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Rhythms and melodies from first wave Jamaican ska were combined with elements of punk rock to yield music that had a different attitude, and was more uptempo and high-energy than first wave ska. Thanks to a wave of Jamaican immigration to Britain a decade previously, ska experienced a second surge of popularity in the late 1970’s, in the form of “2 Tone”. This attempt to replicate American music resulted in an unexpected surprise: the music took on a new form, straying further from R&B and becoming a new genre entirely: ska.īy the early 1960’s, ska was the most popular genre in Jamaica, and groups combining disc jockeys, MCs, and engineers (known as sound systems) were rapidly producing new singles in this new style, and playing them at lively street parties for the public’s enjoyment. While still in the style of R&B, these songs showed influences from traditional styles such as mento, also known as Jamaican folk music, and calypso, an Afro-Caribbean style. Jamaican producers eventually started recording local artists’ versions of the genre. A particularly famous one was American blues artist Fats Domino’s “Ain’t That A Shame”: Post-World War II, Jamaicans were able to listen to American music on the radio through stations in New Orleans and Miami, meaning that there was a high volume of popular R&B tunes coming into the country. Table of Contentsįrom its origin as a fusion of American R&B and traditional Jamaican styles to its current unique place in modern music, the history of ska music spans three continents and several decades. Read on to learn about the three waves of ska music, the instrumentation and rhythms that make it unique, how it compares to reggae, and of course, the identity of this mysterious “Rudy” character mentioned in an overwhelming number of ska songs. Many questions arise: What are the origins of ska music? What did ska music sound like in the 60’s compared to the 90’s? What is dancing to ska music called? This fascinating style is extremely rich in its history, evolution, and culture. The distinctive instrumentals, raw energy, and forward-driving brass section has given ska music the chance to carve out a niche in the musical world.īirthed in the streets of Jamaica, ska spread to the rest of the world, seeing two waves of revival, decades of success, and no sign of becoming obsolete. Yet few styles have stood the test of time as well as ska music. Genres come and go, pushed into oblivion by new trends in music.