African reggae star Majek Fashek (born: Majekodunmi Fasheke) attracted international attention, in 1987, when his self-penned tune, “Send Down The Rain,” seemed to coax a rain storm that ended one of the worst draughts in …

With his ultra-sweet vocals and lyrics that speak of romance and topical politics, Mighty Sparrow (born Slinger Francisco) has risen to the upper echelon of Trinidadian calypso. Best known for his hits “Jean And Dinah” …

The brainchild of brothers Ron and Vaughn Benjamin, Midnite formed in the Virgin Islands city of St. Croix in 1989. The quintet consists of Dion Hopkins (drummer), Joe Straws (bass), Trippa (guitarist), Ron (keyboards) and …

Seminal radio DJ, artist, producer, and TV host Mikey Dread may be best-known in the U.S. for his work with old school punk heroes the Clash, but in his Jamaican and adopted British home, his …

A short-lived reggae band based in England. The original group included Barry Ford (guitar, vocals), Winston Bennett (guitar, vocals), and Michael Dan (keyboards), Dan left first and Ford and Bennett continued joined by brothers, Tony …

An early progenitor of the pop-soul/reggae/hip-hop stew that would come to define Top 40 in the early 2000s, Max-A-Million included A’Lisa B., Duran Estevez, and Tommye. Overseen by Chicago producers Charlie “Baby” Rosario and Manfred …

When Matisyahu emerged with his debut album, Shake Off the Dust…Arise, in 2004, his musical persona seemed to some a novelty. Here was a Hasidic Jew, dressed in a black suit with a broad-brimmed black …

A disciple of Lee “Scratch” Perry, Mad Professor was one of the leading producers in dub reggae’s second generation. His Dub Me Crazy albums helped dub make the transition into the digital age, when electronic …

Weaving a seamless blend of reggae and hip-hop, Mad Lion (born Oswald Priest) created one of the most influential sounds of the past two decades. The recipient of the 1994 Source award as Reggae Artist …

Macka B was one of Britain’s most influential dancehall toasters, pushing the music back toward a Rastafarian political consciousness. His rough, gravelly vocals gave him an instantly identifiable sound, and his production — chiefly handled …