Ska and Bluebeat
Prince Buster and the Skatalites
Ska and Bluebeat feature in this database because at the same time that soul was beginning to take over the music scene in Manchester in the sixties, a parallel development was also taking place - thanks initially to Bluebeat Records and Prince Buster. Songs like Al Capone, Ten Commandments and Oh Carolina proved to be a perfect complement to the soul music which was the staple diet at that time.
Prince Buster toured the UK and became a 'must see' act. A large group went from The Twisted Wheel in Manchester circa 1967 to see him perform at a Polytechnic in Stafford. A strange new development was taking place which was an offshoot of the mod movement. The concert at Stafford was the first occasion when we saw a full blown skinhead complete with boots and braces and shirtless who decided to take to the stage and perform his own strange dance to accompany Prince Buster. What he made of it was is anyone's guess.
Desmond Dekker was also a favourite at the time as well as the inimitable Skatelites.