Reggae Playground

Reggae Playground presents renowned artists from reggae’s birthplace of Jamaica. Judy Mowatt, a former backing vocalist for Bob Marley and respected solo artist, invites listeners to get moving with her rousing "Let’s Dance." We hear about the importance of respecting our differences and the need to work together in Rita Marley’s classic anthem "Harambe." The Jamaican reggae arrangements of "Take Me Home, Country Roads" by the legendary Toots & the Maytals and the Burning Souls’ rendition of "Here Comes the Sun" demonstrate the adaptability of this infectious beat to almost any tune.

Other artists from diverse musical traditions who have adopted the reggae style and made it their own are also featured. Johnny Dread, an artist of Cuban heritage, sings about "Rootsman Dread," a colorful figure beloved by children. Marty Dread represents the huge popularity of reggae music in Hawaii, and Jessica, from the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius, displays the popular blending of traditional sega music with reggae. The popularity of reggae in places as diverse as the United States (Eric Bibb), Brazil (Kal dos Santos), Morocco (Mousta Largo), and even Indonesia (Tony Q Rastafara) is also demonstrated here. Asheba, an artist who hails from Trinidad and is known for his Caribbean songs for young children, performs a soothing "Reggae Lullaby."

To support the children of Jamaica, Putumayo will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Reggae Playground to the Jamaica Basic Schools Foundation, which helps fund early education for Jamaican children.