Tommy McCook founding member of the legendary group The Skatalites and the master session musician has left his mark over all the different styles of Jamaican music. The big band sound that leads to the beginning of Ska, to the forefront of Rocksteady and throughout the various stages that Reggae music would mutate itself into. All carrying Tommy McCook's distinctive stamp that always added a flavour to the songs style.Tommy McCook (b.1927, Havana, Cuba) came to Jamaica with his mother from Cuba aged 11 and entered the renowned Alpha Boys School for underprivleged children, a school that placed great emphasis on musical tuition. At the tender age of 14, such was his talent he had left to join Eric Deans Orchestra and took on stints with other bands led by Don Hitchman and Roy Coburn. All the bands played in the Swing and Jazz style of the times. He relocated to the Bahamas in 1954 where he further developed his Jazz technique and on his return to Jamaica in 1962 began working with