Ska: The Rhythm of Liberation

Tempo: A Rowman & Littlefield Music Series on Rock, Pop, and Culture

by Heather Augustyn, Scott Calhoun (Foreword)

Like other major music genres, ska reflects, reveals, and reacts to the genesis and migration from its Afro-Caribbean roots and colonial origins to the shores of England and back across the Atlantic to the United States. Without ska music, there would be no reggae or Bob Marley, no British punk and pop blends, no American soundtrack to its various subcultures.In The Rhythm of Liberation, Heather Augustyn examines how ska music first emerged in Jamaica as a fusion of popular, traditional, and even classical musical forms. As a genre, it was a connection to Africa, a means of expression and protest, and a respite from the struggles of colonization and grinding poverty. Ska would later travel with West Indian immigrants to the United Kingdom, where British youth embraced the music, blending it with punk and pop and working its origins as a music of protest and escape into their present lives. The fervor of the music matched the energy of the streets as racism, poverty, and violence ran rampant. But ska called for brotherhood and unity.As series editor and pop music scholar Scott Calhoun “Like a cultural barometer, the rise of ska indicates when and where social, political, and economic institutions disappoint their people and push them to re-invent the process for making meaning out of life. When a people or group embark on this process, it becomes even more necessary to embrace expressive, liberating forms of art for help during the struggle. In its history as a music of freedom, ska has itself flowed freely to wherever people are celebrating the rhythms and sounds of hope.” The Rhythm Liberation should appeal to fans and scholars alike—indeed, any enthusiast of popular music and Caribbean, American, and British history seeking to understand the fascinating relationship between indigenous popular music and cultural and political history. Devotees of reggae, jazz, pop, Latin music, hip hop, rock, techno, dance, and world beat will find their appreciation of this remarkable genre deepened by this survey of the origins and spread of ska.

Genres: Music, History

180 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great. I was first introduced to ska as a fan of the band madness in high school. But one thing I've learned about ska is that it is like an onion, and the more you peel back the more complex it is. This book provided a detailed explanation of the history of ska music from its earliest roots, up to today. Strongly recommended for any music fan or someone wanting to know more about the politics and culture of this fabulous musical form.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most definitive book on Ska that I have read. A very worthwhile read especially if you are interested in the roots in Jamaica.

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

After mento, ska was the music of Jamaica in in the late 50's to the mid 60's. It incorporated American r&b and the musical talent of many students trained at Alpha Boy's School in Kingston. This book traces the history of Jamaican music that developed into ska. I first started listening to original ska recordings because of the late 70's Two Tone label from the U.K. which featured The Specials and The Beat among others. As I explored ska's early years, I often heard songs that were adaptations of jazz tunes. For example "City Riot" by Buster's All Stars is a wonderful and danceable version of Nat Adderley's "Jive Samba". A number of Jamaican musicians learned jazz in order to perform for upper class and tourist hotel bands. I recall the thrill of buying the colorful album "Ska Authentic" by the pivotal band The Skatalites. I could not pass up an album featuring songs titled 'President Kennedy", Lee Harvey Oswald" and "Christine Keeler" on the same album! Ska had an impact on musicians and audiences in England, where a number of Jamaican musicians and sound system operators relocated. the book covers this revival and development. I recommend this book to anyone interested in international music history.

[Mills College Library]

781.646 A9238 2013

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read about the skankiest music of all. Will lead you to a lot of other reading and, most importantly, more ska bands.

[Diana Westerfer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ska changed my life.

It will change yours too, if you let it.
Pick it up.