Don Drummond

Jamaican music

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Last updated

June 25, 2026

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Don Drummond was a pivotal trombonist, composer, and arranger in Jamaican ska music. He was a member of the influential Skatalites, a group of studio musicians who were essential to the development of ska and backed many prominent singers. Drummond's contributions to ska are considered as significant as Bob Marley's were to reggae.1

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ska
The Skatalites and their influence
…group of leading studio musicians—Don Drummond, Roland Alphonso, Dizzy Johnny Moore, Tommy McCook, Lester Sterling, Jackie Mittoo, Lloyd Brevette, Jah Jerry, and Lloyd Knibbs—and under McCook’s leadership they became known as the Skatalites in 1963, making several seminal recordings for leading producers and backing many prominent singers, as well…
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…group of leading studio musicians—Don Drummond, Roland Alphonso, Dizzy Johnny Moore, Tommy McCook, Lester Sterling, Jackie Mittoo, Lloyd Brevette, Jah Jerry, and Lloyd Knibbs—and under McCook’s leadership they became known as the Skatalites in 1963, making several seminal recordings for leading producers and backing many prominent singers, as well…
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