1950s Reggae

Rare reggae footage from the 1950s — interviews, studio sessions, and behind-the-scenes clips. We're actively searching for footage — check back soon.

Music in the 1950s

The 1950s saw the birth of rock and roll, the explosion of bebop jazz, and the rise of electric blues. Artists like Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Miles Davis were reshaping popular music, while behind the scenes, Sam Phillips was experimenting at Sun Studio and Atlantic Records was capturing the raw energy of rhythm and blues. Footage from this era is exceptionally rare — most of what survives comes from early television appearances, newsreels, and the occasional home movie.

About Reggae

Reggae ( ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also refers to the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. The 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals titled "Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use the word reggae, effectively naming the genre and introducing it to a global audience.

All Reggaefootage →

No 1950s reggae clips yet — we're working on it.