The Caribbean
A Set of Islands in the Caribbean Sea
Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic,
Trinidad, Tobago, Puerto Rico, Netherlands,
Bahamas and other small islands
First Inhabitants were from Africa
Instruments like the Steel Drum and Maracas are
widely used
Mento
An early style of Caribbean
music
Mixes African and European styles
Generally medium tempos, uses African
percussion
Many songs have fun, light-hearted lyrics
Mento Band “The Jolly Boys”
Rehab Mento version
Ska
Started in the early 1960’s
Simple rhythms that emphasize the 2nd and 4th beats
of a measure
Brass instruments and guitars are often used
Fast to very fast tempos
Influenced by American Rhythm and Blues
Famous bands “Skatalites”,
Ska in the 1970-1990’s
Continued to change and take on more elements
of music from America and Europe
“Two-Tone Ska” by multiracial bands than
dressed in black and white
In the 90’s a more modern version became
popular with bands “Smash Mouth” “Less Then
Jake” and “No Doubt”
Smash Mouth
Ska Bands of
the 1990’s
Less Than Jake
Smash Mouth “All Star”
Jamaica
Rocksteady
Slower tempo than Ska
but faster than Mento
Lyrics about modern life,
troubles, love, etc.
Made famous by
Jamaican musician
Desmond Decker; also
played by groups like No
Doubt
DESMOND DECKER
“007 Shanty town” by
Desmond Decker
Reggae Music
1968 – became an internationally known style of
music
Characterized by the rhythm combination:
REST, CHORD, DROP, CHORD
Lyrics often talk about human rights, political
views, problems of today, love
Bob Marley (1945-1981)
Born in 1945 in Jamaica
Bob Marley Introduced
Reggae music to the
world
Grew up very poor in the
ghetto Trench Town
Was inspired by the
different music around
him and from different
countries
A member of the
Rastafarian movement
Was politically active
and often wrote music
about equality for all
people
Survived an
assassination attempt
in 1976
Diagnosed with
cancer in 1977
Produced over 20
Albums
International superstar
Bob Marley
oWas award the Medal of Peace
by the United Nations in 1980
oDied in Miami Florida in 1981 of
Cancer
oInducted into the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame in 1994
oHe is still internationally known
and his music continues through
his son Ziggy Marley and
grandson Damian Marley
Bob Marley
“Three Little Birds”
Compos (Haiti)
Comps was founded on
the Island of Hispaniola –
Haiti & the Dominican
Republic
Bands include electric
guitar, bass, alto sax,
drum, cowbell &
percussion
Combination of French,
Creole, American Jazz &
Spanish influences
Merengue (Dominican Republic)
Equal to Rock music in
America
4-beat rhythm, horn
section, guitar, bass
Can have large bands of
10 or more
Spanish percussion
instruments like the
Tamboura, maracas &
guira
Tamboura Drum
Other Styles of Caribbean
Music
Merenhouse – a modern
style of merengue like
pop rock music
Bachata – Simple vocal
music sung with guitar
(country/folk music style)
Merenrap – merengue
mixed with rap, uses
modern instruments and
electronic sounds
Lyrics are about lost
love, losing a friend, bad
luck
Modern Bachata songs
are back up by a modern
electronic band
Trinidad and Tobago
Calypso
oFrom Trinidad and Tobago
oCarefree lyrics and beautiful
melodies
oMedium tempos
oMixtures of the Steel Pan
Drums, guitar, drums and
other Caribbean percussion
instruments
Steel Pan Drum
Invented in Trinidad &
Tobago after WWII when
many empty oil barrels
were left on or washed up
on local beaches
Musicians discovered that
you could play different
pitches by hitting the tops
and play entire melodies
on them
Has a “raindrop” sound
How a Steel Drum is made
Soca Music Styles
Soca – Soul music +
Calypso music
Heavy bass beat, lots of
high cymbals, bass
guitar has a moving
rhythm, made for
dancing
Big hit “Hot, Hot, Hot!” by
Arrow in 1983 hit charts
all over the world
Soca Chutney –
Music from India mixed
with Calypso (Many
people from India have
moved to Trinidad)
Features the Sitar and
Tabla, bass guitar, guitar
Caribbean percusion
Rapso
Emerged in the late 1970’s
(about the same time Rap
emerged in the US)
Founded by Lancelot Layne
Mixed Soca music rhythms and rhyming poetry
Lyrics deal with modern street life, hardships,
etc. (like American Rap music)