Jackie Mittoo

Early years and the Skatalites

Donat Roy Mittoo was born in Brown's Town, Saint Ann, in 1948 and learned piano from his grandmother. As a teenager he joined the Skatalites, the ska band formed in 1964 around Tommy McCook, Don Drummond and Roland Alphonso, and played keyboards on many of their sessions for Clement "Coxsone" Dodd.

Studio One musical director

After the Skatalites split in 1965, Mittoo became musical director at Dodd's Studio One on Brentford Road. He led and played in the studio's house bands, including the Soul Brothers, the Soul Vendors and Sound Dimension, arranging sessions and writing rhythms for singers and vocal groups through the rocksteady and early reggae years, including the Heptones and Alton Ellis. His own organ instrumentals from this period include "Darker Shade of Black" (a reworking of the Beatles' "Norwegian Wood"), "Oboe" and "Juice Box." Studio One kept reusing these rhythm tracks, and many became standard riddims in later dancehall.

Canada and later work

Mittoo toured Canada with the Soul Vendors in the late 1960s and later settled in Toronto, where he kept recording. Through the 1970s he also recorded in Jamaica, mostly for producer Bunny Lee. His albums include Macka Fat (1970), Wishbone (1971) and Reggae Magic (1972).

Death and influence

Mittoo rejoined the Skatalites briefly in 1989. He died of cancer in Toronto on 16 December 1990, aged 42. His rhythms were revived by producers through the dancehall era, often without credit. His 1966 Soul Brothers track "Free Soul" was interpolated by Lily Allen on "Smile" (2006).