Tommy McCook - Dubbing with Horns Tommy McCook

Tommy McCook, a founding member of the legendary group The Skatalites and a master session musician, has left his mark across all the different styles of Jamaican music. The big band sound that led to the beginning of Ska, to the forefront of Rocksteady and throughout the various stages that reggae music would mutate into. All carrying Tommy McCook's distinctive stamp that always added a flavour to the songs' style.

Tommy McCook (b.1927, Havana, Cuba) came to Jamaica with his mother from Cuba at age 11 and entered the renowned Alpha Boys School for underprivileged children, a school that placed great emphasis on musical tuition. At the tender age of 14, such was his talent he had left to join Eric Deans Orchestra and took on stints with other bands led by Don Hitchman and Roy Coburn. All the bands played in the Swing and Jazz style of the time. He relocated to the Bahamas in 1954, where he further developed his Jazz technique and, on his return to Jamaica in 1962, began working with Coxsone Dodd's Studio One and became involved in the development of Ska. His knowledge of Jazz, R & B and Jamaican musical forms helped set the tone for the group of musicians he was working with and would name as The Skatalites. The group consisted of Don Drummond (Trombone), Roland Alphonso (Tenor Saxophone), Jackie Mittoo (Piano), Lloyd Brevett (Bass), Lloyd Knibbs (Drums), alongside Tommy himself on Ten