| In 2008, the month of February was declared, officially, | | | | and Jazz music. |
| Reggae month in Jamaica, to be observed annually, | | | | American Rhythm 'n' Blues records, were heavily |
| with not only a series of parties and stage shows but, | | | | imported by "sound system" operators to provided an |
| "...a month where we bring together our academic | | | | alternative to the Pop and Jazz tunes that were being |
| resources..." the Jamaican Prime Minister told a local | | | | played on local radio. These sound systems were |
| paper. | | | | mobile entertainment systems and the disc jockeys or |
| In February, the city of New Orleans, Louisiana | | | | "selectors" who played the records were the |
| celebrates Mardi Gras: the culmination of a variety of | | | | entertainers. |
| festivities beginning in January. | | | | The popularity of American Rhythm 'n' Blues grew, |
| In the spirit of this festive month, I am obliged to | | | | with the availability of inexpensive transistor radios to |
| enlighten reggae enthusiasts of the little known | | | | the Jamaican population. Listeners who were less than |
| relationship between the two cultures, formed out of | | | | happy about the American Pop and Jazz tunes, tuned |
| the integration of the music of New Orleans with the | | | | in to super high-powered AM radio stations |
| early development of Reggae music. | | | | broadcasting from New Orleans and Miami, powerful |
| In the late 1800's, an early style of Jamaican folk music | | | | enough to reach Jamaica. |
| played by musicians fusing African and European | | | | Subsequently, a rhythmical shift in Mento music began |
| musical traditions was called Mento. | | | | and musicians began incorporating the American |
| During the 1950's Mento surged in popularity largely due | | | | southern accented Rhythm 'n' Blues into Mento music. |
| to the birth of Jamaica's recording industry in 1954, | | | | Bands that played a blend of New Orleans' Blues and |
| which allowed musicians to record Mento songs of | | | | Caribbean music, called "Bluebeat" groups, became |
| different varieties and styles and made them available | | | | popular and, eventually, a new rhythmical up-tempo |
| on records. | | | | style of music emerged known as Ska. |
| Despite the popularity of Mento locally, it was | | | | Ska enjoyed a brief period of popularity in the later |
| considered "street music" by local radio station | | | | part of the 1950's an early 60's then eventually |
| operators, in those days, and so the music was | | | | transformed into the next stage of the development |
| passed over for the more "palatable" American Pop | | | | of Reggae music called Rocksteady. |