Lloyd Knibb, renowned drummer for The Skatalites, dies in Jamaica at age 80 - AP via Washington's other newspaper
Lloyd Knibb, an influential Jamaican drummer who played with The Skatalites and helped develop the ska beat, has died, his wife said Friday. He was 80.
Enid Knibb said her husband died from liver cancer late Thursday.
He had been receiving treatment in the U.S. but returned to Jamaica this week, she said.
Knibb’s manager, Ken Stewart, wrote on Facebook on Wednesday that he was accompanying Knibb on the trip back to the Caribbean island.
“I can only hope we make it back so he can enjoy his family and friends and see his homeland one more time,” he wrote.
Knibb was an original member of The Skatalites, a Jamaican ska and reggae band created in 1964. His frenetic style was one of the band’s hallmarks and is best heard on songs including “Guns of Navarone” and “Freedom Sounds.”
The Skatalites broke up in the 1960s, but reunited two decades later in New York. Two of their albums, “Hip Bop Ska” and “Greetings from Skamania,” were nominated for Grammy awards in the 1990s.
Their music has influenced bands including 311, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and No Doubt.
Knibb last performed with The Skatalites in April.
“Knibb was simply the most important and influential modern drummer this country produced,” said Herbie Miller, director of the Jamaica Music Museum. “A master percussionist, he contributed to every style of popular and not so popular musical form...As a drummer he established a rhythmic syntax through bold innovative advances.”
Knibb is survived by his wife, five children, seven grandchildren and a great grandchild.
From antiMusic:
(Gibson) Lloyd Knibb, the influential drummer for the Jamaican band, The Skatalites, died from liver cancer Thursday. He was 80. According to his wife, Enid, he had been receiving treatment in the United
Knibb, who became a driving force behind the development of the ska beat, was an original member of The Skatalites, a band created in 1964. Twice nominated for Grammys, the band broke up in the '60s but reunited 20 years later in New York. Over the years they recorded 15 studio albums, as well as a slew of live and collaboration albums. Among their most notable songs is "Guns of Navarone."
Knibb last performed with the band in April. His manager, Ken Stewart, who was traveling back to Jamaica with Knib, posted on Facebook: "I can only hope we make it back so he can enjoy his family and friends and see his homeland one more time." He is survived by his wife, five children, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. more on this story
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