Famous American Reggae Singers

Hawaiian musician Israel Kamakawiwoʻole began his career as part of the Makaha Sons. He later went solo with the albums Ka 'Ano'I and Facing Future and also lent his support to the Hawaiian independence movement. His ever-increasing weight caused him chronic issues and eventually led to his death at 38.

Jamaican reggae singer Orville Richard Burrell, better known as Shaggy, has delivered international hits such as It Wasn't Me and In The Summertime. The two-time Grammy-winning artist was also bestowed with the Jamaican Order of Distinction. He was part of the U.S. Marine Corps during Operation Desert Storm.

Best known for his portrayal of Malcolm in the movie Dope, Shameik Moore later began his career with Incredible Crew and later gained fame for voicing Miles Morales in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. A skilled rapper, too, he scored 100,000 downloads with his debut mixtape, I Am Da Beat.

Grammy Award-nominated American Jewish singer Matisyahu is best known for mingling hip-hop and reggae with beatboxing. Known for tracks such as Chameleon, he has also stepped into acting of late, with roles such as that of Tzadok in the 2012 supernatural thriller The Possession. His work often reflects Jewish themes.

Jazmine Sullivan soared to fame with the Billboard-topping debut album Fearless. Born to a background vocalist mother, she began singing as part of gospel choirs. With 15 Grammy nominations, she has tied with Icelandic singer Björk, for the most Grammy nominations without a win for any female.

Santigold is an American singer-songwriter renowned for her mezzo-soprano voice. She achieved popularity after the release of her critically acclaimed album Santogold in 2008. The same year, she was named the Best Breakthrough Artist at the NME Awards USA. In 2009, she won the Vanguard Award at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards. Santigold's work has influenced artists like Bob Evans.        

Haitian-American rapper and actor Pras Michel initially gained fame as part of the Fugees, a hip-hop group that also had Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill as its members. He once got into trouble for filming a controversial documentary in Somalia. He has also produced films such as The Mutant Chronicles.

Chilean-American singer Paloma Mami first gained fame with the reality show Rojo, el color del talento. She then became the first Chilean singer to seal a contract with Sony Music Latin. She has universal following, as she sings in both Spanish and English, and mingles Latin R&B with pop and trap.

Bigga Haitian is a Haitian singer and musician who achieved popularity in the 1990s. He is best known for successfully breaking into the Jamaican reggae scene and paving the way for several young and aspiring Haitian artists. Some of the most talented Haitian artists like Mecca aka Grimo and Wyclef Jean credit Bigga Haitian as a major influence.