Top 5 reggae artists you might have never heard of

When most people think of reggae, Bob Marley is probably the first name that comes to mind. For some people it might be the only name that comes to mind. The fact is, there are literally hundreds of reggae artists, both living and dead, that have been putting out great music since the 1960s.

So here they are, in no particular order, the top five unsung heroes of reggae:


1) Jimmy Cliff
Jimmy Cliff best known among mainstream audiences for songs such as "Sitting in Limbo", "You Can Get It If You Really Want", "We all are one" and "Many Rivers to Cross" from the soundtrack to The Harder They Come which helped popularize reggae across the world and his covers of Cat Stevens' "Wild World" and Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now" from the film Cool Runnings.
Standout track: "They Harder They Come"




2) Jacob Miller
Jacob Miller was a Jamaican reggae artist who first recorded with Clement Dodd. While pursuing a prolific solo career, he became the lead singer for reggae group Inner Circle with whom he recorded until his death. His success was cut short when he was killed in a car accident at the age of 27.
Standout track: "Baby I love You So"



3) Gregory Isaacs
AKA the "Cool Ruler" or the "Lonely Lover," Gregory Isaacs is a Jamaican reggae musician, described as "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae" according to Milo Miles of the New York Times.
Standout track: "Night Nurse"



4) Eek-a-Mouse
Ripton Joseph Hylton, better known as Eek-A-Mouse, is known for his trademark high-pitched voiced, comedic song lyrics as well as his use of Patois and gibberish syllables in his song.
Standout track: "Ganja Smuggling"


5) Alton Ellis
Alton Ellis was a Jamaican musician best known as one of the innovators of rocksteady music and was often referred to as the "Godfather of Rocksteady." His Mr. Soul of Jamaica album is regarded as one of the definitive rocksteady albums.
Standout track: "You Make Me So Very Happy"

Info courtesy of Wikipedia