Initially, the category was called Grammy Award for Best Reggae Recording, presented to artists for eligible songs or albums. In 1992, the name of the award was changed to Best Reggae Album.
Although the category was instituted after he died, reggae king Bob Marley’s children have done exceptionally well at the awards. Stephen and Ziggy have 13 between them, while Damian has 3 (4 in total, having become the first Jamaican artiste to win a Grammy outside of the Reggae category, copping the 2005 Best Urban/Alternative Performance award for the Welcome to Jamrock single.)
The Wailers have also won Grammys – Bunny Wailer has three (1990, 1994 and 1996) and Peter Tosh received one in 1987. Other artistes to win the reggae Grammy twice are Burning Spear, Shabba Ranks and Shaggy.
Below is the complete list of winners in this category, with iTunes links where available:
- 1985 Black Uhuru – Anthem
- 1986 Jimmy Cliff – Cliff Hanger
- 1987 Steel Pulse – Babylon the Bandit
- 1988 Peter Tosh – No Nuclear War
- 1989 Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers – Conscious Party
- 1990 Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers – One Bright Day
- 1991 Bunny Wailer – Time Will Tell: A Tribute to Bob Marley
- 1992 Shabba Ranks – As Raw As Ever
- 1993 Shabba Ranks – X-tra Naked
- 1994 Inner Circle – Bad Boys
- 1995 Bunny Wailer – Crucial! Roots Classics
- 1996 Shaggy – Boombastic
- 1997 Bunny Wailer – Hall of Fame: A Tribute to Bob Marley’s 50th Anniversary
- 1998 Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers – Fallen is Babylon
- 1999 Sly and Robbie – Friends
- 2000 Burning Spear – Calling Rastafari
- 2001 Beenie Man – Art and Life
- 2002 Damian Marley – Halfway Tree
- 2003 Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry – Jamaica ET
- 2004 Sean Paul – Dutty Rock
- 2005 Toots & The Maytals – True Love
- 2006 Damian Marley – Welcome to Jamrock
- 2007 Ziggy Marley – Love is My Religion
- 2008 Stephen Marley – Mind Control
- 2009 Burning Spear – Jah is Real
- 2010 Stephen Marley – Mind Control (Acoustic)
- 2011 Buju Banton – Before the Dawn
- 2012 Stephen Marley – Revelation Pt 1: The Root of Life
- 2013 Jimmy Cliff – Rebirth
- 2014 Ziggy Marley – In Concert
- 2015 Ziggy Marley – Fly Rasta
- 2016 Morgan Heritage – Strictly Roots
- 2017 Ziggy Marley – Ziggy Marley
- 2018 Damian Marley – Stony Hill
- 2019 Sting & Shaggy – 44/876
