Reggae is a music unique to Jamiaca, but it ironically has its roots in New Orleans R&B. Reggae´s direct forefather is ska, an uptempo, rhythmic variation based on the New Orleans R&B Jamaican musicians heard broadcast from the US on their transistor radios. Relying on skittering guitar and syncopated rhythms, ska was their interpretation of R&B and it was quite popular in the early ´60s.