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by Venesha Johnson | Associate Writer
Music is a big part of who we are as Jamaicans. I’m sure you have heard about Reggae and or dancehall (or both), but before they came along, we had rocksteady.
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Rocksteady spent a short time at the peak of the musical pinnacle in Jamaica but, what an impact it had in merely two years.
Rocksteady can be traced back to the diverse musical landscape of 1960s Jamaica. Influenced by jazz, R&B, and Caribbean rhythms, a generation of musicians began experimenting with a slower tempo, departing from the frenetic pace of ska.
It drew inspiration from genres like mento, calypso, and US soul artists such as Alton Ellis, Delroy Wilson, and Bob Andy pioneered the soulful sounds that would define rocksteady.
Rocksteady's hallmark was its slower tempo compared to ska, allowing for a deeper exploration of musical intricacies. Bass lines took on a prominent role, with bass players delving into fat, dark tones that resonated with a newfound sense of groove.
Guitar and piano players experimented with accents, adding layers of complexity to the rhythm. The muted picking style, popularized by Lynn Taitt, became synonymous with the genre, with lead guitars often mirroring the bass lines.
While love ballads were prevalent in rocksteady, the genre (like most Jamaican music genres) also tackled a range of social issues. Songs reflected the realities of life in the ghetto, from the rise of the "rude boy" subculture to themes of religion and black consciousness.
Artists like Prince Buster and the Techniques used their music as a platform to address the complexities of Jamaican society, shedding light on both the struggles and resilience of marginalized communities.
At the heart of rocksteady's success are key figures such as producer Duke Reid and musicians like Jackie Mittoo and Tommy McCook. You can’t think of Reis’s Treasure Isle label without immediately thinking of Rocksteady.
Reid's Treasure Isle label became fearless. releasing timeless hits and shaping the vocal sound of rocksteady. Artists like Phyllis Dillon, known as the "Queen of Rocksteady," also left a mark on the genre with their soulful performances, while instrumentalists like Jackie Mittoo and Winston Grennan pushed the boundaries of musical innovation.
Rocksteady, though short-lived, fostered the rise of several iconic Jamaican musicians whose contributions were irremovable from the genre's legacy. Here are five notable rocksteady artists:
These five artists, each with their unique contributions and musical stylings, played an instrumental role in shaping the sound and spirit of rocksteady.
Although its reign was brief, rocksteady's influence on our music culture cannot be overstated. As the 1960s drew to a close, the genre paved the way for the emergence of reggae, as artists began to experiment with new sounds and styles.
The migration of key musicians and advancements in studio technology further propelled this evolution, marking a shift towards a more complex and aggressive sound. Read more about the music genres that came before reggae here.
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