Ska > Rocksteady > Reggae > 2-Tone

The term rocksteady comes from a popular and slower dance style mentioned in the Alton Ellis song “Rocksteady”, that matched the new sound around 1966.

Ska is gradually replaced by slower-paced harmony rocksteady trios, considered a form of local gospel or soul music.

Rocksteady features more keyboards and vocals, but fewer brass instruments and instrumentals.

It was performed by many of the artists who helped establish reggae in 1968 : harmony groups such as The Melodians, The Wailers, the Techniques, the Paragons, the Gaylads and soulful singers such as Alton Ellis, Phyllis Dillon, Delroy Wilson, Ken Boothe.

From Kingston to London

The emergence of ska and rocksteady music spread to England and gave rise to 2-Tone in the late 1970s.