There have been over 500 books written about Bob Marley. But what about the other musicians who created Jamaica’s music? This is the half that has never been told–the history of ska music. With origins in indigenous mento, jazz in Kingston’s clubs, classical training in schools, and American rhythm and blues from transistor radios in the yard , this is ska. These are the stories of those musicians–the trombonists, trumpeters, drummers who created that distinctive beat, studio engineers, women producers and vocalists, government ministers, nuns, industry moguls, and barefoot boys. This is the foundation upon which many other genres and musicians owe a great debt. Told in a narrative style by utilizing oral histories and deep archival research, the history of ska is preserved for future generations to enjoy and appreciate the music through new ears.
Heather Augustyn 