Origins of Ska

Ska music was started in the early 1960s in Jamaica and was transformed into a hybrid music. It was derived from 50′s swing music from different countries. The first ska recordings were created at facilities such as Studio One and WIRL Records in Kingston, Jamaica with producers such as Dodd, Reid, Prince Buster, and Edward Seaga. Most people could not afford to buy records, they would tune their radios to stations out of New Orleans and Miami, and listen to American rhythm and Blues music. Some of these bands and musicians were Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Fats Domino, Smiley Lewis, Lloyd Price, The Impressions, and the Drifters. Ska music traditionally had an upbeat sound made for dancing. The traditional dance of ska music was called Skanking. Jamaicans made their own sound inspired by the music they heard.