Style Scott obituary

The drummer Style Scott has been found dead, apparently murdered, aged 58, at his home in Jamaica. He was a founding member of the Roots Radics, one of Jamaicas most important backing bands during a time when reggae was undergoing dramatic changes, shifting from roots to the harder-edged dancehall style. He was also a longstanding member of Dub Syndicate, the experimental outfit masterminded by the inventive British producer Adrian Sherwood.

In addition to backing the singer Gregory Isaacs on the albums More Gregory (1981), Night Nurse (1982) and Out Deh! (1983), Roots Radics achieved success playing on Barrington Levys recordings for Henry Junjo Lawes that are acknowledged to have kick-started dancehall. With further hits for Michael Prophet, Yellowman, John Holt and the Wailing Souls, they became the resident band at Channel One studios, filling the void left by the dissolution of Sly Dunbars Revolutionaries.