Reggae, originating from Jamaica in the late 1960s is a combination of rhythm and blues, jazz and soul. It is a term that defines the popular music of Jamaica. As such, island sounds, strong back beats, rhythms and vocals are often quite catchy. Inspired by mento and calypso music in the 1960s, it is more likely rap and hip-hop were born out of this genre than vice versa. Whatever the case, there are a number of clubs where live bands play reggae New York.

While originally limited to Jamaica and the Caribbean, the genre has now become popular all over the world. In most cases, when a reggae band plays at a club or festival, the members are open to incorporating new instruments and allowing sit-ins. When it comes to the UK, the genre has been alive and well since the late 1960s.

In fact, many artists outside Jamaica began musical careers in the UK. Many other UK artists draw inspiration from a number of different musicians. Artists like Bob Marley and others boosted the popularity of reggae in the 1980s. Yet, this authentic sound still remains one of the biggest sources of income in Jamaica.

Bob Marley, and the song "One Love, " are often the first things that come to mind when an individual thinks of reggae. While Bob has passed on, the genre continues to thrive with new artists playing covers and original material. In fact, some of Bob's family and The Wailers have often graced stages at music festivals far and wide.

Some other artists playing in this genre are Steel Pulse, Michael Franti and Spearhead, UB40 and The Wailers, the original band with which Bob Marley played. All of which are quite popular with music lovers. Whether attending a sold out stadium, concert hall, small pub or festival, all allow music lovers to see these artists play live at some of the greatest venues in the world.

If having never heard these acts, these and other artists now have audio and video clips available online. A number of these artists have also been known to play popular venues in the Big Apple and other cities in the United States. One of the best experiences a music lover can have is to experience and explore different genres. Whether attending a live show or viewing videos on sites like YouTube and others, it's often great to find new music.

One reason for reggae's vast popularity is most likely due to its fast nature. Bouncy tones, meaningful lyrics and heavy rhythms are most likely elements which draw huge crowds to shows in this genre. In fact, many shows sell out during pre-sales or within seconds of going on sale to the public.

Ultimately, most still believe Bob Marley coined the term "reggae, " from a word meaning the "King's music." Whereas, there are others who believe it was derived from a Latin term, meaning "to the king." Whatever the case, the music in this genre is most often positive in lyric and tone. There are some current artists using lyrics which are offensive to different groups of people. As such, individuals unfamiliar with an artist may want to preview music on YouTube or other online sites before attending a live performance. In doing so, individuals can assure that lyrics will not be offensive.