Reggae industry experts Willie Stewart, Maxine Stowe, Copeland Forbes and more will discuss the captivating path of reggae music’s evolution. The discussion is a prelude to the eagerly awaited Reggae Genealogy outdoor music festival planned for Reggae Month celebrations in February.

The panelists will share their perspectives on and personal experiences with the music, the greats, and the conditions that prompted phases in the life cycle of Jamaican sounds.

Willie Stewart was a member of the legendary Third World Band, and has a decades-long history in percussion, production and performance. Maxine Stowe has played instrumental roles at iconic labels like Island Records, Studio One, Skengdon, VP Records, and Columbia Records, and in collaborations with influential artists like Shabba Ranks, Super Cat, Diana King, and Jimmy Cliff. Copeland Forbes is a former road manager, manager and booking agent of a large roster of artists including Bob Marley and The Wailers, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Jimmy Cliff, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Third World, and Black Uhuru.

The panel will be moderated by Richard Blackford, producer and presenter of Sunday Scoops, a reggae history interview series.

Like the Reggae Genealogy concert event taking place the following Saturday, the panel will explore the progression from mento through nyabinghi, ska, rocksteady, reggae, and dancehall, as well as Jamaican music influence on hip hop, reggaeton, EDM and Afrobeats.