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who were the band members of the skattalites and where did they get their training from
The original founding members of The Skatalites were a legendary group of Jamaican session musicians who officially formed the band in 1964. A significant portion of the band’s core horn section received their foundational musical training at the Alpha Boys’ School, a charitable Catholic institution in Kingston, Jamaica, renowned for its exceptional music education program.
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skatalites.com +2Original Band Members
The classic, foundational lineup of the band featured the following musicians:
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Enki’s Music Records +1- Tommy McCook – Tenor saxophone and bandleader
- Roland / Rolando Alphonso – Tenor saxophone
- Lester Sterling – Alto saxophone
- Don Drummond – Trombone
- Johnny “Dizzy” Moore – Trumpet
- Jackie Mittoo – Piano / Keyboards
- Jerome “Jah Jerry” Haynes – Guitar
- Lloyd Brevett – Double bass
- Lloyd Knibb – Drums
- Jackie Opel – Lead vocals
- Doreen Shaffer – Vocals
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Musical Training and Background
The unique, jazz-infused sound of The Skatalites was heavily shaped by the formal and informal training of its members:
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Paradise Artists +3- The Alpha Boys’ School: Key horn players—including Don Drummond, Tommy McCook, Johnny “Dizzy” Moore, and Lester Sterling—were alumni of this specialized residential school. Run by the Sisters of Mercy, the school’s rigorous music program taught them music theory, sight-reading, and classical and jazz instrumentation. This training gave them a level of technical proficiency that was unmatched in the local music scene.
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Where was Roland Alphanso of the skatallites bornRoland Alphonso was born in Havana, Cuba.WikipediaKey Facts About His Early Life
- Birthdate: He was born on January 12, 1931, to a Jamaican mother and a Cuban father.
- Move to Jamaica: He immigrated to Jamaica with his mother when he was just two years old.
- Musical Beginnings: He began learning the saxophone as a youth at the Stony Hill Industrial School in the suburbs of northern Kingston.
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He later went on to become an indispensable foundational member and arranger for The Skatalites, earning him the enduring nickname “The Chief Musician“.Facebook·ROOTS WARRIOR SOUND +1Would you like to know more about his famous instrumental compositions with the band, or perhaps his extensive session work at Studio One?Facebook·ROOTS WARRIOR SOUND-
Roland Alphonso – Wikipedia
Biography. Born in Havana, Cuba, Alphonso came to Jamaica at the age of two with his Jamaican mother, and started to learn saxopho…
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JANUARY 12 HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROLAND ALPHONSO …
Jan 12, 2026 — JANUARY 12 HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROLAND ALPHONSO !! Roland Alphonso, born Rolando Alphonso on January 12, 1931 in Havana, Cuba and raised…
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Roland Alphonso’s Profile – ReggaeCollector.com
Feb 28, 2020 — Roland or Rolando Alphonso, whose calling card proudly stated ‘Chief Musician’, was born 12th January 1931 in Havana, Cuba. His Ja…
レゲエコレクター.comKingston’s Jazz and Dance Nightclubs: Beyond formal schooling, members like Tommy McCook and Rolando Alphonso sharpened their skills playing in local jazz combos, big bands, and hotel orchestras. McCook even spent several years playing jazz gigs in the Bahamas before returning to Jamaica to help launch the band.
