When Dads mesothelioma was diagnosed, he was advised to seek compensation from the company that knew about how bad asbestos was but didn't do anything about it. The company have money aside for these claims so Dad got quite a large payout - small consolation when you're dead. But at least he got to buy the super expensive speakers he wanted, in front of which Dad and I sit most days playing tunes. Dad has always had an evolving, changing taste in music and loves to listen to stuff he hasn't heard before. He said he'd been listening to a bit of jazz so I suggested we both listened to the Skatalites, that I had only been listening to in the sunshine in the UK drinking cider a few days prior. I would have been going to see them (though none of the original band members exist) with Jamie in Bristol next week, but here I am with Dad, so...

Image Source

I've always loved The Skatalites, a pioneering Jamaican ska band from the mid 60s. They had a huge influence on the development of ska, rocksteady, and reggae, mixing Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and R&B - hence why I thought Dad would appreciate it.

Listening to them just makes you happy. It's like sunshine and hugs dancing around in your heart. I can happily hum all their tunes. Dad immediately saved them to his Qbuzz playlists and sent it to his best mate to listen to as well. Dad's reggae only extended to Bob Marley and Peter Tosh which he had on vinyl, both classics I grew up with, so I was keen to get him to appreciate a few other tunes as well.

Image Source

There's and interesting and tragic story behind the trombonist and founding member, Don Drummond. He had a hard life marked by mental illness - something black men in the 60s had little support for. In early 1965, he handed himself in and got arrested for for the murder of his girlfriend, singer and dancer Anita "Marguerita" Mahfood. He was committed to the Bellevue Asylum in Kingston, Jamaica, as legally insane, where his mental health got worse, and he died four years later under mysterious circumstances but quite likely due to the drugs he was on for schizophrenia. It's not really what he's remembered for though - it's for his music, that lives on today and is well loved.

Guns of Navorone

"Guns of Navarone" is an instrumental track (many of them are) named after the 1961 war film of the same name. It's driving rhythm reflects the spirit of the film. You know, it strikes me the only time I like a trombone is listening to ska. Just sublime.

Freedom Sounds

"Freedom Sounds" embodies the energy and soul of ska in an upbeat tempo that inspires freedom and joy. and reflects the cultural and political changes occurring in Jamaica during the 60s, a time when the nation was gaining independence and experiencing a surge of national pride. If you've been a Marley fan (who isn't?) you'd understand the call for freedom and unity as it features in his own music - check out the recent biopic which delves into Marley and his political influence back then.

Simmer Down

In include "Simmer Down because you might be more familiar with it as the Wailers did it - Drummond was meant to have written it I think and it and the Skatalites were the backing band. It was the first hot for the Wailers and reached Number one on the Jamaican charts. It calls for peace and calm amongst the youth fighting on the streets of Kingston.

After the skatalites we moved onto Horace Andy and a few other classic reggae tunes. I'm going to miss listening to music with my Dad more than anything.

With Love,

Are you on HIVE yet? Earn for writing! Referral link for FREE account here