In a special interview with journalist and news anchor Tom Snyder on a television station in 1975, the legendary musician John Lennon, one of the Fab Four from Liverpool, England, The Beatles, expressed his fondness for reggae and ska music from Jamaica.

The Beatles‘ initial connection with Jamaican music can be traced back to Paul McCartney, when he created the hit song “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” in 1968. He wrote this song during a period when reggae was gaining popularity in the UK. Music critic Ian MacCormick, also known by the pseudonym Ian MacDonald, described how McCartney intended to pay tribute to the Ska musical genre. The character “Desmond” in the song’s lyrics was inspired by the influential figure in the ska and rocksteady scene, Desmond Dekker.

George Harrison, in his book “George Harrison on George Harrison: Interviews and Encounters,” revealed his fascination with reggae and admiration for Bob Marley. He even made some sweet mixes between reggae and the Beatles’ music. After the band that had nurtured him went their separate ways, he focused on his solo career and created several hits, including “Crackerbox Palace” from the LP “Thirty Three & ⅓” (1976). This track, which reached number 19 on the “Billboard Hot 100” chart, incorporated a distinct reggae influence into its composition.

Damian Marley, the son of Bob Marley, paid a significant tribute by releasing a reggae-infused cover of George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord.” In the promotional campaign for this rendition single, Damian shared a classic photograph of his father with George Harrison, taken by photographer Kim Gottlieb-Walker, backstage during Bob Marley & The Wailers’ “Natty Dread” tour at the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles, USA, on July 13, 1975. The photographer recounted that the brief encounter between these two legendary figures lasted only about 2 minutes.

In 2021, Ringo Starr, the drummer for The Beatles, once again incorporated reggae and dub elements into his music. His single “Waiting For The Tide To Turn,” featured on the EP “Zoom In,” was created during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to this, Ringo Starr had also crafted reggae compositions for the lively “Wings” from the LP “Ringo 2012” (2012).

(Text: Keyko, Editor & Translation: Sam)