Died On This Date (May 3, 2012) Lloyd Brevett / Founding Member Of The Skatalites
themusicsover Lloyd Brevett
August 1, 1931 – May 3, 2012
Lloyd Brevett is best remembered as the longtime double bassist for the highly influential Jamaican ska band, the Skatalites. Helping to form the group in 1964, Brevett was there for the early development of ska, a form of Caribbean music that included elements of calypso, mento, American jazz, and R&B that was the foundation of reggae. The Skatalites’ biggest hit was “Guns Of Navarone.” The band broke in 1965 but reformed during the mid-’80s, instantly reclaiming their fandom. Brevett left the group in 2004. Lloyd Brevett suffered a major stroke in March of 2012 and died from complications on May 3, 2012. He was 80.
What You Should Own
Charles Pitts was a Memphis guitarist whose style of playing has prompted many sources to include him on the list of the architects of funk and soul guitar. By the time Pitts was just 11 years he had picked up the guitar and was learning on the street corners around his Washington DC neighborhood. One of his early teachers was none other than neighbor, 
Todd Simko was a Canadian guitarist and producer who had been part of the Vancouver music scene as far back as the early ’80s. In 1991, Simko co-founded the alternative rock band, Pure who eventually got signed to Reprise Records. The group went on to release a string of records and earned a Juno nomination for Most Promising Group in 1992. They were also recognized with a Best Alternative Video nod at the 1993 MuchMusic Video Awards. Following the band’s break up in 2000, Simko went on to play for Biff Naked and do studio work for the likes of Marcy Playground and Xavier Rudd. Todd Simko passed away on April 26, 2012. Cause of death was not immediately released.
