The skinhead subculture was originally associated with black music genres such as soul, ska, rocksteady, and early reggae. The link between skinheads and Jamaican music led to the UK popularity of groups such as Desmond Dekker, Derrick Morgan, Laurel Aitken, Symarip and The Pioneers. This is a very disruptive and easily identified culture or genre of music, which it is definitely both. Their music and social niche was disruptive in the 1950s and 1960s Britain, because these were white working class lads listening to West Indies Reggae and SKA music and going to the bar with other lads of all different backgrounds and ethnicity, so simply celebrate being alive and doing their best in life.
Some of the original founders of what would be “Skinhead” or “Skinhead Reggae”, or “Original Skins” or “Trad (Traditional) Skins” and many other various names.
- Laurel Aitken
- Desmond Dekker
- Judge Dread
- The Ethiopians
- Tommy McCook
- Derrick Morgan
- The Pioneers
- Symarip
- The Upsetters
This is what Skinhead is and how it started out
