{"title":"Tommy McCook","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTommy McCook was a founding member of The Skatalites and The Supersonics, and is considered a very important Jamaican saxophone player. Born in Havana, Cuba on 3 March 1927, his family moved to Jamaica in 1933. He received a good musical education at Alpha School. McCook's career began in 1943 when he performed with the Eric Dean Orchestra, one of the best bands on the island at that time. He later joined Don Hitchman's sextet, which became one of the first Jamaican bands to be recorded.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the early fifties, Tommy played as a soloist in Roy Coburn's Blu-Flames band alongside renowned musicians such as Don Drummond, Cluett Johnson, and Ken Williams. In 1954, he moved to Nassau, Bahamas where he played gigs alongside Ernest Ranglin. It was during his time in Miami, Florida that McCook first encountered jazz music and was heavily influenced by artists like John Coltrane.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMcCook went on to play with various musicians and made significant contributions to early ska recordings by adding elements of jazz. He eventually formed The Skatalites in June 1964 with other talented musicians including Jackie Mittoo, Lloyd Knibbs, and Johnny Moore. After their breakup following Don Drummond's tragic incident in 1965, McCook produced records for Arthur \"Duke\" Reid's Treasure Isle label\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"reggay-at-its-best","title":"Reggay At It's Best","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Jamaican saxophonist Tommy McCook was a founding member of The Skatalites, but also directed The Supersonics and backed many sessions for Bunny Lee or The Revolutionaries. As a producer, McCook also released several album on his own name, including \u003ci\u003eReggay At It's Best.\u003c\/i\u003e The album's selection of top Reggae tunes perfectly suit Jamaica's unchallenged top saxophonist and is recorded at Duke Reid's Treasure Isle Studios in Kingston.  \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Music On Vinyl","offers":[{"title":"Orange LP","offer_id":50425157222731,"sku":"2001716","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Reggay_At_Its_Best_featuring_Tommy_McCook_Expanded_Version_04970888_thumbnai.jpg?v=1726787426"},{"product_id":"greater-jamaica-moonwalk-reggae","title":"Greater Jamaica Moonwalk Reggae","description":"\u003cp\u003eAs one of Jamaica’s leading record producers Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid embraced the new reggae sound. London based reggae giant Trojan Records brought together a dozen of his finest works under the title \u003ci\u003eGreater Jamaica Moonwalk Reggae\u003c\/i\u003e. If features many of the biggest Jamaican hits from 1969 to 1970. Tommy McCook and The Supersonics is one of the main artists to be found on this record. The 12 tracks bringing the best Jamaica had to offer during the heydays of their musical days. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eLP - Limited Edition of 750 Individually Numbered Copies on Orange Coloured Vinyl.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Music On Vinyl","offers":[{"title":"Orange | LP","offer_id":50453419753803,"sku":"1066396","price":25.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/4db2b2e9-edd4-457e-86e4-f5fabc770230_thumbnail_4096.png?v=1727171797"},{"product_id":"dubbing-with-horns","title":"Dubbing With Horns","description":"\u003cp\u003eTommy McCook founding member of the legendary group The Skatalites and the master session musician has left his mark over all the different styles of Jamaican music. The big band sound that leads to the beginning of Ska, to the forefront of Rocksteady and throughout the various stages that Reggae music would mutate itself into. All carrying Tommy McCook's distinctive stamp that always added a flavour to the songs style.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 1970's sound that reggae mutated to would be heavier in feel lead by Bass and Drums with the organ pushed to the forefront. But many of the up and coming Producers like Bunny Lee (The Aggrovators Band), Joe Gibbs (The Professionals Band) and Studio's like the Hookim brothers Channel 1 set up had the foresight to keep using the musicianship of Tommy McCook and his arrangement skills to enhance this new sound.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt’s from this rich period that Kingston Sounds have compiled a selection of some of Mr McCook's greatest cuts that featured him blowing over some great tracks, that stripped of their vocals sees Tommy replace that with some fantastic lead lines. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jamaican Recordings","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50470704316747,"sku":"343332","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50470703759691,"sku":"343331","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/cd3ebe93-245e-449d-aede-b8706b69a436_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727380894"},{"product_id":"the-rooster-the-saint","title":"The Rooster \/ The Saint","description":"\u003cp\u003eThese two tracks were initially released on separate singles, “The Rooster” was released on Duke (a Trojan sublabel) in 1970 whilst “The Saint” was released on Trojan the same year in 1970. This is the first time these two McCook’s Boss tracks are released together and it is also the first re-release on 7inch vinyl single of these two rare and in demand Skinhead hits. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTommy McCook \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCuban born Tommy moved to Jamaica when he was a little boy and became a pupil at the Kingston’s Alpha School where he took up tenor saxophone at the tender age of 11. The Alpha School was run by Catholic nuns and renowned for its outstanding musical education.  After a stint in the US where he discovered the sounds of Coltrane, he went on to form the Skatalites in 1964 with Rolando Alphonso, Johnny Moore, Lester Sterling, Don Drummond, Lloyd Knibb, Lloyd Brevett, Jerry Haynes, and Jackie Mittoo. McCook, Drummond, Moore and Sterling were all students from the Alpha School. The Skatalites played their last show in August 1965 after Don Drummond's imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend, Margarita. The break-up resulted in the formation of two studio bands, Rolando Alphonso and The Studio One Orchestra and… Tommy McCook and The Supersonics. The Supersonics were the house band for Arthur \"Duke\" Reids' label Treasure Isle. Its members  came from The Skatalites with the addition  of top new musicians. They were one of Jamaica's most talented and productive bands and covered successfully many genres from Ska and Rocksteady to Reggae and Dub.   \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJeff Barnes \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJeff Barnes was a “DJ” or a toaster a s they wer also called; they were very popular in Jamaica by the end of the 60s. He recorded a dozen of singles, had duets with U-Roy (“Wake The Nation” ) and Pat Kelly (“Peoples Version”). He is also famous for his risqué songs with sexual innuendos such as “Jeff Barnes Thing” and the infamous “Rooster” featured here…  \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Harlem Shuffle Records","offers":[{"title":"7\"","offer_id":50487017734475,"sku":"2025903","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/image003_bd624922_thumbnail_4096.png?v=1727619271"},{"product_id":"blazing-horns","title":"Blazing Horns","description":"\u003cp\u003eEssential reissue for this rare album of dub instrumental reggae tunes recorded by Tommy McCook (on sax, The Skatalites) and Bobby Ellis (trumpet, The Upsetters, The Aggrovators) in 1977. Originally licensed  on Grove Music this amazing set features the likes of Sly and Robbie, Ansel Collins (organ), Clinton Fearon- from The Gladiators - on lead guitar and Bernard Harvey – of The Wailers fame - on piano. Recorded at Channel One and mixed at King Tubby Studio, the album was  engineered by Yabby You and Barnabas.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"No Label","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50526019223883,"sku":"2220379","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/7427255404125_1650a025_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1728038663"},{"product_id":"greater-jamaica-moon-walk-reggay-deluxe-collectors-edition","title":"Greater Jamaica Moon Walk - Reggay (Deluxe Collector's Edition)","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginally released in Kingston in 1969, \u003cem\u003eGreater Jamaica Moon Walk - Reggay\u003c\/em\u003e is a standout slice of boss reggae from the famed Treasure Isle label, the hit-making home of Duke Reid and one of the key studios and record companies in Jamaican music history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLed by saxophone giant \u003cstrong\u003eTommy McCook\u003c\/strong\u003e and backed by the mighty \u003cstrong\u003eSupersonics\u003c\/strong\u003e, this moon-bound set blends Apollo-inspired instrumentals with classic Treasure Isle sounds. Along the way you’ll hear \u003cstrong\u003eJohn Holt\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eDave Barker\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eThe Ethiopians\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eThe Gladiators\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eGlen Adams\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eWinston Wright\u003c\/strong\u003e and more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAvailable again for the first time in its original Jamaican form, this historic reissue faithfully reproduces the 1969 artwork, features newly remastered audio, and includes a 4-page illustrated booklet with exclusive liner notes by reggae historian \u003cstrong\u003eDr. Buster Dynamite\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Charly","offers":[{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":57929954754891,"sku":"R3542-2855","price":26.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/5061110805294.jpg?v=1784807320"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_034737b0_thumbnail_4096_cb441cfc-6044-4de8-90ec-7fc12dbbff8c.jpg?v=1726027094","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/tommy-mccook.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}