ska 

One of the most versitile and long lasting genre of music alive today. Disregarding some peoples beliefs, Ska makes itself individualised by its brass section, walking basslines and offbeat guitar chords. There were 3 waves of ska; Trad, 2 tone and 3rd wave but most bands today are 3rd wave caus its totally cool. It has derived from alot of influences, of which jazz, reggae, swing and punk would be the most prominant. Suits, big shades and dancin' shoes are usually worn at a ska concert.

"Man, Ska is totally cool! All other music bites serious ass compared to it!"

ska by Riley July 31, 2003

3rd wave ska

A style of music coming from traditional ska and 2-tone ska, usually upbeat and accompanied by horns (trumpets, trombones etc.) Slightly dying out now because some morons prefer hip hop crap

five iron frenzy
Ska kicks ass!

3rd wave ska by Mary Margaret July 2, 2005

ska 

Jamaican musical style developed in the late 1950s, which took elements from traditional Jamaican folk music of mento and calypso and of American music, including jazz and particularly R&B. In fact, the earliest ska songs were basically "Jamaicanized" R&B songs. The inovation that gave ska it's trademark sound was placing the accent guitar and piano rhythms on the upbeats as opposed to the downbeats, as in R&B.

The jazz influence came primarily from the studio bands that often backed the artists who recorded for the various Jamaican studios during sessions. It is so because many members of these bands where jazz musicians themselves, often a product of the famed Alpha School of Music.

Ska is the precursor to rocksteady, reggae and the various offshoots to reggae. Ska was popular abroad, especially in England during the late 60s as a result of West Indian immigration to England, where it was the music of choice for the emerging skinhead subculture and is still a dominant feature of the so-called "trad skin" subculture today. Ska also had a revival in England in the late 70s/early 80s with the emergence of punk and a "third-wave revival" in the U.S. in the 90s, but by then the sound had changed much from the original sound that permiated Jamaica during those formative early years of ska music.

* Byron Lee & the Dragonaires
* Clement "Coxsone" Dodd
* Desmond Dekker
* Duke Reid
* Eric "Monty" Morris
* Ernest Ranglin
* The Ethiopians
* The Melodians
* Prince Buster
* The Skatalites
* Toots and the Maytals
* The Wailers

ska by Chris Rodrigez August 25, 2005

ska 

happy good music

I love listening to ska.

ska by Nora May 24, 2003

ska 

Ska is a type of music that has an upbeat guitar sound. It is normally acompanied by horns but not always. Ska has been around since the late 1950's and Reggae originated from it. Ska, today, has more of a punk influence to it. It was not originated from punk, since Ska came around before punk. The two sounds mixed together when Ska hit the America music scene.

The Skatalites, The Selecter, The Specials, etc.

ska by Adrian February 21, 2003

ska 

An awesome type of music. sometimes with trumpets, trombones, and/or saxophones! Upbeat, and get to skank to! oh and reggae came from it,not the other way around

The toasters
Reel Big Fish
Mustard Plug
etc.!

ska by Jenn August 21, 2003

ska 

A style of early Jamaican music combining elements of mento (a form of calypso) with American jazz and R&B. A precursor of rock steady and reggae.
There are actually three waves of ska. The original Jamaican form developed in the late 1950's and early 60's, a revival in England in the late 70's/early 80's, and a second, mainly American, revival in the mid to late 90's.

The Skatalites are the oldest ska band still playing music today.

ska by The Nightfox February 18, 2005