Artist:Tommy McCook & the Supersonics
Song:Doctor Zhivago
Album:Soul Rocksteady
Though most music fans will not know his name, sax player Tommy McCook was an important figure in the development of Jamaican music. He was a founding member of The Skatalites and he played on many recordings. And as an offshoot of that he recorded instrumentals. He was born Mar. 3, 1927 in Havana, Cuba but he moved with his family to Jamaica in 1933. He learned to play sax while attending Alpha Cottage School which was a school for wayward boys in Kingston. After leaving school, McCook started touring with dance bands. He moved to The Bahamas in 1954. McCook returned to Jamaica in 1962. Jackie Mittoo approached him about recording for Coxsone Dodd's Studio One and leading a band which was called The Skatalites. Though they were only around for a year, The Skatalites were a major influence on Jamaican music. After they split up, McCook formed The Supersonics and they became the house band at Duke Reid's Treasure Island. So McCook played on many hits of the rocksteady era. And he recorded his own instrumental records. The music on this comp is from the late 60s. It is available as a digital download. McCook continued to play sessions in the 70s with producer Bunny Lee. And in the 80s he was part of The Skatalites reunion and he toured and recorded with them until he died on May 5, 1998 at age 71. Here's a video of Doctor Zhivago by Tommy McCook & the Supersonics.
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