“Skaturday Night” pays tribute to the genre with ska artists past and present.

Ska is a musical genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s and has

since become a global phenomenon. It is characterized by its upbeat and lively tempo, often featuring a prominent offbeat rhythm known as the “skank.” Ska music typically incorporates elements of jazz, rhythm and blues, and Caribbean music, creating a unique and danceable sound.

Ska has gone through various waves of popularity and evolution. The first wave of ska in Jamaica gave birth to rocksteady and reggae, giving rise to artists such as Bob Marley and the Wailers and The Skatalites. In contrast, the second wave in the 1970s saw the emergence of 2 Tone ska in the United Kingdom, characterized by bands like The Specials, Madness, The Selector, and The (English) Beat. Ska experienced a revival in the 1990s with bands like The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and No Doubt incorporating ska elements into their music.

Many mainstream alternative artists have incorporated ska in some of their songs. Consider “Man In A Suitcase” and “Canary In a Coalmine” from The Police, Oingo Boingo’s “Violent Love” and “Little Guns,” to name a few.

Ska continues to influence and inspire musicians across various genres, and it remains a beloved and enduring style of music for fans worldwide.

Introducing “Skaturday” Night

As a tribute to this incredibly defining genre, Blank Generation Radio has introduced “Skaturday Night,” a 2-hour broadcast featuring Ska artists from all genres going back to its 1960s Jamaican roots, continuing through the decades to some of today’s best-known ska bands. Skaturday Night plays every Saturday night from 10PM-Midnight PST. Tune in here to listen to Blank Generation Radio worldwide and commercial free!