May 3, 2012 22:13

Co-founder of The Skatalites dies aged 80

Lloyd Brevett played upright bass in the classic Jamaican ska band

Photo: Getty

Lloyd Brevett, co-founder of the influential ska band The Skatalites, has died aged 80.

Brevett played upright bass in the band, best known for the track 'Guns of Navarone', which was later covered by The Specials - pictured below. Scroll down to listen to both versions of the track. The original incarnation of The Skatalites formed in 1963 and were only around for 18 months before they disbanded in 1965.

Billboard reports that Brevett passed away earlier today (May 3) in Jamaica at Andrews Memorial Hospital in St Andrew, following a stroke and seizures.

In 2001 Brevett was given Jamaica's fifth highest honour, the Order of Distinction and in 2010 the Silver Musgrave Medal for his contribution to music.

The Jamaica Observer – via Billboard - recently reported that Brevett's friend Maxine Stowe, a former A&R at Columbia Records, said that Brevett's health had deteriorated after his son Okeene Brevett was shot dead in February. Okeene was killed on his way home after picking up an award from the Jamaica Recording Industry Association on his father's behalf.

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