• Ska Boom - An American Ska & Reggae Podcast

  • By: Marc Wasserman
  • Podcast
Ska Boom - An American Ska & Reggae Podcast By cover art

Ska Boom - An American Ska & Reggae Podcast

By: Marc Wasserman
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  • Summary

  • Ska Boom - An American Ska & Reggae Podcast is hosted by Marc Wasserman, author of Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History published by DiWulf Publishing. Wasserman helped to found Bigger Thomas -- the first ska band from New Jersey -- in 1988 and had a front row seat to watch the growth of American ska. Ska Boom is the audio companion to the book, which tells the origin stories of 18 American ska and reggae bands and one national tour from the early 80s through the mid 90s that helped to give birth to and define a uniquely American version of ska and reggae. The podcast explores the impact of ska and reggae on popular music and features interviews with key ska and reggae musicians, audio documentaries about the history of ska and reggae and special episodes based on news and developments in the world of ska.
    © 2023 Ska Boom - An American Ska & Reggae Podcast
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Episodes
  • 2 Tone Legacy - The Untold Story of The Beat Girl

    2 Tone Legacy - The Untold Story of The Beat Girl
    Sep 10 2022

    Welcome to 2 Tone Legacy a special 10-part audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the stories behind the songs that contribute to the enduring legacy of 2 Tone music and its ongoing impact on popular culture. 

    When it came time for The English Beat to create a logo for their first album and for marketing posters and advertisements they called upon Hunt Emerson who is a noted British cartoonist and comic book artist.  Emerson drew the Beat Girl from an original photo of a woman dancing with Prince Buster in the early 1960s that he saw in the Melody Maker in May 1979. 

    Until now, the identity of the Beat Girl has been a mystery. But my guest Joanna Wallace has done some amazing research and online detective work to identify who the Beat girl is and to tell her fantastic and cinematic story.  Watch the documentary here.

    Ska Boom is hosted/produced by Marc Wasserman and co-produced/engineered by Rob George. Ska Boom is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.  

    The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Ska Boom Stories - Eddy Grant & Electric Avenue

    Ska Boom Stories - Eddy Grant & Electric Avenue
    Jun 3 2022
    In this episode, I focus on the incredibly influential and often overlooked role that Eddy Grant has played in merging the sounds of ska, reggae, pop, dance and rock music. I’ve always been a huge fan and consider Grant a musical futurist who has successfully combined the best of James Brown, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley into something completely unique. I’ll be taking a look at Grant’s diverse musical career and will also dig into his most well known American hit “Electric Avenue” which went to #2 on the Billboard charts in 1983.Grant is a musical pioneer and trailblazer who has left his mark on ska, reggae, calypso, rock and pop music and deserves credit for combining the best of Black and White music beginning in the mid-60's and up through the mid 80's. Many of Grant's songs always display a lyrical or musical edge of some kind. I’ve always believed he creates protest music you can dance to.Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    24 mins
  • 2 Tone Legacy - Easy Life

    2 Tone Legacy - Easy Life
    May 26 2022
    Welcome to 2 Tone Legacy a special 10-part audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the stories behind the songs that contribute to the enduring legacy of 2 Tone music and its ongoing impact on popular culture. In each episode, I'll be joined by Paul Williams, author of "You're Wondering Now: The Specials from Conception to Reunion" and lead singer of UK 2-Tone band The Skapones. Paul is a noted 2 Tone expert and he'll be sharing his memories and insights on all the songs covered in this series."Easy Life" by The Bodysnatchers may be one of the most deceptively revolutionary 2 Tone songs of all time. Though it sounds like an upbeat feminist ditty and it is remarkably catchy and danceable, a close read of the lyrics reveals some real layers to the song. “Easy Life” addresses and rejects the pressure and refusal to conform to pre-determined – often media driven – constructs of femininity. Dakkar sings: we are near to an equality/girls and boys with pay parity/we are near to an equality/the law says there is equal opportunity/but still it's a struggle/yes life is still a struggleSka Boom is hosted/produced by Marc Wasserman and co-produced/engineered by Rob George and appears on Pantheon Podcasts. Ska Boom is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.  This episode of the Ska Boom podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.com. For more information visit https://betterhelp.com/skaboomPlease note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    19 mins
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