Rocksteady
For two short years the tempo cooled and the bass moved forward. Rocksteady traded much of ska’s horn rush for deep bass lines, tighter drums and vocal harmonies, creating the bridge into reggae.
GO DEEPER
Rocksteady emerged around late 1966 as Jamaican musicians slowed ska and made more room inside the rhythm. Guitarist Lynn Taitt is central to many accounts, especially through Hopeton Lewis’ “Take It Easy,” while Alton Ellis, Roy Shirley, Derrick Morgan and others all recorded early tracks with credible claims to the new beat. The era was brief but enormous in consequence. Bass lines became more melodic and dominant, vocal trios such as The Paragons, The Heptones, The Techniques and The Gaylads flourished, and producers learned how much power could live in a stripped-down rhythm track. By 1968 those experiments were tilting into reggae and version culture.
Where the history is argued
- “Take It Easy,” “Girl I’ve Got a Date,” “Hold Them” and other records all appear in first-rocksteady claims. Present the field, not a winner.
How they stand with the others
Grew intoRocksteady is a real bridge between ska and reggae, but the change happened across multiple sessions rather than one clean switch.
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Last checked 1 September 2026