Welcome to SKAVILLE, listing coverversions in Jamaican 60´s music.

Working on my dissertation about early Jamaican music in the summer of 1999
I tried to find out wich kinds of music influenced the development of Jamaican
popular music. So I started putting together a list of songs Jamaican
musicians adopted from other musical genres.

I am going to present this list on this site including ska (and
Jamaican R´n´B), rocksteady and early reggae (up to ca. 1970).
Sometimes I give in addition to the artist who first recorded a tune
the artist that I think has inspired the Jamaican version. For
example after listening to Mongo Santamaria´s LP "Watermelon
Man" it may look like the Baba Brooks´ Watermelon
Man was inspired by Mongo´s version rather
than Herbie Hancocks original. As I am still
working on this list I would be thankful for
anyone sending corrections and additions
to fill the gaps.

Peter Piper