to make a difference and now more than ever that difference is needed.

Studio 53 is a trio of young producers from La Horquetta who are responsible for the beats behind the hits from Isasha and Million Voice. As a mini-record label stepping out of obscurity late last year, the three Jabari Charles, Kwesi Robinson and Roberito Angelo Pantin have signed nine up-and-coming reggae artistes whom they said would take T&T by storm by 2009.

Written by Jamie Jaggernauth.

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Just a quick post today to share something with you all that I found just last week.

I don’t know about you but I always seem to find a couple of really, really great tunes that define my summers. There is something about the sunshine of summer that goes hand in hand with reggae music. A few cold beers, maybe a little herb, some good tunes and some good times; this is what my memories of summer are all about. Well just the other day I hit upon a song that I think will be one for the summer of 2008, its called ‘Thanks’ by yet another fantastic Trini reggae artist, Zan. Yeah I know, what is it with Trinis and Reggae music right now? I don’t know much about Zan myself so I am about to go diggin around to bring you some news but for now, just check out what I anticipate is going to be a big tune this summer. What say you?

Thanks to Trinisocajunkie for sharing this one!! Perhaps any Trinis out there can let us know more about Zan??? Drop some comments below!

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From early in the decade, Trinidad and Tobago has held a strong presence in the reggae industry with artists such as Jamelody, Isasha, Million Voice, Prophet Benjamin and Marlon Asher stepping heavy onto the scene.

Whether in be in the uptown club vibe, the downtown mellow party scene, or the quarterly reggae sound system gathering, Trinidad and Tobago has a heavy vibe for roots reggae.

With musical influences such as Steel Pulse, Toots and Bob Marley, Sizzla and Buju Banton these young men have emerged from various locations throughout the island, singing songs of love, liberation and without much neglect, the smoking of marijuana. Finding solice as well as spirituality through their song.

Jamelody has gotten a positive response from the Trinidadian audience and is seeking to establish himself on the international front. Well respected in Trinidad, his crowd response differs from the likes of Jamaican reggae lovers.

Isasha, the Trinidadian reggae song-writer and performer has always viewed conscious reggae music as nothing new, but always a means for the youth to express positivity.

Million Voice, writer and performer of the roots reggae song One Family shares similar opinions on the subject of young Trinidadians expressing their frustration and outlooks. As brothers, Isasha and Million Voice share the stage in unifying Trinidadian youths and covering topics such as poverty, crime, love and solution to retribution.

Prophet Benjamin seeks out more of a dubbed reggae style of music, and has shared the stage with all of the above mentioned. Like many other emerging artists, Prophet Benjamin has indeed begun to put Trinidad on the map for reggae music.

However, Marlon Asher has begun the trend of Trinidadian reggae musicians with his hit, “Ganja Planter”. This tune is guaranteed to flow heavy vibes into any crowd, as most youths in the audience just smile and dance to the music. Trinidad is known for marijuana cultivation, and this song not only appeals to marijuana smokers, but also to the struggling youths who seek cultivating as well as selling the herb.

Regardless of age and ethnicity, Trinidad and Tobago seeks to develop is reggae talent. However, most of the emerging musicians have agreed that the reggae and conscience style was always a way of life in Trinidad- it is one of the many things that unify different cultures on this island of multifarious ethnicity.

Written by Jamie Jaggernauth.

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Reggae and dancehall purists will argue all day and all night about different ‘riddims’ with you but I won’t spend much time on the subject today. Essentially a ‘riddim’, or rhythm in non patois, is the beat to which a particular track is set to.  What used to be associated with the bassline and drum beat – back in the day of Sly & Robbies ‘Bam Bam’ riddim – has now been more widely used to refer to the entire backing track. As to the number of riddims out there today I could not even hazard a guess but I did find a database with 886 and counting over at Reggae Riddims.

Moving on though I wanted to just give you that intro before I announced one riddim that I am really into right now, it’s called the Rub A Dub riddim. I dug up a few tracks by some of my favourite reggae artists that use the Rub A Dub riddim and here are three of the best examples.

Anthony B – Striving

Richie Spice – The Plane Land

Morgan Heritage – Nothing To Smile About

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Trinidad and Tobago has begun to nurture its surge of reggae and conscious artists, more in 2008 than ever. In this light, the local reggae anthology can be regarded as the reggae roadblock of the Caribbean.

Due in part to its strategic location, the only island which blocks the Antilles from Latin America; in part to its heavy cultivation of marijuana fields; as well as in part to the reggae and conscious anthology presented by local artists…this island will begin to shine with the emergence of its reggae industry.

With its local humour indicated in the name, the Reggae Road Block is a compilation of the Trinidad local Reggae artists of the Caribbean Music Group label. These artists also perform in small group tours, uptown clubs and large park venue concerts throughout the country- and the compilation is strictly the best of Trinidadian reggae.

Although the local anthology started to grow in popularity late last year, it had been released since late 2006. But as the musicians began touring, performing and being heard, the Reggae Road Block can still be heard during morning traffic in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Road Block includes artists such as Million Voice, Isasha, Prophet Benjamin, Kig David, Mr. King, Ziggy, Royal Daintes, Jah Melody, Cutty and Isaac Blackman. Each and every time I hear the tunes on this album I smile.

I smile because we hear these songs on the way to and from work; I smile because we hear these songs while we smoke; I smile because there is a roadblock three times a week and more on holidays and I smile because I am Trinidadian and I am proud of the talent that hails from my country.

Track Listing:

Track 01 retty Boy – Prophet Benjamin
Track 02 on’t You Know – Isasha
Track 03 icture of Selassie I – Khari Kill
Track 04 :Oh Laventille – Mr. King
Track 05 :Usual Suspect – Prophet Benjamin
Track 06 :Coming from Moruga – Prophet Benjamin
Track 07 olitricks – Queen Omega
Track 08 :If I Didn’t Love You – Juicy aka Jah Bami
Track 09 :One Family – Million Voice
Track 10 :Saving All Your Love – King Shom & Prophet Benjamin
Track 11 :Got Something – Benjai
Track 12 :Jesus – Khari Kill
Track 13 :Bad Man – Scientist
Track 14 :Old Dog – Mr. King
Track 15 :Herbalize – Juicy aka Jah Bami
Track 16 :Coming from Bronx – Prophet Benjamin

Article written by Jamie Jaggernauth

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