The Preeminent Roots Reggae Preservation Organization
In the early 1970s, Jamaicans fused the ethos of the oppressed with the rhythms of Africa to produce a healing force called reggae. By the mid 1980s, reggae earned itself a Grammy category in the USA and at the end of the century the anthemic One Love was declared the song of the millennium by the BBC in England. Acknowledged around the world as the soundtrack to peoples’ movements, in 2018 UNESCO declared reggae an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
The Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music, Inc. (CPR) is a network of reggae lovers founded in 2005 to preserve the art form and its traditional message of healing and unity. CPR is on a mission to raise the bar in the creation, development, promotion and presentation of reggae music; to elevate the profile of its purveyors; and to research, codify, curate and disseminate information about the genre, to increase understanding of its development, significance, and influence around the world.
Reggae Culture Salute, CPR’s hallmark event marks the anniversary of the 1930 coronation of HIM Emperor Haile Selassie I and Empress Menen of Ethiopia, highlighting the unique relationship between reggae, Rasta, Emperor Selassie and Jamaica.
CPRLive, CPR’s interactive broadcast platform takes advantage of internet technology to provide a medium for civic engagement. Operating on the premise that “It Ain’t Just Music – It’s Life” CPRLive offers a diverse range of live public interest programming addressing the music as well as other matters of importance to human and social advancement.
Each February, in observance of Reggae Month and African Heritage Month, CPR hosts the State of Reggae Reception. Since its launch in 2009, the Reception has focused attention on developments affecting reggae music. The Reception attracts practitioners reggae aficionados and newcomers alike.
