The Caribbean is a diverse region that has a rich history and eclectic culture. It follows that the music of the Caribbean has been influenced by the cultures and traditions of Africa, India, France, Spain and England. As a result of the dominance of the English-speaking Caribbean in the Caribbean identity, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica make significant contributions in the area of Caribbean music. However, the French and Latin Caribbean have also increased the musical variety.

There are over 100 forms of music in the region identified as the Caribbean. Some of the genres are derivatives of other Caribbean genres as well. Since there is a proliferation of music genres in the Caribbean, popularity and representativeness would be used to identify the main forms. Some of the less-popular- but notable genres- will also be mentioned in this introduction to the music of the Caribbean.

Pan music

Pan (Steel pan or Steel band) music has reached as far as North America, Europe and Japan. However, its origin is distinctly Caribbean- to the extent that the sound of the pan is associated with island life or a Caribbean vacation. Pan music originated in Trinidad and Tobago and was adopted by other Eastern Caribbean islands.

Pan music was originally used to capture the sounds and rhythms of Trinidad- mainly calypso in the 1930s. Pan music- a generic term for tunes played by ‘pannists’ or steel orchestras- is very diverse as well. It can encompass other genres of music (within and outside the Caribbean) like soca, reggae, pop, ballads and classical music.

Reggae

This essentially Jamaican genre is arguably the most popular genre of music to emerge from the Caribbean. Reggae’s popularity has much to do with the rhythmic beat and the universal issues and themes addressed by reggae artistes. The reggae style uses a basic, mellow rhythm with emphasis on the off-beat. This genre of music relies heavily on drums, bass, guitars, horns and appropriate vocals.

The most famous reggae artiste is the late Bob Marley. Other notable exponents include Jimmy Cliff, Gregory Isaacs, Glen Washington and the British reggae band UB40. Many love songs have been adapted to reggae as a result of the versatility of the beat. Reggae has also resulted in several spin-offs and genres including ‘ragga soca’, roots reggae, reggaeton, rockers and dancehall.

Calypso

The origins of Calypso are associated with the Carnival tradition. This music genre originated in Trinidad and spread to other Eastern Caribbean islands. African slaves used to mimic and parody the slave masters in song. This developed into the calypso tradition of social commentary. As a result of the covert nature of the earlier version of this art form, earlier calypsos also used the technique of ‘double entendre’. “Double entendre’ simply means “double meaning” and was used to sing about issues covertly by masking it behind a plot that served as a ‘red herring’.

Calypso started as social and political commentary in Trinidad. However, the calypso tradition developed to include humorous calypso and calypso ballads. Some of the more popular early calypsos include ‘Rum and Coca Cola’, ‘Banana boat’ and ‘Jean and Dinah’. Most calypsonians sang using a sobriquet. Exponents of the art form include The Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Francisco), Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts), Attila the Hun and the Roaring Lion. In modern times, calypso is less prominent. More emphasis is placed on its faster-paced spin-offs like soca music, rapso and chutney soca.

Soca

Soca music is a huge part of the cultural identity of the Eastern Caribbean. Like its parent genre, calypso, soca originated in Trinidad and Tobago in the 1970s. Originally conceived as a fusion of soul and calypso, soca music is now standard fare at Carnivals and parties across the Eastern Caribbean. Soca is much faster-paced than calypso and is usually accompanied by gyrations of the waist and hips or ‘chipping’. In earlier times, soca was generally groovy with a heavy infusion of brass.

Soca music uses a variety of conventional and indigenous instruments, including; drums, synthesizers, keyboards and ‘iron’ rhythms. There are also fusions of East Indian rhythms, Latin beats and reggae into soca. The main categorizations of soca music are “Power soca” and “Groovy soca” and “Vintage soca”. “Power Soca” has a frenzied beat while “Groovy soca” is more melodic and slow-paced. “Vintage soca” reflects the early days of soca, which typically used more ‘brass’ than modern soca.

Other genres

The French and Latin Caribbean influences have increased the diversity of Caribbean music. Zouk is a French-Caribbean style of music that is popular in Guadeloupe, Martinique, Dominica and St. Lucia. The ‘Zouk’ band ‘Kassav’ is popular across the Caribbean and in parts of Europe and North America.

The Latin influence on Caribbean music is evident. Parang, Merengue, Salsa, Reggaeton, Mambo and Bolero are just some of the genres of Latin-influenced music that are becoming more popular throughout the Caribbean and the Western Hemisphere.

The volume of Caribbean music cannot be dealt with comprehensively in anything short of a book. The existence of over 100 music genres in a collection of islands attests to that. Music in the Caribbean is constantly evolving as a result of intra-regional exchange and sometimes influenced by the dominant American culture. The unique sounds and melodies of the Caribbean are gradually grabbing the attention of music lovers who have not even visited those isles as yet.