Ska is a music genre from Jamaica that originated in the late 1950s. It is a combination of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. Ska is characterized by a walking bass line, guitar and piano offbeats, and a strong emphasis on the offbeat. It is often accompanied by horns, such as trumpets and saxophones. Ska has been popularized by bands such as The Specials, Madness, and The English Beat.