Meaning
The soulful Jamaican genre that came between ska and reggae, roughly 1966 to 1968 — slower than the fast, jumping ska, with romantic vocal harmonies and a relaxed, steady beat you could hold a partner close and rock to. It was the bridge from the horn-driven ska to the bass-heavy reggae that followed, and its brief golden age produced many classic love songs and rude-boy anthems. Rocksteady laid the rhythmic groundwork out of which reggae grew, and it is remembered fondly as a cool, sweet, romantic sound.
Examples
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Rocksteady slow down di ska.
Rocksteady slowed down the ska.
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Di sweet harmony a rocksteady nice.
The sweet harmonies of rocksteady are lovely.
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Rocksteady lead straight into reggae.
Rocksteady led straight into reggae.
Origin
Named for its slower, 'rock steady' groove; the era is often linked to a hot Kingston summer when dancers wanted an easier beat.
How it’s used
A short but golden era of Jamaican music, prized for its harmony singing. The step between ska and reggae.