For any Skatalite, Prince Buster and Reel Big Fish novices out there, consider this your ska primer.
True ska music got its start in Jamaica in the 1950s, with Studio One opening its doors in Kingston in 1954. It would soon become one of the most renowned recording studios for the genre, and was founded by the famed Clement “Coxhone” Dodd, who was instrumental in making the movement what it was.
Characterized by its unique beat and often including a horn section, ska developed out of more traditional Caribbean music and was influenced by American R&B, later evolving into reggae. Ska is typically faster than reggae, though the styles remain very similar, and in both you’ll find a unique ability to make you desire a piña colada and a beach.
In a fusion of horns and angst, the ska-punk or ska-core genre developed out of traditional ska as well, through bands like The Mighty Mighty Bosstones in the 1980s and Sublime, Reel Big Fish and No Doubt in the 1990s. Long before Gwen Stefani ever had to screen her phone calls, though, came greats like The Skatalites and Desmond Dekker. What follows is a taster of some true ska at its roots.
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Desmond Dekker & the Aces — ‘Israelites’
‘Israelites’ was Dekker’s first hit, released in 1968. It was the first reggae/ska song to reach No. 1 on the UK charts, in spite of Dekker’s strong Jamaican accent, which made understanding the lyrics a struggle for some. The start of the song betrays its subtle R&B roots before leading into a more typical beat for the genre, albeit one that is slightly slower than usual.
The Skatalites — ‘Guns of Navarone’
The Skatalites are often credited with being one of the original purveyors of ska music and starting playing together in 1955, though many of their best known hits were recorded between 1963 and 1965, with ‘Guns of Navarone’ becoming arguably their best known hit. A decidedly bright and upbeat piece, ‘Guns of Navarone’ is pure instrumental cheerfulness, despite the somewhat ominous title, and features some outstanding horn solos. The Skatalites broke up in the 1960s, only to reform in 1983. They are still active today, though with only a few original members remaining.
Byron Lee & The Dragonaires — ‘Joy Ride’
Byron Lee & The Dragonaires are another band spawned in the 1950s, and can often be found in the same breath as legendary groups like the Skatalites. Since Lee’s death from cancer in 2008, the group has renamed itself Byron Lee’s Dragonaires. Their hit ‘Joy Ride’ is another purely instrumental piece, and pulls you in with its steady, island-esque beat and stellar saxophone melody (with an assist from the keyboards).
Jimmy Cliff — ‘Sitting in Limbo’
Jimmy Cliff rose to fame in the late 1960s after relocating to the UK from Jamaica. Cliff’s sweetly melodic voice and style reflect shifts that were taking place within the ska, reggae and R&B movements at that point of the 60s. ‘Sitting in Limbo’ gives off a vibe of both rocksteady and ska with its smother chorus and melodic style of vocal harmony, and its lack of a dominating horn section.
Prince Buster — ‘Whine and Grine’
Prince Buster may have started out his career as a Studio One security guard, but he ended it as one of the most prolific ska artists of his time. ‘Whine and Grine’ serves as an example of 60s ska at its most classic and traditional—loping vocals, smooth beats and crisp horn interludes.
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Words by Kat Patke
