The term 'Forerunner of Rocksteady' can be summarized as SKA, a three letter word. SKA is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s and is considered to be the precursor to rocksteady. It is a fusion of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. It is characterized by a walking bass line, guitar and piano offbeats, and a strong emphasis on the offbeat.