Reggae Artists, Ranked

Fronted The Wailers and turned reggae into a worldwide movement; 'Legend' (1984) is the best-selling reggae album ever, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

A founding member of The Wailers whose solo work ('Legalize It', 'Equal Rights') pushed reggae's political edge; a fierce activist voice cut short by his 1987 murder.

The third founding Wailer whose 'Blackheart Man' (1976) is a roots landmark; he won three Grammy Awards for Best Reggae Album.

Starred in and soundtracked the 1972 film that introduced reggae to global audiences; a recipient of Jamaica's Order of Merit and one of only two Jamaican-born Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, alongside Bob Marley.

Their 1968 single 'Do the Reggay' is widely credited with naming the genre; Toots Hibbert's soul-drenched voice powered classics like 'Pressure Drop'.

Winston Rodney's deeply spiritual roots reggae ('Marcus Garvey', 'Social Living') set the template for conscious reggae; a two-time Grammy winner.

A lovers-rock and roots titan with a catalog of hundreds of records; Bob Marley named him his favorite singer.

Pioneered dub at his Black Ark studio and produced early Wailers material, shaping the sound of reggae itself; won the 2003 Grammy for Best Reggae Album.

The definitive lovers-rock crooner whose 1982 hit 'Night Nurse' remains a genre standard across an enormous catalog.

Won the very first Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 1985 for 'Anthem', backed by the legendary Sly and Robbie rhythm section.

Britain's premier roots-reggae band; their debut 'Handsworth Revolution' is a classic and they won the 1987 Best Reggae Album Grammy for 'Babylon the Bandit'.

Bob's youngest son whose 'Welcome to Jamrock' (2005) fused reggae and hip-hop into a global hit and won two Grammys.

Evolved from a dancehall star into a roots powerhouse with 'Til Shiloh'; won the 2011 Grammy for Best Reggae Album for 'Before the Dawn'.

A revered singer-songwriter whose smooth lovers-rock spans four decades; his acclaimed 'One Love, One Life' earned a Best Reggae Album Grammy nomination.

Bob's eldest son leads a decorated career with nine Grammy Awards, though much of his acclaim rides the Marley legacy.

An early-1980s dancehall pioneer known for 'Here I Come'; hugely influential but with a narrower catalog than the roots giants.

Brought Jamaican dancehall to the top of global pop charts with 'Get Busy' and won the 2004 Best Reggae Album Grammy for 'Dutty Rock'.

Scored massive pop hits like 'It Wasn't Me' and 'Boombastic' (a Grammy winner), though the sound leans more pop than roots reggae.

The British band sold tens of millions but built its fame largely on smoothed-over covers like 'Red Red Wine', drawing purist criticism as reggae-lite.

The Canadian artist's 1992 'Informer' topped the Billboard Hot 100 but became a punchline for near-unintelligible lyrics and one-hit-wonder status far outside reggae's tradition.