Jackie Mittoo

Jackie Mittoo (* as Donat Mittoo Ray on March 3, 1948 in Browns Town, Saint Ann, Jamaica, † December 16, 1990 in Toronto, Canada) was a Jamaican keyboardist and composer. He was one of the founding members of the Skatalites and a mentor to many young musicians, primarily through his work as music director of the record label Studio One.

Life

Mittoo began playing the piano at the age of four years as a student of his grandmother. In the 1960s he played in the band The Skatalites, The Rivals, The Sheiks, The Soul Brothers and The Soul Vendors. End of the sixties Mittoo emigrated to Toronto, Canada. There he recorded three albums on Wishbone ( Summus ), Reggae Magic ( CTL) and Let's Put It All Together (CTL ). He also founded the Stine - Jac record label and ran a record store. 1970, his song was Peanie Wallie used by the Wailers as the basis for the hit Duppy Conqueror. Mittoo 1971 had even a minor hit with Wishbone. For this instrumental song played, he borrowed his hand, the melody of the chorus of carry weight did the Beatles ( " Boy, you gonna carry weight did, did carry weight a long time" ). In the 1980s he worked regularly with Sugar Minott.

On December 16, 1990 Mittoo died at the age of 42 after a four-day stay in hospital with cancer.

Discography (selection)

• Jackie Mittoo in London ( 1967)
• Evening Time (1968 )
• Keep on Dancing ( 1969)
• Wishbone (1971 )
• Macka Fat (1972 )
• Reggae Magic ( 1972)
• Put It All Together (1975 )
• Hot Blood (1977 )
• Cold Blood (1978 )
• Keyboard King ( 1978)
• Showcase ( 1983)