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Skatalites' Lloyd Knibb, Influential Jamaican Drummer, Dies of Liver Cancer

Lloyd Knibb of SkatalitesJanuary Jones, Fly on the Wall Media

Lloyd Knibb, a Jamaican-born drummer who pioneered and, in some ways, engineered ska music, passed away on Thursday, May 12, according to media reports. He was 80 years old. Knibb was a founding member of the Skatalites, ska music's most legendary band and certainly the genre's most influential. They formed in 1964 and were together for just 18 months, initially -- but during that time, they played gigs almost every night and recorded almost every day. Many of those recordings were uncredited or else appear under the name of a specific vocalist from outside the group.

But the Skatalites' instrumental recordings are usually what musicologists point to when tracing back the history of ska -- and much of that was due to Knibb's syncopated beats, which were faster than the tempos of the traditional R&B music the band was trying to replicate. In fact, history tells it that the band was really just attempting to recreate American R&B in Jamaica and Knibb -- with his jazz and swing band background -- jazzed up the tempo unintentionally...at first, anyway.

The Skatalites reformed intermittently and in various configurations -- almost all of which featured Knibb -- throughout the 1970s. The following decade they further cemented their status as an active touring band, both on their own and also backing other Jamaican legends such as Bunny Wailer, Prince Buster and Toots Hibbert.

A vital part of the Skatalites machine, Knibb remained with the band until his death, playing his last shows with them in April. No word yet on whether or not they will continue on without him -- he will certainly be irreplaceable in many regards.

Knibb had long-since relocated from Jamaica to a home in Hull, Mass., but traveled back to his Jamaican hometown of Kingston immediately before his death on Thursday. He had been battling liver cancer in the U.S., but the Associated Press reports that, on Wednesday, Knibb's manager, Ken Stewart, wrote, "I can only hope we make it back so he can enjoy his family and friends and see his homeland one more time," on Facebook. They got to do that.

The beat will go on but ska music just won't be the same without him.

Watch the Skatalites Perform at Glastonbury in 2003


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PHYLLIS

It is sad to hear of anyone passing. May he rest in peace.

May 19 2011 at 1:42 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MARSHA

R.I.P.

May 16 2011 at 2:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Javi

Thats sad! A musician worth mourning

May 16 2011 at 2:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jurmik

Doing the Ska at Flamingo club, Wardour st, London, those were the days my friend...

May 16 2011 at 2:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ehbinwv10

Joe Morello (Dave Brubeck Quartet among other endeavors) was a true legendary drummer. This guy..okay, he had a talent but by NO MEANS legendary. Your average person has never heard of him. Only reason I have is I try to have a broad musical knowledge. Still RIP.

May 16 2011 at 1:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
vinjoyrob

RIP Lloyd. You did make me enjoy ska years

May 16 2011 at 1:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gene

Wait a minute ijahson.....
An 80 year old guy's FATHER died this past January????

How old was he????

May 16 2011 at 1:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
hog2191hd

great drummer see ya in heaven at a later date i hope we can jam

May 16 2011 at 1:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Clemente

A great drummer! R.I.P friend!!!!

May 16 2011 at 12:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
chris

Yea , i could listen to this stuff for maybe 20 minutes then i would have to leave .... RIP Lloyd, God Bless....

May 16 2011 at 12:45 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply