ENTITY · PERSON
Jackie Mittoo
Well supported
Jackie Mittoo (born Donat Roy Mittoo, 1948-1990) was a Jamaican keyboardist, composer and arranger who served as musical director and house-band leader at Coxsone Dodd's Studio One, where he played on and arranged a vast body of ska, rocksteady and early reggae recordings. A founding member of the Skatalites in 1964, he composed enduring organ-driven instrumentals and riddims such as "Darker Shade of Black" and helped shape Studio One classics like the Cables' "Baby Why." He emigrated to Toronto in the late 1960s, remaining active in Canada and briefly rejoining the Skatalites before his death from cancer in 1990.
At a glance
- Type
- person
- Confidence
- Well supported
- Era
- Open era →
Connections
Watch & listen
Debate & reception
How people argued about the music — praise, criticism and public debate. See all debate & reception →
debate
Who authors a riddim? Bass, keys and the credit for the version
A long-running, documented industry debate framed from both sides. One position holds that the session musicians who wrote the foundation basslines and keyboard figures - the players behind rhythms like Real Rock and Full Up - are the uncredited authors of the version tradition. The other holds that authorship and rights sit properly with the producers and labels who commissioned, owned and marketed the masters. Neutral; a matter of public discussion, not a claim against any person. Sources: United Reggae (Leroy Sibbles interview); David Katz, Solid Foundation; Bass Culture.
Stance: session musicians as uncredited authors vs producers and labels as rights-holders