X-Nico

2 unusual facts about Rocksteady


Rocksteady

The rude boy phenomenon had existed in the ska period, but was expressed more obviously during the rocksteady era in songs such as "Rude Boy Gone A Jail" by The Clarendonians; '"No Good Rudie" by Justin Hinds & the Dominoes; and "Don't Be A Rude Boy" by The Rulers. Crying was a theme in some rocksteady songs, such as Alton and the Flames' "Cry Tough", which urged Jamaicans in the ghettos to stay tough through the hard times.

Due in part to the heavy borrowing from US soul songs, many rocksteady songs are love songs; e.g. "Sharing You" by Prince Buster, which is a cover of a Mitty Collier original, and "Queen Majesty" by The Techniques, which is a cover of "Minstrel and Queen" by The Impressions.


Bogle dance

The new revolution of rocksteady music was brought forth by Bunny Lee and was evident in more fast paced and rock-like songs.

Boogaloo Stu

Limited to just 1000 copies, "Rocksteady" was a surprise radio hit, with the single playlisted at XFM and receiving airplay on BBC Radio 1 from Jo Whiley, Huw Stephens and Rob Da Bank.

Cecil Campbell

Prince Buster, Jamaican ska/rocksteady singer, born Cecil Bustamente Campbell

Cedric Brooks

After a single, "Demauungwani", the group recorded their first album for the Institute of Jamaica, From Mento to Reggae to Third World Music, a collection exploring the history of Jamaican music, incorporating mento, junkanoo, ska, rocksteady, and reggae.

Oliver Foot

Many high profile customers frequented the location including the then Mayor of London Ken Livingston, Suggs, Ian Brown, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Joe Strummer and the rocksteady musician Alton Ellis.

Rotterdam Ska-Jazz Foundation

Rotterdam Ska-Jazz Foundation is a band from the Netherlands playing a mix of ska, jazz, rocksteady, reggae and soul, with a strong '60s influence.

Shootin' Goon

Shootin' Goon released their debut album Splottside Rocksteady in 2000, with the title inspired by the Splott area of the band's hometown of Cardiff.

Tarrus Riley

He worked with saxophonist and producer Dean Fraser on his 2014 album Love Situation, which he described as "a true tribute to the rocksteady era", and features guest appearances from U-Roy, Big Youth, Konshens and Mr. Cheeks.

The Ethiopians

The Ethiopians were a ska, rocksteady, and reggae vocal group, founded by Leonard Dillon (b. 9 December 1942, Port Antonio, Jamaica, d. 28 September 2011), Stephen Taylor and Aston Morris.

The Tennors

The Tennors were a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae vocal group in the 1960s and '70s. Among the band's hits was "Ride Yu Donkey" in 1968. The song was featured on the soundtrack to the 2005 film Broken Flowers.


see also