Jackie Mittoo was a Jamaican-Canadian keyboardist, songwriter, and musical director, and pioneer of reggae music. Born in Jamaica in March 1948, he was a founding member of the Skatalites, and the musical director of the record label known as Studio One. He showed an interest in music by the age of four, learning and excelling at the piano throughout his early youth. In the 1960s he was a member of the Skatalites as well as the Sheiks, The Soul Brothers, The Soul Vendors, and Sound Dimension. After the Skatalites split in 1965, Jackie pursued a solo career, and struck gold in the 60s with his recording of “Ram Jam”, and a rendition of The Heptones song “Fatty Fatty”.He was involved with thousands of compositions for Studio One, resulting in many illustrious contributions to other artists which he produced and arranged. 

Jackie would eventually emigrate to Canada in 1969, settling in Toronto, Ontario while continuing to tour and record in Jamaica with the new Skatalites, as well as Bryon Lee and the Dragonairs. In Toronto he performed in clubs during the 1970s, and recorded Wishbone, Reggae Magic, and Let’s Put it All Together. He died of cancer on December 16th, 1990 at the age of 42. His funeral was held in Kingston Jamaica, with a tribute concert following around the same time. Coxsone Dodd commented shortly after hearing of his death, calling him an “ambassador of our music worldwide…May his name be remembered, and his music live on”.