The Skatalites
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The Skatalites | |
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Website | http://www.skatalites.com/ |
The Skatalites are a
History
Before the Skatalites: 1954–1964
The founders of the Skatalites were musicians
Though McCook was the first in the band to record, he did not participate in the recording sessions with the other nine musicians. He left Jamaica in 1954 for a jazz gig at the Zanzibar Club in Nassau, Bahamas. He returned to Jamaica in June 1962, and began playing regular jazz sessions around Kingston.
Record producer Coxsone Dodd searched for jazz players around Kingston and was impressed by McCook's playing. Tommy McCook heard some ska, but initially resisted Dodd's offers to record and to lead a studio group, because he was a committed jazzman. In 1962, Dodd released I Cover The Waterfront (Port-O-Jam) with Roland Alphonso and Don Drummond, who did the solo and brass sections. In 1963, he released Jazz Jamaica From the Workshop (Port-O-Jam/Studio One), on which McCook played for the first time since returning to Jamaica. Don Drummond has two tunes on Jazz Jamaica and McCook has one, "The Answer".
Early years: 1964–1965
In early 1964, a meeting was held with all the would-be Skatalites at The Odeon Theatre. It was owned by The Tawari family who owned many theatres and were offering shows to the band if they formed a band. Lord Tanamo was liked by the Tawaris and they had encouraged him to help unite the musicians that had been playing on all these hits. By this time the various members had played on so many hit songs in so many different studios by so many singers, but few people knew who was playing the instruments because no producers were putting credits on the records. At that time most of the DJs who were spinning records in public, scratched off the titles or the entire label so nobody could spy on them, and know which recording they were even playing. The musicians were tired of working so hard for so little money and so little recognition. This story, and the story of many other groups and bands in Jamaica, is the theme of the film, The Harder They Come.
One of their first albums released was
They played their first show in May 1964 at the Hi-Hat club, on Water Lane in Rae Town, which was owned and operated by Orville "Billy" Farnum. It was supposed to be a rehearsal but so many people gathered around the place they decided to just charge admission and let people enjoy themselves. After that word spread like wildfire that the musicians who had been playing all the hit records for so many years had formed a band named The Skatalites. Coxsone Dodd helped initially: "At the formation of the band, I supplied the PA system, microphones and what ever it is. Also the guitar amplifier and other amplifier. I helped with transportation and I supplied storage for equipment and instruments. I was a part of promoting the first gigs and other gigs to get it off the ground, because I figured more or less, if I am recording the Skatalites, its good to get them popular out in the streets, yunno?"[3]
Trombonist
In August 1965, The Skatalites played their last show.
Early reunions: 1974–1988
The Skatalites' first reunion happened in the studio, during 1974 sessions for bass player Lloyd Brevett's solo album. After laying down hand percussion tracks at Lee Perry's studio, Brevett was joined by McCook, Alphonso, Sterling, Knibb and Mittoo. Ernest Ranglin played guitar, with Oswald Brooks on trumpet.[5] The album was eventually released as African Roots, a collection of mostly Brevett compositions, and has been variously released both as a Lloyd Brevett and as a Skatalites album, with most editions crediting "Lloyd Brevett and The Skatalites".
In 1979, The Skatalites again joined in the studio, this time to record an album for Chris Blackwell. The album, tentatively entitled The Big Guns, was not released at the time, due to a disagreement between McCook and Blackwell, and remains unreleased.[5]
In June 1983, The Skatalites reformed and played the Reggae Sunsplash festival in Montego Bay in July,[2] after festival director Ronnie Burke persuaded them to appear at the fifth anniversary of the festival, despite Moore and McCook having not spoken since the band split.[6][7] Their show was very successful,[2][8] and the band played more concerts in Jamaica, while taking offers to tour abroad. The line-up at this time reflected the original line-up of the band, with the exception of Drummond, and joined by guests Arnold Breckenridge and Bubbles Cameron.[9] Recordings from 27 June and 17 July 1983 were released on the live album Stretching Out,[2] although the band later claimed on their website that they received no payment for this recording and discouraged fans from buying it.
During their 1983 rehearsals for Sunsplash, the band recorded eleven tracks at the newly opened Music Mountain studio, led this time by
In April 1984, the same lineup, but without Mittoo, recorded The Return of The Big Guns, released on
Between 1985 and 1988, the core members of the Skatalites emigrated and united in the northeast of the United States. They played their first US concert at
1986–present
The Skatalites began emigrating to the US since the 1970s Eventually enough members had arrived that enabled them to book a few shows beginning with shows in 1986 in New York City. It took a few years before they actually started touring the US in 1989 as support act for their old friend Bunny Wailer's Liberation Tour from coast to coast including Radio City Music Hall, Irvine Meadows, The Music Hall in Boston and many other prestigious venues. In early 1990 the band emerged on the market officially on the first headline tour from NYC to California and back. They were always working on new music but the first official record deal in US was with Shanachie and they released Skavoovee, Grammy nominated Hi-Bop Ska, and Grammy nominated Greetings from Skamania. The next release was
On 12 May 2011, founding member and drummer Lloyd Knibb died at the age of 80. Bass player and fellow founding member Lloyd Brevett died after suffering a stroke on 3 May 2012, aged 80.[12]
On 8 February 2012, the band announced a new single and album as well as a US tour starting in Texas and heading to New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Oregon, California, Washington, and then Canada. These dates follow four dates they announced in January for the North East. The album All Roads featured the last recordings of founding member Lloyd Knibb.
On 26 August 2016, the band released the album Platinum Ska, and toured through the United States, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
Current members
- Doreen Shaffer – vocals
- Val Douglas - bass
- Trevor "Sparrow" Thompson - drums
- Ken Stewart – keyboards
- Aurelien Metsch aka Natty Frenchy – guitar
- Anant Pradhan - saxophone
- Vin "Don Drummond Junior" Gordon – trombone
- James Smith - trumpet
- Larry McDonald - percussion and vocals
Former members
- Lester Sterling – alto saxophone (founding member; 1964-2014; died 2023)
- Tommy McCook – tenor saxophone, flute (founding member; died 1998)
- Roland Alphonso – tenor saxophone (founding member; died 1998)
- Don Drummond – trombone (founding member; died 1969)
- Johnny "Dizzy" Moore – trumpet (founding member; died 2008)
- Lloyd Brevett – upright bass (founding member; died 2012)
- Lloyd Knibb – drums (founding member; died 2011)
- Jerome "Jah Jerry" Haynes – guitar (founding member; died 2007)
- Jackie Mittoo – piano (founding member; died 1990)
- Greg Glassman – trumpet
- Mark Berney – trumpet
- Nathan Breedlove – trumpet (1990–98)
- Cedric "Im" Brooks – tenor saxophone (2000–03,2008–10; died 2013)
- Karl "Cannonball" Bryan – saxophone (2003–08)
- Calvin "Bubbles" Cameron – trombone (1983–84,89,04)
- Welford "Will" Clark – trombone (1994–2003)
- Buford O'Sullivan - trombone
- Devon James – guitar (1987–2009)
- Bill Smith – keyboards (1993–98)
- Cary Brown – keyboards (1990–93)
- Ken Stewart – keyboards (1988–90,1998-2009,2013-present; also serves as the band's manager)
- Clark Gayton – Trombone (1989–94)
- Cary Brown – keyboards (1990–95)
- Luis Bonilla – trombone
- Arnold "Willie" Brackenridge - Trumpet (1983–84)
- Kevin Batchelor - Trumpet (2002–2012)
- Azemobo "Zem" Audu – tenor saxophone (2010-2020)
- Andre Murchison – trombone (2006-2019)
- Travis Antoine – trumpet (2012-2018)
- James Smith - trumpet (2018-present)
Additional personnel
Although not official band members, these musicians worked with the Skatalites extensively during the 1964-65 period in the recording studio, or in the case of the vocalists, at live shows.[13] Lord Tanamo, Doreen Shaffer, Baba Brooks, and Ernest Ranglin have all worked with the reunited Skatalites at different times, both live and in the studio.
- Jackie Opel – vocals
- Doreen Shaffer – vocals[14]
- Tony DaCosta - vocals
- Tony Gregory – vocals
- Lord Tanamo – vocals
- Dennis "Ska" Campbell – tenor saxophone
- Oswald "Baba" Brooks– trumpet
- Frank Anderson – trumpet
- Ernest Ranglin lead guitar
- Lyn Taitt– rhythm guitar
- Winston Grennan – Drums
Discography
Studio albums
- Ska Authentic (Studio One, 1964)
- Ska Boo-Da-Ba (Top Deck/Doctor Bird, 1966)
- Ska Authentic Vol. 2 (Studio One, 1967)
- Celebration Time (Studio One, 1968)
- The Skatalite! (Treasure Isle, 1969)
- The Legendary Skatalites/African Roots Lloyd Brevett with the Skatalites (Jam Sounds, 1975/United Artists, 1976)
- Rolling Steady: The 1983 Music Mountain Sessions (Motion, recorded 1983, released 2007)
- Return of the Big Guns (Island, 1984)
- Ska Voovee (Shanachie, 1993)
- Hi-Bop Ska (Shanachie, 1994)
- Greetings from Skamania (Shanachie, 1996)
- Ball of Fire (Island, 1998)
- Bashaka with Ken Boothe (Marston Recording Corporation, 2000)
- From Paris with Love (World Village, 2002/Wrasse, 2009)
- On the Right Track (AIM, 2007)
- Walk With Me (2012)
- Platinum Ska (Island Empire, 2016)
Live albums
- Live at Sunsplash (Synergy, 1984)
- Stretching Out (ROIR, 1986) Recorded 1983
- Ska Splash (Moon Ska Europe / Pressure Drop, 1999) Recorded on the "Ska Splash" European tour of 1996
- Roots Party (FullFill, 2003)
- Live at Lokerse Feesten 1997 & 2002 CD/DVD (Charly, 2006)
- In Orbit Vol. 1 – Live from Argentina (Phantom Sound & Vision, 2006)
- Skatalites in Orbit, Vol. 1 & 2 (Sony, 2010)
- Ska-talites – History of Ska, Rocksteady & Reggae (United Sound Records, 2015)
- Live at the Belly Up (Belly Up Live, 2020)
Collaboration albums
- 1963 – The Long Hot Summer with Laurel Aitken (1963)
- In the Mood for Ska with Lord Tanamo (Trojan 1967)
- With Sly & Robbie & Taxi Gang (Vista, 1984)
- Ska Titans: Laurel Aitken & The Skatalites (1999)
- Ska Splash with Laurel Aitken and House of Rhythm (Moonska, 2002)
- Long Hot Summer 1963 Volume 2 with Laurel Aitken (Grover, 2006)
Anthologies and reissues
- Scattered Lights (Alligator, 1984)
- Hog in a Cocoa Skatalites & Friends (Culture Press/Orange Street, 1993)
- Foundation Ska (Heartbeat/Pgd, 1997)
- Skatalites and Friends at Randy's (VP Records, 1998)
- Ska Boo-Da-Ba: Top Sounds from Top Deck, Volume 3 (Westside UK, 1998)
- Ska-Ta-Shot: Top Sounds from Top Deck, Volume 4 (Westside UK, 1998)
- Ska-Tola: Top Sounds from Top Deck, Volume 5 (Westside UK, 1998)
- Heroes of Reggae in Dub: The Skatalites Meet King Tubby (Guava Jelly, 1999)
- Nucleus of Ska (Music Club, 2001)
- The Legendary Skatalites in Dub (Motion, 2001)
- Herb Dub, Collie Dub (Motion, 2002)
- Lucky Seven (Proper Pairs, 2002)
- Musical Communion (Culture Press, 2003)
- Guns of Navarone – Best of Skatalites (Sanctuary Records, 2003)
- Phoenix City: A History of the World's Greatest Ska Band (Sanctuary Records, 2004)
- In the Mood for Ska – The Moonska Years (Recall Records UK, 2004)
- Independent Ska (Atom Music, 2006)
- Anthology (Primo, 2007)
- The Skatalites Play Ska (Kingston Sounds, 2007)
- Kingston 11 (King Edwards, 2008)
- Occupation Ska! Very Best of Skatalites (101 Distribution, 2009)
- The Skatalites Box Set (Pinnacle/Attack Records, 2009)
- Rollin' On (King Edwards, 2010)
Compilations
- R.O.R.X. – The Tenth Annual Reggae On The Rocks – August 10, 1996 (1996), performing "Guns Of Navarone" (live).
- The Rough Guide to Reggae (World Music Network, 1997); a vintage recording of "Chinatown" credited to Don Drummond & The Skatalites.
- Ska Island (Island Records, 1997), performing their own "Magic Star", as well as "Can't You See" with Doreen Shaffer, and "King of Kings" with Prince Buster.
- Give 'Em the Boot (Hellcat Records, 1997), performing "Latin Goes Ska"
- True Love (V2 Records, 2004), performing "Never Grow Old" with Toots and the Maytals, Terry Hall and U-Roy[11]
- Another World Is Possible (Uncivilized World Records, 2005), performing "Freedom Sounds" (live)
- Music From Glastonbury The Film (The Glastonbury Phonographic Society, 2006), performing "Phoenix City" (live at the 2003 Glastonbury Festival)
- Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino (Vanguard Records, 2007), performing Domino's "Be My Guest", with Ben Harper
References
- ISBN 1-904041-96-5.
- ^ ISBN 0-7535-0149-X.
- ^ "History - SKATALITES | The Foundation of Ska, Rock Steady & Reggae SKATALITES | The Foundation of Ska, Rock Steady & Reggae". 1 October 2013. Archived from the original on 1 October 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
- ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ a b African Roots 1997 Moon Ska records edition liner notes
- ^ Campbell, Charles (2012) "The Skatalites musical journey", Jamaica Observer, 20 May 2012, retrieved 1 June 2012,
- ^ Johnson, Richard (2012) "When the Skatalites reunited for Sunsplash", Jamaica Observer, 15 June 2012, retrieved 17 June 2012.
- ^ "Lloyd Knibb - SKATALITES | the Foundation of Ska, Rock Steady & Reggae SKATALITES | the Foundation of Ska, Rock Steady & Reggae". Archived from the original on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
- ^ Liner notes, "Stretching Out", ROIR records.
- ^ "Motion Records - Rolling Steady".
- ^ a b "Linear CD Notes – Toots & The Maytals Hip Hop Drum Kits". Tootsandthemaytals.net. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
- ^ "Skatalites Bassist Lloyd Brevett Dead at 80", Billboard.
- ^ Keyo (1997). Foundation Ska (CD liner). Skatalites. Cambridge, Massachusetts, US: Heartbeat. Heartbeat CD HB 185/186.
- ^ Campbell, Howard (2018) "Doreen Shaffer: Queen of Ska", Jamaica Observer, 13 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018