The Skatalites

Tommy McCook, Rolando Alphonso, Johnny Moore, Lester Sterling, Don Drummond, Lloyd Knibb, Lloyd Brevett, Jerry Haynes, and Jackie Mittoo began working together in 1963 and formed The Ska-talites in May 1964. McCook, Drummond, Moore and Sterling were all students at the famed [l528229] in Kingston.

In August 1965 The Skatalites played their last show after Don Drummond's confinement to Bellvue Hospital for the murder of his girlfriend, [a399652]. The break-up resulted in the formation of two studio bands, [a=The Soul Brothers] and [a=Tommy McCook & The Supersonics].

The band reformed in 1983 remains active as of 2026. Despite the departure and / or death, one by one, of the all original members, singer [a=Doreen Shaffer], who sang with the group in the 1960s, and a group of younger and older musicians continue to record and perform as The Skatalites.