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.

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. However, during one very hot summer, it was too hot to either play or dance to ska, so the beat was slowed down and reggae was born. Since then, reggae has proven to be as versatile as the blues, as it lends itself to a number of interpretations, from the melodic rock steady of Alton Ellis and the rock and folk-influenced songwriting of Bob Marley to the trippy, near-psychedelic soundscapes of dub artists like Lee "Scratch" Perry. It has crossed into the mainstream through the bright, bouncy "reggae sunsplash" festivals and pop-oriented bands like UB40, but more adventurous reggae artists, such as Marley and Perry, have influenced countless reggae, folk, rock and dance artists. Their contributions resonate throughout popular music.

Calypso is one of the other major music forms of the Caribbean. Calypso sprang from the Carnival of Trinidad around the beginning of the 20th century. Recordings of calypso (whose more uptempo contemporary form is called "soca," from the words "soul" and "calypso") feature a fairly standard formula of programmed drums and rhythm section, calypso guitar, occasional lead or tenor pans (steel drums), horns, and a syncopated bass guitar that gives the music its true soul. While the lyrical content and cleverness will differ dramatically from song to song, a calypso album will typically include some songs strong on lyrics and some that put lyrics secondary to a strong dance beat. The best of the lot are undoubtedly those that combine infectious dance beats with thoughtful or timely messages.

In addition to the Reggae of Jamaica and the Calypso of Trinidad, other islands have developed their own traditions, including the jukanoo of the Bahamas, and the zouk and ceremonial Voudou music of Haiti. The Spanish speaking world of the Caribbean has produced a cornicopia of distinct music styles that share much in common with Latin music styles on the North and South American continents and therefore are collected under the umbrella of Latin music.