A music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, characterized by a walking bass line accented with rhythms on the off beat. It was a precursor to rocksteady and reggae.
Possibly from the sound of the guitar stroke emphasizing the off-beat, or from 'skavoovie', a greeting used by jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie. The exact etymology is debated, but it clearly emerged from Jamaica's musical culture in the late 1950s.
Ska experienced multiple waves of popularity - first in 1960s Jamaica, then in late 1970s Britain with bands like The Specials, and again in 1990s America with bands like No Doubt. Each wave adapted the genre to its local culture while maintaining the distinctive upstroke rhythm that makes ska instantly recognizable.
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