I first learned about reggae by listening to a Bob Marley tape I got from a girl. She had a pixie cut with a long bang and plenty of attitude. We drank a lot of alcohol and smoked a ton of cigarettes listening to Dead Milkman, Butthole Surfers, Fishbone, and bands like that. We thought we were smarter than everyone else, but we weren’t. That was one wild summer that I barely remember, but the music was intense, and its power has fueled my love for music throughout my life. Here’s a track from that summer.

Desmond Dekker (1941–2006) was a pioneering Jamaican ska and reggae musician best known for popularizing these genres internationally. His 1968 hit “Israelites” was one of the first Jamaican songs to achieve significant success in the UK and the US, helping to introduce reggae to a global audience. Dekker’s music often focused on social issues, blending upbeat rhythms with lyrics that addressed poverty, inequality, and the struggles of the working class. He is regarded as a foundational figure in Jamaican music, influencing later reggae and ska artists.