Jackie Mittoo
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Jackie Mittoo (3 March 1948 — 16 December 1990) was a Jamaican keyboardist, songwriter and musical director. Mittoo was among the true legends of reggae - a founding member of The Skatalites and an extraordinarily prolific songwriter, he was perhaps most influential as a mentor to countless younger performers, primarily through his work as the musical director at the famed Studio One. [1]
[edit] Life and career
He was born Donat Roy Mittoo, in Browns Town, St Ann's, Jamaica, and 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. Among Mittoo's greatest contributions of the mid to late 1960s were "Darker Shade of Black" (the basis for Frankie Paul's "Pass the Tu Sheng Peng"), Freddie McGregor's "Bobby Babylon", Alton Ellis' "I'm Still in Love with You", The Cables' rock steady anthem "Baby Why" and "Feel Like Jumping", Marcia Griffiths' first hit. In 1970, his "Peanie Wallie" was also versioned by The Wailers, becoming the hit "Duppy Conqueror".[2]
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.[3]
During the next decade, he worked regularly with Sugar Minott as well. In 1989, Mittoo joined the reunited Skatalites, but health problems soon forced him to bow out.
In 1989/1990? he recorded Wild Jockey for Lloyd Barnes’ Wackies label.
Mittoo entered a hospital on 12 December and died of cancer on 16 December 1990.[4] He was forty two years old.
His funeral was held at the National Arena in Kingston, Jamaica on 2 January 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.
