Lloyd Brevett, founding bassist for the pioneering ska group The Skatalites, died at age 80 at Andrews Memorial Hospital in St. Andrew, Jamaica this morning following a stroke and seizures.
The group formed in 1963 in Jamaica, with their initial run lasting until 1965. During that time They reformed in 1983. Brevett left the group in 2005 and was the last surviving member of the original line-up. The group was one of the pioneers of ska, and Brevett has received two of Jamaica’s highest honors: the Order of Distinction (in October 2001) and Silver Musgrave Medal (in October 2010). The bassist’s health had been rapidly declining, according to a friend, following the shooting death of his son Okeene Brevett in February.
Listen to The Skatalites’ “Guns of Navarone” here.
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