Jackie Mittoo
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Jackie Mittoo (March 3, 1948–December 16, 1990, born in Browns Town, Saint Ann, Jamaica), was a Jamaican keyboardist.
He began learning to play the piano at the age of four under the tutelage of his grandmother.
In the 1960s he was a member of The Skatalites, The Rivals, The Sheiks, The Soul Brothers and The Soul Vendors. He also played for Lloyd "Matador" Daley (1968-1969?).
He emigrated to Toronto, Canada at the end of the 1960s. There he recorded three albums, Wishbone (Summus), Reggae Magic (CTL) and Let's Put It All Together (CTL), set up the Stine-Jac label, as well as running a record store. He had a hit with Wishbone in 1971. He performed in local Toronto lounges throughout the 1970s. Mittoo assisted Toronto-area reggae bands and artists, including Earth, Wind and Fire, Esso Jaxxon (R. Zee Jackson), Carl Harvey, Lord Tanamo, Boyo Hammond, Carl Otway, The Sattalites, and Jackie James.
Mittoo continued to record for Jamaican producers in the 1970s, mostly for Bunny Lee.
In 1989/1990? he recorded Wild Jockey for Lloyd Barnes’ Wackies label.
Mittoo entered the hospital on December 12, 1990 and died of cancer on December 16, just four days later.
His funeral was held at the National Arena in Kingston, Jamaica on January 2, 1991. Hortense Ellis, Neville 'Tinga' Stewart, Desmond "Desi Roots" Young, Ruddy Thomas, Tommy Cowan, Clement "Coxsone" Dodd and others attended. A memorial concert was held at the same time. Vin Gordon, Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, Glen 'Bagga' Fagan, Pablo Black, Robert Lynn, Michael "Ibo" Cooper, Ken Boothe, Delroy Wilson, Carlene Davis, Tinga Stewart and others performed.
