In the late 1950s, a musical style emerged out of Jamaica that would have a profound impact on the recording industry: ska.
Ska music identified itself by fusing traditional Jamaican folk music and Caribbean calypso with American jazz and R&B. The result was a genre of music that in time spread across the globe. But this process didn't happen quickly.
The evolution of ska developed over three distinct waves, periods in history that saw singer-songwriters and musicians picking up the same rhythms but for entirely different purposes.
Ska ended up serving as a precursor to reggae but along the way produced some of the most influential names to ever reach for a microphone or play a musical instrument. In this gallery, we chart the journey made by this unique musical style from the ghettos of Kingston to the world's stages, and highlight some of the pioneers who were instrumental in fine-tuning the three waves of ska. Click on to continue reading.