Creolization in Caribbean Music-Intro

 This blog will focus on the theme of creolization in Caribbean music.  According to our text, “Tour de Force: A Musical Journey of the Caribbean by Dr. Christine Gangelhoff and Cathleen LeGrand”, creolization is defined as the blending of different musical traditions to create new, unique and native cultural products.

A good example of this can be seen in “Sponge” Music.  This they of music is popular in Barbados and I find it somewhat similar to Bahamian Rake and Scape music.  Bajan Sponge music was created by Jackie Opal in the 1960s.

Image of Jackie Opal

Dalton Sinclair Bishop, better known by his stage name Jackie Opel, was a Barbadian singer who was born on 27 August 1937 and passed away on 9 March 1970.  He was a talented dancer and was referred to as the "Jackie Wilson of Barbadian culture."  Bishop was born in Barbados' Bridgetown.

You can listen to a few of his songs here.

More examples of Bajan Sponge music.