SKA SKA SKA (1964) | Jamaican Music Documentary (aka This Is Ska)

Jamaican Information Service documentary from 1964. Performances include: 'Jamaican Ska', 'Sammy Dead-O' - Byron Lee & the Dragonaires; 'Sammy Dead-O' - Eric 'Monty' Morris; 'One Eyed Jacks', 'King Of Kings' - Jimmy Cliff; 'Wash Wash' - Prince Buster; 'Treat Me Bad', 'She Will Never Let You Down' - The Maytels; 'So Marie - The Chaarmers; 'Rough 'n' Tough' - Stranger Cole; 'Two Roads Before Me' - Roy & Yvonne; 'I Don't Know' - The Blues Busters
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[@ValTyalin]

Sweet memories of the dances my uncle had in his yard in JA. These were the songs, the dances, the clothes of their generation. Me a little girl dancing too. Ska!

[@audreyclarke2228]

THIS IS THE DANCE AND SONG THAT PUT 💃 JAMAICA 🇯🇲 ON THE MAP . JAMAICA 🇯🇲 BIG LONGTIME !!!!!!!! THIS VIDEO IS FROM 1964 . GO JAMAICA !!!!!!!!!

[@HealerTheMaroon]

And afta dat dem teef the sound and mek it dem own smh

[@cognitionup5211]

Absolutely categorically correct 🇯🇲❤️💯✅

[@jacklyndonovan4701]

I love ska happy music 😊

[@shruggzdastr8-facedclown]

What I love about this doc is that it shows that first-gen ska wasn't just The Skatellites but was a lively and thriving genre featuring numerous artists and bands all equally worthy of being remembered and celebrated!!

[@bobcosmic]

Skatalites are the originators but we’re not publicised as they were downtown musicians who smoked Ganja. Byron Lee & the Dragonaires were *uptown musicians who played for the society people and they backed by Edward Seaga* Skatalites are the originators. Case closed !

[@user-rq3gr8pj8t]

understand what your saying such a thoughtful and amazing analogy and break down . Basically stranger Cole, toots and the maytals Jimmy cliff ,Prince buster .laurel aitkin , were all uptown high society musicians and made no contribution to ska music despite many of them coming from alpha boys and the ghettos of Kingston. Brother behave yourself and stop with the devide and rule. No willy lynch mentality please.

[@AndyKaknes]

@@user-rq3gr8pj8t The Skatalites formed in 1964, the year this movie was filmed. Byron Lee & The Dragonaires had been a band since 1950, and they played Calypso, Mento, Jamaican R&B, and then Ska. In later years they also played Soca music, a style that came out of Calypso music. They are a very versatile band, and in many ways, underrated. They were loved all over the West Indies, and were a very sought after band during Carnival.

[@user-rq3gr8pj8t]

@Andy Kaknes thank you for the biography I have seen byron Lee and the dragonaires play live and I'm well aware of their history and musical lineage .my comment was based on sarcasm aimed at the comments I heard dismissing byron Lees contribution to jamaican music. Not sure why you assumed I needed a history lesson on a jamaican artist I am very aware of and know very well .

[@AndyKaknes]

@@user-rq3gr8pj8t I was basically backing you up. I understood your sarcasm. I was just adding some discussion and facts to the thread for everyone. I didn't assume you needed a history lesson. I didn't assume anything.

[@aaronhurst4379]

It's like a Jamaican ska Top of the Pops. In all seriousness, brilliant documentary. Thank you for posting!

[@edwardgreenaway1808]

This is music and love!

[@moneypromusic4419]

This back in my grandfather days, I used to love when he tell me these stories

[@slagish]

Very nice. Great lineup. Original ska is the best ska.

[@donaldraby2892]

Great to see such a young Toots!

[@eillekeillek]

Toots was fab in this. the entire damn thing is Fab

[@karlschneider9479]

Lloyd Knibb was a god. I saw him as he was dying in the hospital. He said don't let my music die. Still makes me cry!

[@AndyKaknes]

I got to see Lloyd Knibb play 5 times with the Skatalites. His son Dion lives in the Boston area stll. Lloyd lived in Hull, MA for many years I believe before he passed away.

[@cognitionup5211]

Jimmy Cliff was slick with Lion song🇯🇲❤️⭐️✅

[@juniorbramble9827]

Prince Buster was a Musical Giant - RIP🇻🇨🇻🇨🇻🇨🇻🇨🇻🇨🇻🇨🇻🇨👊🏿👊🏿👊🏿👊🏿👊🏿👊🏿

[@bootsiedidread2612]

The gram (record player) selection love it💚this is the music we grew up on ska then rock steady then reggae in that order.

[@immaggiethesenilegoldenret7918]

I remember many years ago my Dad(MY DAD!) was watching this on TV with me; I was about 20-21. He could be unexpectedly cool 😎 like that! Enjoyed it!

[@karlschneider9479]

I knew Laurel Aitken very well he was a mentor to me! Got to tour with him, Lord Tanamo and also the Skatalites.

[@HealerTheMaroon]

This style of dancing influences hardcore dance and two stepp in metal and punk

[@streetsufi6776]

Thank You, Reel Black for keeping us Enliightened as well as Entertained. 🙏🏾

[@Coolan_Gatta]

THIS IS A DIAMOND! THANK YOU FOR UPLOADING!

[@horatiobarnes8608]

A people full of class vibe and musical talents the Jamaican people.

[@kenrickwilson9845]

Edward Seaga created the ska. What a man

[@MartaRaya]

Amazing footage! Thank you for the upload 🙏

[@sicksideworldwide1599]

Brilliant thanks for the upload 🔊💙🕪🎵🎼🎶❤😘🔥🔥🔥😍

[@user-ug4ls7mu6o]

Thanks for great SKA music. - March 2024. Seoul Korea -

[@HaroldWayneSaxton-fj6st]

This video had me rocking mon !!! With a spliff of Californiad best I was dancing all over the house it just don't get better!!!

[@winstongreen979]

Keeps me fit by dancing to the beat

[@thomasboulenger6961]

In the song "I Love you so you treating Me Bad", of the Maytals (no the Maytels ? in your description), we already hear the the beginnings of Rock Steady style which then became the Reggae

[@theblackbanter5242]

In the great words of legendary musician James Mtume "It's about invitations emulation innovation."

[@donovanphillips4973]

Thank you

[@senseijoy2439]

Who Here is from Jamaica

[@funtime5931]

yo

[@funtime5931]

me

[@juniorbramble9827]

Not me: 🇻🇨🇻🇨🇻🇨🇻🇨🇻🇨🇻🇨🇻🇨🇻🇨🇻🇨 the BEST & Proud👊🏿👊🏿👊🏿👊🏿👊🏿

[@starrcompany3275]

Not me thank goodness lol

[@cognitionup5211]

@@starrcompany3275 well get lost then! Delete your comment forthwith!!

[@michaellifetv5696]

Talented Jamaican Ska Artist Back Then.

[@Grogu-485]

Nuff respect to Edward Seaga

[@isladurrant2015]

I don't know what the sixth is... I just know I love ska x

[@ksekweyama]

@reelblack NICEEEE FIND

[@MatrixMaster777]

Big Up^^^

[@clarencewright9841]

Winston, the singer said-----Sammy plant piece of corn down a gully,,,,bless up

[@holaamigoshola451]

Si la bailaban con ganas

[@divineelsnoblebeys5627]

si la bailaban con ganas, mucho mucho le grande ganas. sempre. muyi mucho para la corona de la cielo. le hora la el paz sempre amore et fiestas, pura la vida. Poquito ganas no neccessidad para bueno musica.

[@maximisatwat]

How did we go from this to "Vybz Kartel" in a few generations? People that didn't feel sorry for themselves, happy, upbeat, proud loving open music. Then to "ghetto" gangsta, whining about "the system", embracing slackness. Music industry has bent things.

[@andchat6241]

THANKS FOR UPLOADING...Wasnt there some ' political problems' that meant the Skatalites were not promoted? I believe they were left off a Jamaican cultural visit to the US in favour of the more 'family friendly' Byron Lee '

[@Themaddprof]

According to Timothy White's "Catch a Fire," The Skatalites were not invited because many of them were rastas and openly smoked ganja, the last thing Jamaica wanted to promote at that time.

[@wheedler]

Directed by David Lynch

[@phoebecraw615]

Does anyone know where this documentary has come from? I'm a producer working on a ska documentary wanting to license it. I saw one vague BBC reference but it isn't in their archives and I asked one licensee person there and they couldn't find it. I can't find any information about Maverick productions online. Any help would be much appreciated!

[@G8GT364CI]

Toots & The Maytals at about 13:20 before their name change. I wonder who's playing bass here, Jackie Jackson?

[@AndyKaknes]

Byron Lee, the bandleader of Byron Lee & The Dragonaires, is playing bass.

[@SuperBadbwoy1]

Sammy plant peas and corn dung a gully!!!!, madddd chune!!!!!

[@garthjeffrey2009]

The hi society peeps dhem coulda drop legs man #classic

[@audreyclarke2228]

THIS IS THE JAMAICANS THAT CAME TO ENGLAND IN THE 50TH & 60TH THIS WAS HOW WE PARTIED.

[@heli-crewhgs5285]

Try again - this time in English please.

[@HealerTheMaroon]

This Genre gave so much to White music in terms of dances and music sun genres

[@moedemama]

Thats blues, which ska copied

[@flora-3603]

​@@moedemama Lets be honest Ska does not sound like the Blues

[@Raider577]

What they haven't said is that the roots of Ska are not Jamaican but American. Listen to Fats Domino song ' Be my Guest' and the original version of My Boy Lollipop(not Millie). Jamaicans copied the sound and rhythm.

[@santiagoayala2975]

it's a typical rhythm that comes from early 20th century music, it's called "shuffle", you can hear it in lots of songs from genres like ragtime, blues, jazz, country & western, etc.

[@Raider577]

@@santiagoayala2975 I know, but my point is that it doesn't come from Jamaica.

[@kelvyquayo]

@@Raider577 No. People can use styles of rhythm and still make it unique. Also saying ska is merely from the shuffle is not accurate… also Jazz, Bogey Woogie. It’s called a FUSION. Also you can here the same Beat in MENTO MUSIC which is far before Fats Domino.

[@Raider577]

@@kelvyquayo It is based on the shuffle as Jamaicans were listening to artists like Fats Domino at the time and you can hear it in the music.Fats Domino even performed there. You can just listen to hear it. Mento does not sound anything like Ska it is far closer to Calypso the music in Trinidad and other islands and similar to a lot of Latin music. In fact many people actually think Mento is Calypso as they sound so similar.

[@user-rq3gr8pj8t]

@@Raider577 you have a point blues and jazz did influence jamaican ska . But there were other influences also african especially and mento also .we need to remember there were caribbean artists who influenced the jazz scene .afro caribbean music helped influence the rhythmical changes in jazz development with the off beat syncopated rhythms of Cuba and the caribbean. Also in the 1930s black caribbean jazz musicians brought swing jazz to Britain. New Orleans being so close to the caribbean and a similar tropical climate . Has always had a rich history of musicians from the caribbean who helped and contributed to the development of jazz in america. Charlie Parker played a version of Sly mongoose a jamaican mento song. Sonny rolling St Thomas. This is how music works we all influence each other.

[@audreyclarke2228]

HAVE YOU NOTICED 👎⛔ THAT BLACK ⚫ AND WHITE WAS PARTYING TOGEATHER, AND HAVING FUN. BRING BACK THE 6TH.