Skatalites (Jamaica)
Since its inception in 1963, The Skatalites has always been the seminal ska group. Most of the original members came from a big band jazz background, though together they began to explore uncharted territories when they cut the groundbreaking album Ska Authentic in 1964. Within only 14 months, they had revolutionised Jamaican music, laying the foundation for rocksteady, reggae, dub, dancehall and raga, with their own music and playing with other Jamaican ska luminaries such as Prince Buster and Desmond Dekker. By 1965, factions within the outfit saw it splinter into two supergroups, Rolando Alphonso and the Soul Vendors and Tommy McCook and the Supersonic, though the key figures of the original band reformed in 1983, making a huge hit at the Sunsplash festivals in Jamaica and London and inspiring the band to continue. Although founders McCook and Alphonso both died in 1998, original duo Lloyd Knibb (drums) and Lester Stirling (alto sax) remain at the core of a new nine-piece outfit that continues to provide the irresistible Skatalites beat. After a huge global 40th anniversary tour in 2004, the band recorded its On The Right Track album in Byron Bay for Australian recording label Aim International.
Website: http://www.myspace.com/foundationska