Rock Steady

Rock Steady was the immediate successor of early Ska -- and the immediate predecessor of Reggae -- in Jamaica's pop scene. Rock Steady faded Ska's prominent jazzy horn line and brought the bassline forward. The rhythm guitar meanwhile played a steady off-beat -- the rhythm that was to become reggae. Rock Steady's gentler pace accented the tender emotions of its lyrics, and many of its anthems were love songs. The movement's name is attributed alternately to Reggae pioneer Alton Ellis's keyboard player Jackie Mittoo, and Gladstone "Gladdy" Lewis, pianist for singer Hopeton Lewis.