Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer
Johnny 'Dizzy' Moore. - File
TRUMPETER JOHNNY 'Dizzy' Moore, a founding member of the Skatalites band, died on Saturday at the age of 69.
Moore succumbed to cancer at a friend's home, said musicologist.
Herbie Miller, who knew the musician for more than 30 years. Moore had been ailing for some time and was recently discharged from hospital.
Miller hailed Moore as the "most creative thinking musician of the ska period".
Moore is the sixth member of the legendary band to die. Trombonist Don Drummond, keyboardist Jackie Mittoo, saxophonists Tommy McCook and Roland Alphonso and Jerome 'Jah Jerry' Hinds predeceased him.
Kingston born
The band, which formed in 1964, still tours with three surviving members: bassist Lloyd Brevette, drummer Lloyd Knibbs and saxophonist Lester Sterling.
Moore was born in Kingston and got his musical training at the Alpha Boys School in St Andrew. Because of his choice of instrument, he was nicknamed 'Dizzy' after the great American trumpeter, Dizzy Gillespie.
Like Moore, McCook, Drummond and Sterling attended Alpha. Along with Alphonso, they formed the classic Skatalites horn section that played on enduring songs like, Freedom Sounds, Guns of Navarone, Confucius and Eastern Standard Time.
The original band stayed together for just over one year, recording for various producers before splitting up. Moore went on to play at Studio One for producer Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd and at the rival Treasure Isle which was run by Arthur 'Duke' Reid.
The Skatalites reformed in 1982 and have toured the United States and Europe many times, winning new fans and earning two Grammy nominations for Best Reggae Album.
Moore never figured for long in the revived band, reportedly due to differences with McCook. He toured the US with Bunny Wailer and recorded with new roots-reggae acts, such as Yami Bolo.
In recent years, Moore became an in-demand source on early Jamaican pop music and life at Alpha during the 1940s. And in recent times received an OD for his contribution to the music industry.
Johnny 'Dizzy' Moore is survived by his mother, four children and grandchildren.
