The founding members of the group were Tommy McCook, Roland Alphonso, Lloyd Brevett, Lloyd Knibb, Lester Sterling, Don Drummond, Jerome “Jah Jerry” Haynes, Jackie Mittoo, Johnny Moore and Jackie Opel.
Trombonist Drummond's composition, Man In The Street, entered the Top 10 in the United Kingdom. He was not only the Skatalites' busiest composer, but was the most prolific in all of Ska, with at least 200 tunes to his name by 1965.
On January 1, 1965, Drummond was jailed for the murder of his girlfriend, Anita 'Marguerita' Mahfood, and in August that year, the Skatalites played their last show. The break-up resulted in the formation of two supergroups, Jackie Mitto and the Soul Brothers (later the Soul Vendors and finally Sound Dimension) and Tommy McCook and the Supersonics. Drummond died in the Bellevue Asylum on May 6, 1969 at age 37.
In June 1983, the Skatalites reformed for a reunion performance at the Sunsplash festival in Montego Bay in July. Between 1985 and 1988, the core members of the Skatalites emigrated, and eventually coalesced in the northeast of the United States. They played their first U.S. concert at "The Village Gate", and did their first U.S. tour in January, 1990. The Skatalites continued touring the U.S., and did their first tour of Europe in 1992.
In January 1996, the Skatalites was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of "Best Reggae Album" for their 1995 Shanachie release, Hi Bop Ska. They were again nominated for a Grammy Award in the same category for their 1996 Shanachie release, Greetings From Skamania, in January 1997.
The Skatalites began their first World Tour in February 2002, covering the United States, Europe, Mexico, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Russia, and Japan, which lasted nine months.
On 8 February 2012 the band announced a new single and album due out in 2012 as well as a new US tour starting in Texas and heading to New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Oregan, California, Washington and then Canada. These dates follow 4 dates they announced in January for the North East. The new album will be titled "All Roads" and will feature the last recordings of founding member Lloyd Knibb.
Original 1960s lineup
Tommy McCook - tenor saxophone, flute
Roland Alphonso - tenor saxophone
Lester Sterling - alto saxophone
Don Drummond - trombone
Johnny "Dizzy" Moore - trumpet
Lloyd Brevett - upright bass
Lloyd Knibbs - drums
Jerome "Jah Jerry" Haynes - guitar
Jackie Mittoo - piano
Jackie Opel - vocals
Associated musicians
Though not official band members, these musicians worked with the Skatalites extensively during the 1964-1965 period in the recording studio, or in the case of the vocalists, at live shows. Doreen Shaeffer later joined the group full-time when they reunited.
Tony Gregory - vocals
Doreen Shaeffer - vocals
Lord Tanamo - vocals
Dennis "Ska" Campbell - tenor saxophone
Oswald "Baba" Brooks - trumpet
Frank Anderson - trumpet
Ernest Ranglin - lead guitar
Lyn Taitt - rhythm guitar
Current lineup
Lester Sterling - alto saxophone
Doreen Shaffer - vocals
Azemobo "Zem" Audu - tenor saxophone
Andrae Murchison - trombone
Kevin Batchelor - trumpet
Val Douglas - bass guitar
Natty Frenchy - guitar
Cameron Greenlee - keyboards
Trevor "Sparrow" Thompson - drums
Other former band members
These musicians played in various lineups of the Skatalites during their reunion period (1983–present), generally replacing original members who were absent or deceased.
Mark Berney - trumpet
Nathan Breedlove - trumpet (1993–1998)
Cedric "Im" Brooks - tenor saxophone (2000–2002,2007-2010)
Karl "Cannonball" Bryan - saxophone (2003–2009)
Calvin "Bubbles" Cameron - trombone (1983–1984)
Welford "Will" Clark - trombone (1994–2003)
Vin "Don D. Junior" Gordon - trombone (2003–2008)
Devon James - guitar (1987–2009)
Bill Smith - keyboards (1993–1999)
Ken Stewart - keyboards (1988-1990,1998-2009) (also serves as the band's manager)
Clark Gayton - Trombone (1989–1994)
Cary Brown - keyboards (1990-1995)
Louis Bonilla - trombone
www.skatalites.com
SIMMER DOWN
The Skatalites Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Simmer down, soon you'll get dropped, so
Simmer down, can you hear what I say
Simmer down, that why won't you, why won't you, why won't you simmer down
Simmer down
Long time people dem used to say
What sweet nanny goat a go run him belly, so
Simmer down, oh control your temper
Simmer down, can you hear what I say
Simmer down, oh that I'm a leaving you today
Simmer down
Simmer down, oh you hear what I say
Simmer down, a that I'm leaving you today
Simmer down, can you hear what I say
Simmer down
Chicken Mary, hawk de near and when him de near, you must beware, so
Simmer down, oh control your temper
Simmer down, for the battle will be hotter
Simmer down, and you won't get no supper
Simmer down, and you know you bound to suffer
Simmer down, simmer, simmer, simmer right down
Simmer down, like you never did before
Simmer down, oh, oh, oh
Simmer down, can you hear what I say
Simmer down, you lickin' too hot so
Simmer down, and you know soon you'll get dropped, so
Simmer down, why won't you simmer, simmer down
Simmer down, simmer down, simmer down
Simmer down, simmer, simmer down
Simmer down, oh simmer, simmer down
Simmer down, like you never did before
The Skatalites's song Simmer Down is a call to action for someone who is getting too heated and needs to calm down before they get in trouble. The repeated refrain of "simmer down" is a clear message that the situation is getting out of control and needs to be deescalated. The lyrics suggest that the person in question is in danger of getting hurt or getting into trouble if they don't take a step back and calm down. They are urged to control their temper and not give in to the heat of the moment.
The song has another layer of meaning as well. The line "what sweet nanny goat a go run him belly" is a Jamaican proverb meaning that if you indulge in too much of a good thing, you will eventually regret it. This could apply to the person being addressed in the song, who is perhaps indulging in too much pride or anger. The final lines of the song, "simmer down like you never did before" suggest that the person needs to change their behavior and learn to control their emotions in a way that they haven't before.
Overall, Simmer Down is a catchy and upbeat song with an important message about the need to control one's temper and avoid getting into trouble. It is a classic in the ska genre and remains popular to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
Simmer down, you lickin' too hot, so
Calm yourself because you are too aggressive, and it might lead to your downfall.
Simmer down, soon you'll get dropped, so
If you don't calm yourself down, things will end poorly for you.
Simmer down, can you hear what I say
Listen to me and do what I am telling you.
Simmer down, that why won't you, why won't you, why won't you simmer down
I am asking you to control your temper, so why won't you listen and do it?
Simmer down.
Repeated for emphasis.
Long time people dem used to say
People have been saying for a long time.
What sweet nanny goat a go run him belly, so
If you indulge too much in something that you enjoy, it will harm you.
Simmer down, oh control your temper
I am telling you to calm down and manage your anger.
Simmer down, for the battle will be hotter
Be prepared because things are going to get more intense.
Simmer down, oh that I'm a leaving you today
I'm telling you to calm down because I'm leaving you if you don't.
Simmer down, oh you hear what I say
I am repeating my command for emphasis.
Simmer down, can you hear what I say
I want you to listen to me and follow my instruction.
Chicken Mary, hawk de near and when him de near, you must beware, so
Be cautious when danger is close by.
Simmer down, and you won't get no supper
If you don't calm down and behave properly, you won't get anything to eat.
Simmer down, and you know you bound to suffer
You will experience negative consequences if you don't control yourself.
Simmer down, simmer, simmer, simmer right down
I'm urging you to calm down repeatedly over and over again.
Simmer down, like you never did before
Try to be calm and compose yourself like you never have before.
Simmer down, oh, oh, oh
Telling you repeatedly to calm down and do it immediately.
Simmer down, and you know soon you'll get dropped, so
If you continue to behave like this, you'll face negative consequences soon.
Simmer down, why won't you simmer, simmer down
I am urging you to control yourself and calm down several times over.
Simmer down, simmer down, simmer down
Repeating the call to calm down over and over again.
Simmer down, simmer, simmer down
Urging you to calm down repeatedly, don't let things escalate.
Simmer down, oh simmer, simmer down
I am asking you to keep a lid on it and stop acting up.
Simmer down, like you never did before
Be cool and calm, don't act the way you usually do.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOB MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind