Jamaican music started with Mento, a stylized version of Calypso. From there a new sound became popular it was called Ska and took over from American R&B in 1961. The music was energetic, which matched the mood of the times, Jamaicans were elated about the up and coming Independence day.
Ska reigned for about five years when the slower rocksteady beat took over in 1966. Rocksteady's reign only lasted two years, till the advent of "Skinhead Reggae" in 1968. Kids the UK wide would buy these records from Woolworth's. Some even made the charts top ten. After a long period of mainstream acclaim Jamaican Music took an introvert step when it developed a "Back to Africa" theme and heralded a black awareness being awoken. This was the period known as Roots music in parallel with this was a new studio technique, the echo chamber, provided "dub" with the "soundscape" it expanded upon. |