| 2 Tone | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | Ska, punk rock, reggae, rocksteady, New Wave |
| Cultural origins | Late 1970s in Coventry, West Midlands, England |
| Typical instruments | Guitar, bass, keyboard, trumpet, trombone, saxophone, drums |
| Mainstream popularity | Highest popularity from 1979 to 1984 in the United Kingdom;[1] some commercial success in North America and Europe |
| Derivative forms | Third wave ska, Ska punk |
| Other topics | |
| 2 Tone Records | |
2 Tone (or Two Tone) is a music genre created in England in the late 1970s by fusing elements of ska, punk rock, rocksteady, reggae and New Wave. Within the history of ska, 2 Tone is classified as its second wave, and is the precursor of the third wave ska scene of the 1980s and 1990s.[1]
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The 2 Tone sound was developed by young musicians in Coventry, West Midlands, England who grew up hearing 1960s Jamaican music.[2] They combined influences from ska, reggae and rocksteady with elements of punk rock and New Wave music. Bands considered part of the genre include: The Specials, The Selecter, The Beat, Madness, Bad Manners, and The Bodysnatchers.[1]
The term was coined by The Specials' keyboardist Jerry Dammers, who — with the assistance of Horace Panter and graphic designer John "Teflon" Sims — created the iconic Walt Jabsco logo (a man in a black suit, white shirt, black tie, pork pie hat, white socks and black loafers) to represent the 2 Tone genre. The logo was based on an early album cover photo of Peter Tosh, and included an added black-and-white check pattern.[3][4][5]
Most of the bands considered to be part of the 2 Tone genre were signed to 2 Tone Records at some point. Other record labels associated with the 2 Tone sound were Stiff Records and Go Feet Records. The music was especially popular among skinheads, rudies and some mod revivalists.
On 1 October 2010, the 2-Tone Central museum, cafe and venue opened in the Coventry University Students' Union building, and by August 2011, it was moved to the 2-Tone Village in Stoke, Coventry.[6] It includes exhibition space, the Coventry Music Wall of Fame,[7][8][9][10] a cafe, a gift shop, a Caribbean restaurant and a music venue. Many of the items on display are on loan from members of The Selecter, The Beat and The Specials.