The scene: Jamaica — mid-1950s. Ska emerged, a rhythm that managed to fuse Blues, R&B and Jazz with songs originally from the Caribbean islands, such as Mento and Calypso. Ska was considered the first originally Jamaican musical rhythm, and by the late 60s all the island's artists rushed to the studios to record their songs in that new style. Names like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Toots and The Maytals, Jimmy Cliff, Alton Ellis, Ken Boothe are just some examples of singers who embraced the new musical fever of Jamaica.
The musicians behind the vast majority of Ska recordings in the studios were none other than Tommy McCook, Rolando Alphonso, Johnny Moore, Lester Sterling, Don Drummond, Lloyd Knibb, Lloyd Brevett, Jerry Haynes and the versatile Jackie Mittoo. That is how it all began for the Skatalites, founded in 1964 by these great legends. The Skatalites' first album (LP) was recorded at the famed Studio One in Kingston — capital of Jamaica. That same year, the band's musicians achieved the feat of recording and consequently participating in the success of releases by singers and bands such as Delroy Wilson, Desmond Dekker, The Wailers and Lee Perry.
However, not everything was roses, and in 1965 Don Drummond, one of the most fantastic musicians the group and Jamaica ever had, was convicted of murdering his own girlfriend. Still in the same year, the group broke up and was split into two others, "Rolando Alphonso and the Soul Vendors" and "Tommy McCook and the Supersonics". The Skatalites remained divided until 1983, when they reunited to perform at "Reggae Sunsplash", at the time the world's largest reggae festival.
The result can be seen on the DVD "Cool Runnings - Reggae Sunsplash 1983", which also features other great performances such as those by Alton Ellis, Gregory Isaacs, Musical Youth, Rita Marley and Bankie Banx. By the late 90s the group had already lost two of its greatest musicians — Don Drummond, who died in 1969 at age 37 in Jamaica, and Jackie Mittoo in 1990, overcome by cancer in Toronto (Canada). After the release of some successful albums, including a Grammy nomination with "Greetings from Skamania" from 1997, the group continued touring with great impact, but in 1998 suffered the greatest sudden loss of its career. Rolando Alphonso and Tommy McCook passed away and left the group weakened, which despite success has a very tragic and painful history. Despite all setbacks, the Skatalites are considered one of the most brilliant groups ever to emerge from a "third world" country. Long live the Skatalites!