Hubbry Logo
Roland AlphonsoRoland AlphonsoMain
Open search
Roland Alphonso
Community hub
Roland Alphonso
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Roland Alphonso
Roland Alphonso
Roland Alphonso
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Key Information

Roland Alphonso OD or Rolando Alphonso a.k.a. "The Chief Musician" (12 January 1931 – 20 November 1998)[1] was a Jamaican tenor saxophonist, and one of the founding members of the Skatalites.

Biography

[edit]

Born in Havana, Cuba, Alphonso came to Jamaica at the age of two with his Jamaican mother, and started to learn saxophone at the Stony Hill Industrial School.[2]

In 1948 he left school to join Eric Deans' orchestra[3] and soon passed through other bands in the hotel circuit and first recorded as a member of Stanley Motta's group in 1952, going on to record frequently as a session musician.[2] In 1956 he first recorded for Clement "Coxsone" Dodd, although these early recordings were lost before they were mastered.[2] By 1958, he was a part of the stage-act of comedians Bim and Bam, who toured Jamaica sponsored by "McAulay liquor". Alphonso's dynamic version of Louis Prima's "Robin Hood" was one of highlights of the act. Following this, Clement Dodd and Duke Reid made him a regular member of their in-house band of session musicians.[4] In 1959 he joined the band of Cluett Johnson named Clue J & His Blues Blasters and backed many of Dodd's recording sessions in a typical Jamaican R&B style.[5] He also acted as arranger at many of Dodd's recording sessions.[6]

By 1960, he was recording for many other producers such as Duke Reid, Lloyd "The Matador" Daley and King Edwards, as well as continuing to work for Dodd, contributing alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, and flute to recordings.[2] During this period he played in many different bands, such as The Alley Cats, The City Slickers, and Aubrey Adams & The Dew Droppers. In 1963, after a few months spent in Nassau, Bahamas, he took part in the creation of The Studio One Orchestra, the first session band at Dodd's newly opened recording studio. This band soon adopted the name of The Skatalites.

When the Skatalites disbanded by August 1965, Alphonso formed the Soul Brothers (with Johnny "Dizzy" Moore, and Jackie Mittoo) to become The Soul Vendors in 1967.[2][7] In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Alphonso led the Ruinaires, the resident band at Ruins restaurant/nightclub, this coming to an end when he suffered a stroke at the age of 41.[2] He recovered quickly from this setback, and relocated to the United States in late 1972, soon returning to performing and recording.[2] He released the first album under his name in 1973 on the Studio One record label.

During the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, he kept on playing on numerous records coming out from Jamaican studios, especially for Bunny Lee, and he toured with many bands. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he played with the band Jah Malla, performing regularly on the live circuit around New York.[2]

He was awarded Officer of the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government in 1977,[8] and started to tour more often in the US. He took part in the reformation of the Skatalites in 1983, with whom he toured and recorded constantly until he suffered a burst blood vessel in his head during a show at the Key Club in Hollywood on 2 November 1998.[2] He died on 20 November 1998 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, after suffering a second burst blood vessel, and spending four days in a coma.[2][9]

Discography

[edit]
  • I Cover The Waterfront, 1962 – Port O Jam Hi-Fi – produced by Coxsone Dodd
  • ABC Rock Steady (with The Originals Orchestra), 1968 – Gayfeet/High Note – produced by Sonia Pottinger
  • The Best of Rolando Alphonso, 1973 – Studio One (compilation) – produced by Coxsone Dodd
  • King of Sax, 1975 – Studio One (compilation) – produced by Coxsone Dodd
  • Brighter Shade of Roots, 1982 – Imperial – produced by Bunny Lee
  • Roll On, 1984 – Wackies – produced by Lloyd Barnes
  • Something Special: Ska Hot Shots, 2000 – Heartbeat (compilation) – produced by Coxsone Dodd
  • Max's Skansas City (Lost Recordings from the N.Y.C. Club) - Jungle Records (compilation)

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Roland Alphonso

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Roland Alphonso (12 January 1931 – 20 November 1998) was a Jamaican tenor saxophonist known for his pioneering role in the development of ska music and as a founding member of the influential band The Skatalites. Born in Cuba in 1931 to a Jamaican mother and Cuban father, he relocated to Jamaica at age two and grew up immersed in the island's emerging music scene. Widely regarded as one of the defining figures in early ska and reggae, Alphonso's warm tone, technical proficiency, and innovative arrangements helped shape the sound of Jamaican popular music from the late 1940s onward. Alphonso began his professional career as a teenager playing in jazz and dance bands, drawing inspiration from American saxophonists like Illinois Jacquet, before transitioning into session work in the 1950s. He became a key presence at Studio One and other studios, recording extensively for producers such as Coxsone Dodd and Duke Reid, where he played multiple saxophones and flute while contributing to countless tracks that blended R&B, jazz, and local rhythms into the emerging ska style. In 1964, he co-founded The Skatalites, the era's premier ska instrumental group, which backed major vocal artists including the early Wailers and produced iconic instrumentals that defined the genre. After the original band's disbandment in 1965, he led ensembles like the Soul Brothers (later the Soul Vendors) and continued session and solo work, adapting to evolving styles including rocksteady and early reggae. In the 1970s, Alphonso relocated to the United States following a stroke, later rejoining a reformed Skatalites in 1983 for international tours and recordings that brought ska greater global recognition. His prolific output included notable instrumentals such as El Pussy Cat, Phoenix City, and James Bond, and he remained active until his death on November 20, 1998, from a brain hemorrhage after suffering a burst blood vessel during a performance in Hollywood and a subsequent second burst vessel.

Early Life

Birth and Childhood

Roland Alphonso was born on January 12, 1931, in Havana, Cuba, to a Jamaican mother and a Cuban father. He moved to Jamaica with his mother at the age of two, where he was raised from early childhood. This relocation marked the beginning of his life in Jamaica, establishing the cultural environment that shaped his early years.

Musical Training and Early Influences

Roland Alphonso began his formal musical training at Alpha Boys School, a Catholic-run orphanage and trade school in Kingston, Jamaica, where he started learning to play the saxophone. This institution provided his initial music education and introduced him to the instrument that would define his career as a tenor saxophonist. During this period, Alphonso's early exposure to the sounds of jazz and R&B, which were increasingly popular in Jamaica through radio broadcasts and records from the United States, shaped his developing musical sensibilities. In 1948, at the age of seventeen, he left Alpha Boys School to pursue music as a professional career.

Professional Career

Early Career and Session Work

Roland Alphonso began his professional career in 1948 when he joined Eric Deans' orchestra shortly after completing his musical training at Stony Hill Industrial School. He soon transitioned to performing with various bands on the hotel circuit during the early 1950s, gaining experience in live settings across Jamaica. His first recordings took place in 1952 as a member of Stanley Motta's group, marking his entry into Jamaica's nascent recording industry. By 1956, Alphonso had started working with producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd, though some of these early recordings were lost before they could be mastered or released. In the late 1950s, he established himself as a prolific session musician, contributing saxophone parts to numerous tracks for Dodd, Duke Reid, and other emerging producers central to Jamaica's developing sound system and recording scene. During this period, he also performed with the comedy act Bim and Bam, adding his saxophone flair to their popular stage shows. In 1959, Alphonso joined Clue J & His Blues Blasters as a saxophonist and arranger, where he helped shape their Jamaican R&B-influenced instrumentals and supported many of Dodd's recording sessions. This role solidified his reputation as a versatile and in-demand player in the pre-ska era of Jamaican music.

Founding and Tenure with The Skatalites

Roland Alphonso co-founded The Skatalites in 1964 as part of the Studio One house band, helping to create the group that served as the first official session band at Coxsone Dodd's recording studio in Kingston. The band was officially formed following a meeting at the Odeon Theatre, with Alphonso joining other top musicians to form the core lineup. As the primary tenor saxophonist, he played a central role in defining the group's sound, bringing his versatile style—including melodic solos and light arranging—to shape the emerging ska genre. The Skatalites remained active from 1964 until their disbandment in the summer of 1965, during which time they provided the instrumental foundation for numerous ska recordings at Studio One, with Alphonso's distinctive saxophone featured prominently on countless tracks. The band broke up by August 1965. His work during this period included contributions to defining instrumentals such as "Guns of Navarone," where his tenor saxophone lines helped establish the energetic and horn-driven style characteristic of early ska, though composition credits for such pieces often vary among band members.

Post-Skatalites Groups and Activities

After the Skatalites disbanded in 1965, Roland Alphonso quickly formed The Soul Brothers that same year alongside trumpeter Dizzy Moore and keyboardist Jackie Mittoo. This instrumental combo focused on the emerging rocksteady sound and recorded several notable tracks before evolving into The Soul Vendors in 1967, with whom Alphonso continued to produce and perform. In the late 1960s through the early 1970s, Alphonso led The Ruinaires as the resident house band at the Ruins nightclub in Kingston, providing steady live music for the venue's audiences. Around 1972, at age 41, he suffered a stroke that impacted his health, though he recovered sufficiently to resume his career. Later that year, Alphonso relocated to the United States, settling in New York. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he joined the New York-based band Jah Malla, contributing saxophone to their performances and recordings. During this time in the U.S., Alphonso maintained an active presence through ongoing session work and live appearances.

Reformation of The Skatalites and Final Years

Following a stroke in the early 1970s and subsequent relocation to the United States, Roland Alphonso participated in the reformation of The Skatalites in 1983. The reformed group, featuring several original members, resumed regular performances and quickly established an international touring schedule. Alphonso toured extensively with the band throughout the 1980s and 1990s, performing worldwide and contributing to consistent recording sessions that helped sustain the group's activity. He remained an active performer with The Skatalites until the final weeks of his career. On November 2, 1998, Alphonso collapsed on stage during a Skatalites concert at the Key Club in Hollywood, California, after suffering a burst blood vessel in his head. The incident, attributed to a brain aneurysm, occurred mid-performance and required immediate hospitalization. He died on November 20, 1998, from complications of the aneurysm.

Musical Style and Contributions

Role in Ska, Rocksteady, and Reggae Development

Roland Alphonso was a foundational figure in the evolution of Jamaican popular music, serving primarily as a tenor saxophonist while also performing on alto and baritone saxophones and flute. Known as "The Chief Musician," he co-founded The Skatalites in late 1963, a group regarded as the most important instrumental band in ska history and the premier studio backing ensemble for leading vocalists of the era. His saxophone work with The Skatalites helped define the genre's distinctive horn sound, blending American R&B and boogie influences with Jamaica's clipped, fast rhythms to pioneer ska instrumentals during the early 1960s. Alphonso's tone stood out for its polish and expressiveness, aligning with the standards of American jazz and R&B players rather than the often off-key or whiny horn lines common in many 1960s ska and rocksteady recordings. As one of the most recorded musicians in Jamaican history, he contributed to thousands of tracks as a session player and arranger from the late 1950s onward, particularly at Studio One, where he supported emerging artists and shaped recordings across evolving styles. His fluent, swinging solos—drawing initially from influences like Illinois Jacquet and later incorporating more exploratory elements—brought personality and swing to the music, making him a central voice in the transition from boogie shuffle and ska into rocksteady. Following The Skatalites' 1965 disbandment, Alphonso continued his contributions through groups like the Soul Vendors, adapting his playing and arrangements to rocksteady's slower tempos and emerging reggae in the late 1960s and 1970s while maintaining his role as a first-call session musician. His versatility and consistent presence across these genres helped establish the saxophone as a key melodic and rhythmic element in Jamaican music's development.

Notable Recordings and Compositions

Roland Alphonso produced several albums as a leader across the ska, rocksteady, and reggae eras, with many released on prominent Jamaican labels such as Studio One and later international imprints. One of his earliest associated recordings was the 1962 album I Cover The Waterfront, produced by Coxsone Dodd on the Port O Jam label, where Alphonso featured prominently as a saxophonist. In 1968, he led ABC Rock Steady with The Originals Orchestra, originally issued on Sonia Pottinger's Gayfeet/High Note label and later reissued by Dub Store Records. During the 1970s, Alphonso released The Best of Roland Alphonso in 1973 on Studio One, which served as a compilation of his key tracks from that period and received a CD reissue with bonus material in 2009. This was followed by King of Sax (also known as King Sax) in 1975, another Studio One original LP that saw a CD reissue in 1999. His 1980s output included Brighter Shade of Roots in 1982 on Imperial Records and Roll On in 1984 on Wackie's, the latter a full solo album. Posthumously, the album Something Special: Ska Hot Shots appeared in 2000 on Heartbeat Records, combining previously unreleased material with compilations of his ska instrumentals. Beyond his leader dates, Alphonso contributed as a key session player to early tracks for producers Coxsone Dodd and Duke Reid during the formative years of ska and rocksteady. His work with The Skatalites featured him as a primary soloist and arranger on numerous instrumental recordings that defined the group's output in the mid-1960s.

Legacy and Recognition

Personal Life and Health Challenges

Death

Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.