Tommy McCook

Infobox musical artist
Name = Tommy McCook
Img_capt =
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born = birth date|1927|3|3|df=y
Havana,Cuba
Died = death date and age|1998|5|5|1927|3|3|df=y
Origin = Jamaica
Instrument = Saxophone
Genre = Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae
Occupation =
Years_active =
Label =
Associated_acts = The Skatalites
Tommy McCook and the Supersonics
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

Tommy McCook (3 March 1927 – 5 May 1998) was a Jamaican saxophonist. A founding member of The Skatalites, he also directed The Supersonics for Duke Reid, and backed many sessions for Bunny Lee or with The Revolutionaries at Channel One Studios in the 1970s.

Career

McCook was born in Havana, Cuba, and moved to Jamaica in 1933. He took up the tenor saxophone at the age of eleven, when he was a pupil at the famed Alpha School, and eventually joined Eric Dean’s Orchestra.

In 1954 he left for an engagement in Nassau, Bahamas, after which he ended up in Miami, Florida, and it was here that McCook first heard John Coltrane and fell in love with jazz. McCook returned to Jamaica in early 1962, where he was approached by a few local producers to do some recordings. Eventually he consented to record a jazz session for Clement "Coxson" Dodd, which was issued on the album as "Jazz Jamaica". His first ska recording was an adaptation of Ernest Gold’s "Exodus", recorded in November 1963 with musicians who would soon make up the Skatalites.

During the 1960's and 1970's McCook recorded with the majority of prominent reggae artists of the era, working particularly with producer King Tubby and his house band, The Aggrovators, as well as being featured prominently in the recordings of Yabby You and the Prophets (most notably on version sides and extended disco mixes), all while still performing and recording with the variety of line ups under the Skatalites name.

Discography

*"Top Secret" - 1969 - Techniques
*"Horny Dub" - 1976 - Grounation
*"Reggae In Jazz" - 1976 - Eve
*"Cookin' Shuffle" - Jamaica Authentic
*"Hot Lava"
*"The Authentic Ska Sound of Tommy McCook" - Moon Records (1998)
*"Down On Bond Street" - Trojan Records (1999)
*"Tommy's Last Stand" - Creole - 2001
*"Blazing Horns - Tenor In Roots - 1976-1978" - Blood & Fire (2003)
*"Real Cool - 1966-1977" - Trojan Records (2005)

With The Skatalites
*Tommy McCook & The Skatalites - "The Skatalite!" - 1969 - Treasure Island

With Bobby Ellis
*"Green Mango" - 1974 - Attack
*"Blazing Horns" - 1977 - Grove Music

With The Aggrovators
*"Brass Rockers" - 1975 - Striker Lee
*"Cookin' " - 1975 - Horse/Trojan
*"King Tubby Meets The Aggrovators At Dub Station" - 1975 - Live and Love
*"Show Case" - 1975 - Culture Press (1997)
*"Disco Rockers" (aka "Hot Lava") - 1977 - Dynamic Sound
*"Instrumental Reggae" - RAS (1992)

With Yabby You
*"Yabby You Meets Tommy McCook In Dub" - Peacemaker
*"Yabby You Meets Sly & Robie Along With Tommy McCook" - Prophets

External links

* [http://www.darkerthanblue.com/print.cfm?ref=3019 Tommy McCook on darkerthanblue.com]
* [http://www.reggae-vibes.com/rev_sin/dubstati.htm "King Tubby Meets The Agrovators At Dub Station" album review]