In which decade did reggae originate?

Reggae originated in the 1960s, emerging in Jamaica during the late 1960s.

The genre developed from ska and rocksteady, two earlier Jamaican styles. Ska was generally faster and more horn-driven, while rocksteady slowed the pulse and placed greater emphasis on bass, vocals and a relaxed groove. By the late 1960s, Jamaican musicians and producers were shaping those ingredients into reggae’s heavier bass lines, offbeat accents and distinctive rhythmic feel.

The transition was gradual rather than tied to one single release. Songs such as Larry and Alvin’s “Nanny Goat,” the Beltones’ “No More Heartaches” and Lee “Scratch” Perry’s “People Funny Boy,” all from the late 1960s, are commonly discussed as early reggae examples. Kingston’s studios and sound-system culture were central to this development.

A frequent mix-up is placing reggae’s origin in the 1970s because that decade brought Bob Marley and other Jamaican artists worldwide fame. The 1970s were reggae’s international breakthrough period, but the style itself had already formed in Jamaica by the end of the 1960s.