They Aren’t Bob Marley, but You Should Check Out These 3 Reggae Groups

Every surface-level reggae fan seemingly only listens to Bob Marley. To an extent, there is no shame in that, as the man did introduce the genre to the mainstream. However, in addition to Marley, a whole world of reggae music is demanding to be listened to. You just have to be open to pressing play and letting the music take control.

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Despite Marley’s lasting popularity, reggae music is still not a genre that you see frequently gracing the charts and entering the mainstream. Thus, it can be a little harder to find. However, if you want to go above your mediocre listening tendencies, then check out these three reggae groups. Also, after the fact, pass them along to your friends. They will surely thank you.

Toots and the Maytals

Hailing from Jamaica, Toots And The Maytals were also a major player in the popularization of reggae music. However, given that they came during Bob Marley’s height, the limelight didn’t hit them as often. Regardless, they are one of the greatest reggae bands of all time and have a lasting legacy to prove it.

After their founding in 1961, the group went on to release several songs that became pillars of the genre. Those tracks include “Pressure Drop”, “54-46 That’s My Numbers”, “Time Though”, and a reggae cover of John Denver’s biggest hit, “Take Me Home Country Roads”.

Steel Pulse

Steel Pulse was a byproduct of Bob Marley’s world reggae takeover. Founded in 1975 in Birmingham, England, the group helped carry reggae from the 70s into the 80s by mixing roots reggae with more modern and popular sounds. They might not have dominated the charts, but they supplied fans with the niche need for reggae music.

Some of Steel Pulse’s more notable tracks include “Your House”, “Chant A Psalm”, “Roller Skates”, and “Soldiers”. Their musical arrangements are conducive to an easy listening experience, but their lyrics tackle issues such as abortion, racism, and general social inequality. With all that in mind, they are totally worth the listen.

UB40

Other than Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, UB40 is probably one of the most commercially popular and successful reggae bands of all time. Like Steel Pulse, UB40 helped carve out a spot for reggae music in the 80s, and they did so with their classic hits “Red Red Wine”, “Kingston Town”, and “Here I Am”.

The group was not a purist reggae band, as they heavily leaned into the pop trends of the 80s. Though that benefited them immensely because the band scored two no. 1 hits, four top 10 hits, and a total of seven songs that appeared on the Billboard Hot 100.

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