Lynn Taitt (Nerlynn Taitt, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, 22 June 1934 … Read Full Bio ↴Lynn Taitt (Nerlynn Taitt, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, 22 June 1934 – 20 January 2010) was a guitarist closely associated with Jamaican rocksteady music.
Lynn Taitt got his start as a musician playing in local Trinidadian steel drum bands, before taking up the guitar aged 14. He formed his own band, which was booked by Byron Lee to perform at the 1962 independence celebrations in Jamaica. Taitt decided to stay in Jamaica, living in Kingston, and played in a number of bands including The Sheiks, The Cavaliers, and The Comets, and worked with Baba Brooks, The Skatalites and Tommy McCook and the Supersonics. The most successful of his groups was The Jets, formed in 1966 and which included Hux Brown, Headley Bennett, Hopeton Lewis, Gladstone Anderson, and Winston Wright. Taitt's guitar style was inventive and unconventional, with a sharp percussive sound that accented the rocksteady beat. Lynn Taitt and the Jets played on hundreds of recording sessions for Jamaican producers such as Bunny Lee, Duke Reid, Joe Gibbs, Coxsone Dodd, and Sonia Pottinger, often performing up to five sessions a day. Their recording of "Take It Easy" was one of the first rocksteady singles and it reached number one in the Jamaican singles chart.
Taitt's contribution to Jamaican popular music includes his role as arranger and session leader for many of the recordings that he appeared on. He has been credited as having created the first rocksteady bassline, on the song "Take It Easy" by Hopeton Lewis. Various other Jamaican recordings have been cited as the "first" rocksteady release such as Alton Ellis & the Flames' "Girl I've Got a Date", and the Derrick Morgan rude boy anthem "Tougher Than Tough" with Lynn Taitt playing guitar on all of three.
Taitt emigrated to Toronto, Canada in August 1968, to take up the position of arranger for the house band at the West Indian Federated Club. Although he left Jamaica just before the rise of reggae, his playing was a strong influence on musicians such as Hux Brown who adapted Taitt's approach to the newer reggae style. Taitt's work can be heard on various 60s recordings by Derrick Morgan, Desmond Dekker, Lee Perry, Ken Boothe, Bob Marley and Joe Higgs, among others. He recorded with Johnny Nash on some of the latter's international hits, including "Cupid" and "Hold Me Tight".
Taitt remained active as a musician in Montreal, having recorded with such acts as The Kingpins ("Let's Go To Work" CD 1999) as well as performing live with the Montreal Ska All Stars and at the Montreal International Jazz Festival with The Jets (2002) and the Fabulous LoLo sings Rocksteady (2006).
He was the subject of the 2006 documentary Lynn Taitt: Rocksteady, directed by Generoso Fierro, and another titled Ruff 'n' Tuff.
Taitt died on 20 January 2010 after a long battle with cancer. His death was recorded in Montreal, Canada, at the age of 75.
Discography
Glad Sounds (1968), Bigshot (Gladdy with Lynn Taitt & the Jets)
Rock Steady: Greatest Hits (1968), Merritone (Lynn Taitt & the Jets)
Hold Me Tight: Anthology 65-73 (2005), Trojan
Lynn Taitt got his start as a musician playing in local Trinidadian steel drum bands, before taking up the guitar aged 14. He formed his own band, which was booked by Byron Lee to perform at the 1962 independence celebrations in Jamaica. Taitt decided to stay in Jamaica, living in Kingston, and played in a number of bands including The Sheiks, The Cavaliers, and The Comets, and worked with Baba Brooks, The Skatalites and Tommy McCook and the Supersonics. The most successful of his groups was The Jets, formed in 1966 and which included Hux Brown, Headley Bennett, Hopeton Lewis, Gladstone Anderson, and Winston Wright. Taitt's guitar style was inventive and unconventional, with a sharp percussive sound that accented the rocksteady beat. Lynn Taitt and the Jets played on hundreds of recording sessions for Jamaican producers such as Bunny Lee, Duke Reid, Joe Gibbs, Coxsone Dodd, and Sonia Pottinger, often performing up to five sessions a day. Their recording of "Take It Easy" was one of the first rocksteady singles and it reached number one in the Jamaican singles chart.
Taitt's contribution to Jamaican popular music includes his role as arranger and session leader for many of the recordings that he appeared on. He has been credited as having created the first rocksteady bassline, on the song "Take It Easy" by Hopeton Lewis. Various other Jamaican recordings have been cited as the "first" rocksteady release such as Alton Ellis & the Flames' "Girl I've Got a Date", and the Derrick Morgan rude boy anthem "Tougher Than Tough" with Lynn Taitt playing guitar on all of three.
Taitt emigrated to Toronto, Canada in August 1968, to take up the position of arranger for the house band at the West Indian Federated Club. Although he left Jamaica just before the rise of reggae, his playing was a strong influence on musicians such as Hux Brown who adapted Taitt's approach to the newer reggae style. Taitt's work can be heard on various 60s recordings by Derrick Morgan, Desmond Dekker, Lee Perry, Ken Boothe, Bob Marley and Joe Higgs, among others. He recorded with Johnny Nash on some of the latter's international hits, including "Cupid" and "Hold Me Tight".
Taitt remained active as a musician in Montreal, having recorded with such acts as The Kingpins ("Let's Go To Work" CD 1999) as well as performing live with the Montreal Ska All Stars and at the Montreal International Jazz Festival with The Jets (2002) and the Fabulous LoLo sings Rocksteady (2006).
He was the subject of the 2006 documentary Lynn Taitt: Rocksteady, directed by Generoso Fierro, and another titled Ruff 'n' Tuff.
Taitt died on 20 January 2010 after a long battle with cancer. His death was recorded in Montreal, Canada, at the age of 75.
Discography
Glad Sounds (1968), Bigshot (Gladdy with Lynn Taitt & the Jets)
Rock Steady: Greatest Hits (1968), Merritone (Lynn Taitt & the Jets)
Hold Me Tight: Anthology 65-73 (2005), Trojan
The Last Waltz
Lynn Taitt & The Jets Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'The Last Waltz' by these artists:
090. Engelbert Humperdink I wonder should I go or should I stay The band…
???/??? Shizumu yuuhi kara RARARA koboreru ai no…
A Jigsaw My dear lover, the flame She was dancing in the colosseum T…
Busman's Holiday The Last Waltz I went to Alaska to ask her. I’d…
Connie Francis I wondered, should I go or should I stay? The band…
Emmylou Harris & The Band She's was going to pieces He walked in the door She just…
Engelbert I wondered should I go or should I stay, The band…
Fairport Convention Well General Taylor gained the day Walk him along, John, Ca…
Faron Young The ballroom was empty When they played 'The last waltz' For…
Jake Haws I read in the papers about the sad news of…
Julian Ovenden I wondered should I go or should I stay The band…
King Raam روز و شب به یادتم عزیزم به تو بنده نفسم بگو به…
Maria Solheim I cry while I leave the house Pictures are staring at…
Mono Inc. I wanna wade your sea I wanna name your source I wanna…
Mono Inc. & A Life Divided I wanna wade your sea I wanna name your source I wanna…
Pendragon Hang up your dancing shoes, hide in that secret place Play…
Rodney Crowell Sometimes there's heartaches and teardrops will fall Good ye…
The Band She stands on the banks of the mighty Mississippi Holding a…
The Band & Emmylou Harris She's was going to pieces He walked in the door She just…
The Band; Bob Dylan She stands on the banks of the mighty Mississippi Holding a…
The Beautiful South Don't feel bad if you wake up feeling suddenly old More…
The Engelbert Humperdinck I wondered should I go or should I stay, The band…
Ty Segall No more pain, no more love My baby left for the…
Webb Pierce The ballroom was empty the hour was three They played the…
Wolfheart and the Ravens THE LAST WALTZ RAVENLAND - WOLFHEART AND…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Lynn Taitt & The Jets:
Batman Batman, Batman, Batman Batman, Batman, Batman, Batman Batm…
Bring It On Home Is it ok if I don't make it Is it ok…
Chances Can you just give me one more try at that? Yeah You…
El Casino Royale Seven James Bonds at Casino Royale, They came to save the…
Love Me Forever Life's a nightmare and I can't stand it Since you turned…
To Sir With Love Somethings are too painful to say out loud Well, they live…
Words Smile an everlasting smile a smile could bring you near…
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Jets:
/ Rocket 2 U Baby, baby, when I called you on the phone today You…
1st Place I stay on top of my game I'm sayin no…
Anytime anytime now you'll be my love i know suddenly i'll see your …
Are you going to be my Girl Go So one, two, three, take my hand and come with…
Are you going to be my Girl? Go! So one, two, three, take my hand and come with…
Are You Gonna Be My Girl Go So one, two, three, take my hand and come with…
Be For Me I'm in the V with Jackie Four door Got five hoes in…
Believe In Love I'll scrub your mug cause you suck at dishes I'll wake…
Believe It Or Not Contact the lawyers Tell them not to breathe It's getting ho…
Believe It Or Not It's Magic Believe it or not it′s magic Believe it or not it's…
Believe It or Not, It's Magic Believe it or not it's magic Believe it or not it's…
Bones I'm gonna ask you so you understand What you done with…
Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers Sometimes, some crimes Go slippin' through the crack But the…
Christmas in My Heart There's a feeling in the air That I'd really like to…
Cold Hard Bitch Yeah, yeah Gotta leave town Got another appointment Spent a…
Cool Boy, boy, crazy boy, Get cool, boy! Got a rocket…
Cross My Broken Heart Cross my broken heart, boy Cross my broken heart for you I'm…
Crush On You How did you know 'Cause I never told You found out I got…
Curiosity [Chorus] Curiosity, I've got to know Is she just a play thin…
Emotional Turn down the meltdown is all I'm thinkin' Tighten up, the…
Face To Face Pretty face Pretty face Hey How can I forget The best memori…
Fantasy I read a prophecy today That all we know is so…
First Time in Love Baby, I've been takin' my time Been holdin' back the one…
Forever With You Here, my dearest friend Won't you take this with you to…
Hideaway I've been running around, running around Don't make a sound,…
I メロンソーダとチリドッグ そいつがあれば生きて行けると 思ってるオレはケツの青い 最新型のピストル Baby なんてい…
In My Dreams I wanna know what it feels to be Free to surrender,…
La La Means I Love You Many girls have come to you With a line that wasn't…
Leave It To Me Yeah, just take it or leave it, yeah Yeah, did you…
Let's Get It On I got my eyes on a new piece then I…
Love Is The Answer Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Speaking that money, I'm fluent…
Make It Real Tonight it's been a year We met each other here Here I…
No Time To Lose So into you... So many people Looking out to find somebo…
Ooh Baby Hey Uh hey Oh baby Oh baby You bring me joy Now I couldn't …
Pride I want shake these niggas hands with a glove on I'm…
Private Number You got the key My private number Exclusively, there's no ot…
Rocket 2 U Baby, baby, when I called you on the phone today You…
Sacrifice From the north and the south, to the east and…
Same Love You and me we had a love that was forever That's…
Sendin Sendin? all my love to you, baby Sendin? all my love…
Somebody To Love Me Life's a nightmare and I can't stand it Since you turned…
Somewhere Out There You've broken down And left behind a part of us If I…
Special Kinda Love It was raining when I met you You were soaking wet…
Stop Stop Stop (Been in my pocket lately) Everyday they be counting me out …
That Ayo JET, Bleeze Yerrrrr Yerrrrr That’s my bitch That’s my bi…
The Only Dance Paradise wasn't easy to find And now no changes could be…
The Same Love You and me we had a love that was forever That's…
The Truth Black tracksuit with a pair of new sneakers Four door, don't…
This Christmas This Year I don't need them to tell me that I found you Is…
When You In the tall grass of a long sun a quiet…
When You're Young and In Love Spring in the air There's magic everywhere When you're you…
Whispers Of My Heart Cross my broken heart, boy Cross my broken heart for you I'm…
Will You Be My Girl Go So one, two, three, take my hand and come with…
You You know that I'm local I don't wanna hide it You like…
You Better Dance Hey, Heartache, no cure, Broken down, You see I've heard it …
You Got It All I, I was the game he would play He brought the…
Your Heart I can still remember all the words that you said…
Youve Got It All I, I was the game he would play He brought the…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@ThePedroprimo
been listening to rocksteady for over 7 years now and only recently discovered lynn...absolutely incredible how i managed not to stumble over these soulful and silky-smooth records. after only a few weeks his songs already became some of my all-time-favs
@NormanMac
One of the most unacknowledged and unsung pioneers influencing the development of jamaican pop from Rock Steady through Reggae with his unique guitar stylings and creativity.
@TheeEltee3
Jamaicans have a way with taking a 3/4 song and turning it into a 4/4. This is my favorite version of this tune. BTW... Lynn Taitt was from Trinidad, but this is a Jamaican recording.
@Nevillecharlesultd
If there was ever claim to the perfect guitar instrumental, without any doubt this is it. Lynn Taitt was a genius.
@impulsobytheshades
all that rocksteady golden generation is leaving us...
@LionRock08
well said Hortense.