Calypso Music of Jamaica

As in several Anglo-Caribbean Caribbean island, the calypso music of Trinidad and Tobago has become segment of the tradition of the Jamaica. Jamaica’s own indigenous music mento is often mistaken with the calypso music, although the two have many similarities, they are different and separate musical forms. During the mid-20^th century, the mento was combined with the calypso and mento was frequently known as calypso, mento calypso and calypso; mento singer frequently used calypso songs and methods. As in calypso, mento uses typical lyrics with a funny slant, commenting on poverty and other social uses, sexual innuendos are also common.

source of picture: islandbuzzjamaica.com

The Trinidadian calypso, steel pan and soca music are well-known in Jamaica, famous calypso/ soca musicians from Jamaica include Fab 5, Lovindeer, and Byron Lee. Harry Belafonte brought the American spectator to calypso music and had coined in Trinidad and Tobago in the early 20^th century, and Belafonte was dubbed the King of Calypso.

The mobile sound system that played American hits became famous in the 1950s in Kingston, Jamaica. Major prominent musicians in the early sound system scene include Prince Buster, Clement Coxsone Dodd and Duke Reid. In the year 1958, due to a shortage of the original material, the first local rhythm and blues ensembles, most significantly the duo Higgs and Wilson started recording to fulfill the local demand for new music.