Reggae Sunsplash was a

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica during the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its Jamaican diaspora, diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first ...

music festival A music festival is a festival, community event with music, performances of singing and instrument playing that is often presented with a theme such as musical genre (e.g., rock music, rock, blues, folk music, folk, jazz, classical music), nation ...

held annually in

Jamaica Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At , it is the third-largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, west of Hispaniola (the is ...

from 1978 to 1996, with additional events in 1998 and 2006. The festival expanded to include international tours in 1985 and was revived as a virtual event in 2020 by Tryone Wilson, Debbie Bissoon and Randy.

History

The Reggae Sunsplash festival was jointly conceived by four Jamaicans—Tony Johnson, Don Green, Ronnie Burke and John Wakeling. These four individuals established Synergy Productions Ltd, a company responsible for the promotion and production of the Reggae Sunsplash festival. The first Reggae Sunsplash festival took place at Jarrett Park in

Montego Bay, Jamaica Montego Bay () is the capital of the parish of St. James in Jamaica. The city is the fourth most populous urban area in the country, after Kingston, Spanish Town, and Portmore, all of which form the Greater Kingston Metropolitan Area, home t ...

, in June 1978. The event commenced at dusk and continued until dawn over a span of seven days. With the support of Peter Martin, a veteran in Jamaican tourism, and his public relations firm, Peter Martin Associates, the festival garnered international recognition. It was promoted as the "biggest reggae festival in the history of the world". Reggae Sunsplash introduced the concept of combining music and travel to boost tourism in

. Prior to the festival, Jamaican hotels typically closed during the summer season. The festival's annual staging by its five founding partners helped establish a new summer tourist season in the region. The event's success also prompted the emergence of other annual music festivals across

and the

Caribbean islands Most of the Caribbean countries are islands in the Caribbean Sea, with only a few in inland lakes. The largest islands include Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. Some of the smaller islands are referred to as a ''rock'' or ''reef.'' ''I ...

. As attendance increased, so did the demand for accommodations, leading some attendees to adopt the practice of camping on local beaches during the festival.Walters, Basil (2010)
"Book on Reggae Sunsplash to be launched"
, ''

Jamaica Observer The ''Jamaica Observer'' is a daily newspaper published in Kingston, Jamaica Kingston is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by ...

'', 7 June 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2010. To promote Jamaica as a tourist and traveling target in

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

, the Jamaica Tourist Board invited the German band ''Supermax'' as the opening act of the annual festival in Montego Bay in 1983. From 1981, the festivals were filmed and recorded, with several videos and albums released, the first being ''Reggae Sunsplash '81: Tribute to Bob Marley'', released by

Elektra Records Elektra Records (or Elektra Entertainment) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, founded in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickolt. It played an important role in the development of contemporary folk and rock music between the ...

.Thompson, Dave (2002) ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, , pp. 227–236. From 1987 the festival included a

sound clash A sound clash is a musical competition where crew members from opposing sound systems pit their skills against each other. Sound clashes take place in a variety of venues, both indoors and outdoors, and primarily feature reggae and dancehall music. ...

event, with finalists from a national

sound system Sound system may refer to: Technology media * Sound reinforcement system, a system for amplifying audio for an audience * High fidelity, a sound system intended for accurate reproduction of music in the home * Public address system, an institution ...

competition competing as a precursor to the rest of the festival. The festival also expanded to include an 'oldies night' featuring stars from past eras of Jamaican music. For many years the festival was emceed by

Tommy Cowan Tommy Cowan CD (born Thomas Lincoln Cowan, 6 April 1946, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica) is a producer and singer, initially working in reggae but later concentrating on gospel, who has been involved in the music business since the 1960s.Brooks, Sade ...

.Moskowitz, David V. (2006). ''Caribbean Popular Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall'', Greenwood Press, , p. 254. In 1984 the Reggae Sunsplash festival expanded into international events with a one-day festival staged at

Selhurst Park Selhurst Park is a football stadium in Selhurst, in the London Borough of Croydon, England, which is the home ground of Premier League club Crystal Palace. The stadium was designed by Archibald Leitch and opened in 1924. It has hosted interna ...

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

. In 1985, the Reggae Sunsplash World Tour was launched in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

and

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

and subsequent years saw the Reggae Sunsplash festival touring extensively throughout North America, Europe, South America, and the Far East. 1991 saw the introduction of a "Caribbean Night" featuring other Caribbean music such as

soca Soca or SOCA may refer to: Government * Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), a former public body of the United Kingdom * Sexual Offences and Community Affairs (SOCA), a South African government unit established to combat gender-based violence ...

, and the following year the festival's scope increased further with the addition of a "World Beat Night". While the festival had become hugely popular, opening new global tourist niche markets to Jamaica and attracting millions of dollars of foreign exchange into the country, it had not been a financial success, largely due to the lack of sponsorship or government support. In 1995 the Chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board operating through a company called Radobar Holdings Ltd offered financial assistance in exchange for equity in Synergy Productions, the founders of Reggae Sunsplash. This initial offer was never consummated and in a disputed claim Radobar Holdings announced the formation of a company called Reggae Sunsplash International in Jamaica and proceeded with the hostile takeover of the Reggae Sunsplash festival. The first attempt at staging Reggae Sunsplash without the original owners Synergy Productions in 1996 was a financial disaster for the new claimants. In 1997 the Reggae Sunsplash festival was postponed until 1998 to hold celebrations of the birth of Bob Marley but more losses were incurred. The festival was re-established by the Johnson family in 2006, but it was unsuccessful.Cooke, Mel (2006)
"St Ann welcomes Reggae Sunsplash"
", ''

Jamaica Gleaner ''The Gleaner'' is an English-language, morning daily newspaper founded by two brothers, Jacob and Joshua de Cordova on 13 September 1834 in Kingston, Jamaica. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper in the Western Hemisphere. Original ...

'', 22 May 2006. Retrieved 28 August 2010. However, the international touring festival has continued. Two of the founding directors, John Wakeling and Tony Johnson, have died. With the passing of Tony Johnson, several individuals have unsuccessfully tried to claim the rights to the festival, and all have failed to recapture the spirit of the original festival. Don Green and Ronnie Burke are the two remaining Reggae Sunsplash founders alive. In August 2015 it was announced that Burke would be awarded the

Order of Distinction The Order of Distinction (OD) is a national order in the Jamaican honours system. It is the sixth in order of precedence of the Orders of Societies of Honour, which were instituted by an Act of Parliament (''The National Honours and Awards Ac ...

by the Jamaican government in recognition of his contribution to the development of Jamaican music. Reggae Sunsplash returned as a virtual festival on November 27–28, 2020 after a 14-year absence. Performers included

Tanya Stephens Vivienne Tanya Stephenson (born 2 July 1973),Lim, Ann-Margaret (2004)All Woman: Tanya Stephens", ''Jamaica Observer'', 3 May 2004. Retrieved 31 October 2010

Richie Spice Richell Bonner (born 8 September 1971), better known as Richie Spice, is a Jamaican reggae artist. He is a member of the Rastafari movement. Some of his most famous songs include, "Brown Skin", "Youth Dem Cold Rel Bad", "Grooving' My Girl", "Ear ...

Capleton Clifton George Bailey III (born 13 April 1967),Thompson, Dave (2002) ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, , pp. 67–69 better known by his stage name Capleton, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall musician. He is also referred to as Kin ...

, Masicka, Dexta Dapps,

Jesse Royal Jesse Royal may refer to: * Jesse Royal (rugby league) * Jesse Royal (musician) Jesse David Royal (born 29 April 1989) is a Jamaican reggae musician. Early life Jesse Royal (Jesse David Leroi Grey) was born in St James Parish, Jamaica to a ...

Agent Sasco Jeffrey E. Campbell (born 22 December 1982), better known as Agent Sasco, and Assassin, is a Jamaican dancehall deejay.Johnson, Richard (2012)‘ONLY A MATTER OF TIME’ – Deejay Assassin awaits that moment, ''Jamaica Observer'', 20 January ...

, and

Romain Virgo Romain Virgo (born 24 January 1990) is a Jamaican singer, specializing in the lovers rock style of reggae music, and a past competitor in the local music competition ''Rising Stars''. Biography Virgo hails from Stepney in Saint Ann Parish. As a ...

.https://www.reggaeville.com/dates/festival-details/reggae-sunsplash-2020/lineup/ '' Reggaeville.com'', Retrieved 27 January 2023.

Dates and venues

*1978: June 23–30, Jarrett Park,

Montego Bay Montego Bay () is the capital of the Parishes of Jamaica, parish of Saint James Parish, Jamaica, St. James in Jamaica. The city is the fourth most populous urban area in the country, after Kingston, Jamaica, Kingston, Spanish Town, and Portmore ...

*1979: July 3–7, Jarrett Park, Montego Bay *1980: July 2–5, Ranny Williams Entertainment Center,

Kingston Kingston may refer to: Places * List of places called Kingston, including the six most populated: ** Kingston, Jamaica ** Kingston upon Hull, England ** City of Kingston, Victoria, Australia ** Kingston, Ontario, Canada ** Kingston upon Thames, ...

*1981: August 4–8, Jarrett Park, Montego Bay *1982: August 3–7, Jarrett Park, Montego Bay *1983: June 28-July 2, Bob Marley Center, Montego Bay *1984: August 7–11, Jarrett Park, Montego Bay *1985: August 6–10, Jarrett Park, Montego Bay *1986: August 26–30: Jarrett Park, Montego Bay *1987: August 18–22, Bob Marley Center, Montego Bay *1988: August 15–22, Bob Marley Center, Montego Bay *1989: August 14–19, Bob Marley Center, Montego Bay *1990: June 24, Pine Knob Music Theater, Clarkston, MI *1990: July 16–21, Bob Marley Center, Montego Bay *1991: July 26–31, Bob Marley Center, Montego Bay *1992: August 3–8, Bob Marley Center, Montego Bay *1993: August 3–7, Jamworld, Portmore *1994: August 1–6: Jamworld, Portmore *1995: July 12–14, Dover,

St. Ann According to apocrypha, as well as Christian and Islamic tradition, Saint Anne was the mother of Mary, the wife of Joachim and the maternal grandmother of Jesus. Mary's mother is not named in the Bible's canonical gospels. In writing, Anne's nam ...

*1996: August 1–4, Chukka Cove, St. Ann *1998: February 5–8, Reggae Park, St. Ann *2006: August 3–6, Richmond Estate, Priory, St. Ann

Albums

Big Youth Manley Augustus Buchanan (born 19 April 1949, Trenchtown, Kingston, Jamaica, Kingston, Jamaica),Thompson, Dave (2002) "Reggae & Caribbean Music", Backbeat Books, better known as Big Youth (sometimes called Jah Youth), is a Jamaican Toasting (J ...

- ''Live At Reggae Sunsplash'' (1982), Sunsplash/

Trojan Trojan or Trojans may refer to: * Of or from the ancient city of Troy * Trojan language, the language of the historical Trojans Arts and entertainment Music * '' Les Troyens'' ('The Trojans'), an opera by Berlioz, premiered part 1863, part 18 ...

*Chalice - ''Live At Reggae Sunsplash'' (1982), Pipe Music *

Yellowman Winston Foster , (1956 or 15 January 1959) better known by the stage name Yellowman and also known as King Yellowman, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay. He first became popular in Jamaica in the 1980s, rising to prominence with a serie ...

- ''Live At Reggae Sunsplash'' (1982), Sunsplash * Eek-A-Mouse &

Michigan & Smiley Michigan and Smiley are a Jamaican reggae/dancehall duo consisting of Papa Michigan (born Anthony Fairclough) and General Smiley (born Erroll Bennett). They rose to popularity during the first wave of dancehall music in the late 1970s. Career The ...

- ''Live at Reggae Sunsplash'' (1983), Sunsplash * The Gladiators &

Israel Vibration Israel Vibration are a reggae harmony group, originating from Kingston, Jamaica. Lascelle "Wiss" Bulgin, Albert "Apple Gabriel" Craig, and Cecil "Skelly" Spence all contracted childhood polio, and went on to be a Jamaican roots reggae group i ...

- ''Live at Reggae Sunsplash'' (1983), Sunsplash *

Toots & The Maytals The Maytals, known from 1972 to 2020 as Toots and the Maytals, are a Jamaican musical group, one of the best known ska and rocksteady vocal groups. The Maytals were formed in the early 1960s and were key figures in popularizing reggae music. ...

- ''Live At Reggae Sunsplash'' (1983), Sunsplash *

The Twinkle Brothers The Twinkle Brothers are a Jamaican reggae band formed in 1962, and still active in the 21st century under Norman Grant's lead. History The Twinkle Brothers were formed in 1962 by brothers Norman (vocals, drums) and Ralston Grant (vocals, rhythm ...

- ''Live At Reggae Sunsplash 82 (Since I Throw The Comb Away)'', (1983), Sunsplash *

The Mighty Diamonds The Mighty Diamonds were a Jamaican harmony trio, recording roots reggae with a strong Rastafarian influence. The group was formed in 1969 and were best known for their 1976 debut album, '' Right Time'', produced by Joseph Hoo Kim, and the 1979 ...

Mutabaruka Allan Hope CD (born 26 December 1952), better known as Mutabaruka, is a Jamaican Rastafari dub poet, musician, actor, educator, and talk-show host, who developed two of Jamaica's most popular radio programmes, ''The Cutting Edge'' and ''Stepp ...

- ''Live At Reggae Sunsplash'', Genes ;Various Artists: *''Reggae Sunsplash '81: Tribute to Bob Marley'' (1981), Elektra *''Best of the Festival - Day One Live at Reggae Sunsplash 1982'' (1982), Sunsplash *''Reggae Sunsplash Live'' (1982),

RCA RCA Corporation was a major American electronics company, which was founded in 1919 as the Radio Corporation of America. It was initially a patent pool, patent trust owned by General Electric (GE), Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Westinghou ...

*''Sunsplash Live'' (1983), 56 Hope Rd *''Reggae Sunsplash '86'' (1986), Bellaphon *''Best of Reggae Sunsplash'' (1994), Genes

Video

*''Reggae By Bus'' (1979)(AKA Reggae Sunsplash II), a Film By Stefan Paul (The first Sunsplash on film) *''Reggae Sunsplash 10th Anniversary'' 1987(001)(Phase Three Productions)(Synergy) *''Reggae Sunsplash Dancehall 88'', Charly (VHS) *''Reggae Sunsplash - 10th Anniversary Of Reggae Sunsplash - Dancehall X'', Charly (VHS) *''Reggae Sunsplash Dancehall '89'' (1990), Charly (VHS) *''Reggae Sunsplash '90, Variety Night'', Charly (VHS) *''Reggae Sunsplash Dancehall Special'', Charly *''Reggae Sunsplash Music Festival - Best Of Sunsplash 1991'' (1992), Warner Music Vision (VHS) *''All Time Best of Reggae Sunsplash Music Festival'' (1993), Warner Music Vision (VHS) *''Reggae Sunsplash II'' (2003), Columbia (DVD) *''Cool Runnings: The Reggae Movie'' (2005), Xenon (DVD) *''The Best Of Reggae Sunsplash'' (2006), 4digital (DVD)

References

External links

Reggae Festival Guide
Music festivals in Michigan Electronic music festivals in Jamaica Concert tours Reggae festivals in the United States Music festivals established in 1978 Reggae festivals in Jamaica Summer in Jamaica