Reggae: First used to describe a Jamaican musical style in 1968 by Toots Hibbert, the term “reggae,” (which is said to derive from the Latin word “regis”), literally means “to the King.” Reggae eventually became a household name via Bob Marley and his Wailers, Jimmy Cliff and the global vision of legendary producer Chris Blackwell (of Island Records fame).
Reggae is undeniably the grandson of Ska and son of Rocksteady. Though you can trace its inception to the Christian churches of Jamaica in the early 70’s, it soon became a word synonymous with “Rastafari,” a once small Jamaican sect that has since been spread across the world through the musical vibrations of this big, big music from the little rock. Though its often minor-key sounds were sluggish in comparison with its musical predecessors (ska and rocksteady), this genre became hugely popular, overshadowing all that came before it–thanks initially to the legacy of Mr. Marley and his great number of offspring.
In Jamaica, the earliest gospel reggae releases were recorded by Lester Lewis and Change. Christafari and Amarachi pioneered things stateside in the early 90’s with Christafari giving us “Reggae Worship Volume 1,” the first gospel reggae release distributed worldwide. Gospel Reggae is now growing stronger than ever with hundreds of new artists playing the genre throughout the world, and all of this while giving praise to the true King of all Kings, Jesus Christ.
(Quoted from Gospelreggae.com)