Ska (music)
Ska is a vibrant music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, preceding the emergence of rocksteady and reggae. It blends elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues, characterized by an upbeat rhythm, distinctive walking bass lines, and the prominent use of horns such as saxophones, trombones, and trumpets. The genre evolved through three notable "waves" over several decades, starting with its roots in Jamaica, spreading to the UK, and culminating in a third wave in the United States.
The first wave saw the rise of influential artists like Desmond Dekker and Bob Marley, who laid the groundwork for reggae. The second wave, emerging in the 1970s, incorporated a punk influence and emphasized themes of unity and social issues, featuring bands like The Specials and Madness. This phase also gave rise to cultural icons such as the "rude boys" in Jamaica and the skinheads in the UK, who reflected the working-class struggle through their fashion and dance styles.
By the 1980s, ska gained traction in the U.S. through bands like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and No Doubt, yet its popularity waned as grunge music began to dominate the scene. Ska remains a culturally rich and influential genre, celebrated for its energetic rhythms and diverse musical influences.
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Ska (music)
Ska is a type of music that began in Jamaica during the 1950s, prior to rocksteady and reggae styles. Ska incorporates Caribbean mento, calypso, American jazz, and rhythm and blues (R&B). The musical style features a danceable, upbeat rhythm and a walking bass line accompanied by an array of instruments such as horns, drums, guitars, and keyboards. It has a recognizable drumbeat on the second and fourth beats with the guitar coming in at the second, third, and fourth beats. The use of horns (saxophone, trombone, and trumpet) also differentiates the music from other styles. Ska is categorized by three periods known as waves ranging from about the 1950s through the 1990s. The musical style originated in Jamaica, spreading to Britain and eventually to the United States.
Origins
Ska's beginnings can be traced to Jamaica in the late 1950s and early 1960s. During this time, the country received its independence from British control. Ska's first wave was influenced by American jazz and R&B tunes that were brought to Jamaica via the American airwaves by the soldiers stationed in the area following World War II. Some of the early ska artists to emerge included Desmond Dekker, Bob Marley and the Wailers, the Skatalites, and Toots & the Maytals. These artists later developed their sound into reggae.
DJ Clement "Coxsone" Dodd is credited with spreading ska and making it popular in Jamaica. Dodd understood that the newly independent country lacked cultural identity and national pride; therefore, he helped to establish a sound that fused native folk music from Jamaica with other styles. He established a recording studio named Studio One, which over the years featured numerous ska artists—and later reggae artists.
Around this time in Jamaica, a group of young people emerged who dubbed themselves the "rude boys." Rude was a term used to describe the class of Jamaican teens looking for work. The rude boys mocked the upper class by dressing in suits. They became a cultural icon and a fixture on the ska scene. Some of the first ska lyrics addressed the rude boys and working-class culture in the country.
By the end of the 1960s, however, ska became less popular in Jamaica. New genres, such as rocksteady and reggae, emerged. These styles of music were less upbeat and carried sociopolitical messages.
Second Wave
The next phase of ska music developed in the 1970s in the United Kingdom (UK). This type of ska music featured much of the same sound from the first wave but had a nervous punk influence that was dominating much of the UK during this time. Unity and politics became common themes of the second wave of ska music that was defined by its two-tone sound. In addition, many ska bands included racially integrated lineups—a first for the time.
Ska bands such as the Specials, Madness, the Beat, and the Selecter became popular. The Specials, which included Jerry Dammers and Terry Hall, became especially popular with fans. It formed the label 2 Tone Records and set the tone for all ska bands of this time. These bands remained popular through the early 1980s.
The working-class culture was also associated with the UK ska movement. A group of ska fans known as "skinheads" emerged, banding together against the upper class—similar to the Jamaican rude boys. The skinheads represented the factory workers who were forced to shave their heads and wear heavy-duty work boots. Like the rude boys, the skinheads donned suits to mock the upper class, and this was dubbed the "skinhead uniform." The skinheads later evolved to support racism—especially in Germany—but at this time, the group was associated with the ska music revolution and included members of diverse races and ethnicities.
Although dance was popular with early ska music, the skinheads popularized a new style of dance with the second wave. Called skanking, the simple dance combined leg movements from the popular running man dance (running with the knees bent) with arms punching balled fists into the air. The arm movements alternated with the leg movements. The dance, which looked like fighting, represented the fight between the working and upper classes.
Third Wave
The third phase of ska music developed in the 1980s and lasted into the 1990s in the United States. Before this time, this type of music was not popular in America. Several British ska bands gained a following from their music videos aired on MTV, but most had broken up by the time their music had reached the States. However, they did influence the American ska bands that formed during this time.
The American ska scene was influenced by the two-tone sound from the second wave, but it sounded very similar to the British punk style that emerged decades earlier. Bands such as Operation Ivy, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Rancid, and No Doubt popularized ska in America. Most of these bands stopped using R&B sounds in favor of horns, a heavy-metal sound, and hard-core punk elements in their music. The fashion associated with the third wave was similar to the British punk rock fashion. The skinhead look evolved to include bold hairstyles dyed in an array of colors. As soon as ska gained prominence in the United States, its popularity faded as a new sound known as grunge emerged.
Bibliography
“A Guide to Ska Music: History and Sounds of Ska Music.” MasterClass, 7 June 2021, www.masterclass.com/articles/ska-music-guide. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.
Rodrick, Stephen. "Ska Story: The Sound of Angry Young England." Chicago Reader, 22 Mar. 1990, www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/ska-story-the-sound-of-angry-young-england/Content?oid=875398. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.
"Ska Revival." AllMusic, www.allmusic.com/style/ska-revival-ma0000002403. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.