Rolando played his final show at The Key Club
in Hollywood
California. He was stricken onstage when
a blood vessel burst
in his neck just after he completed a
solo. He was hospitalized
at The Cedars Sinai Medical Center in
Los Angeles where he
passed away on November 20.
Everyone
at Moon Ska passes along
their sincerest condolences to the Alphonso family.
-- For those of you who are not aware that
Roland had been ill,
here is the essential story. The following
comes from the
November 9th issue of Pollstar..."Saxophonist
Roland Alphonso,
67 of the Skatalites suffered a seizure
on stage during a
November 2nd concert at the Key Club in
West Hollywood.
The seminal ska band was near the beginning
of its set when
Alphonso collapsed. The show was stopped
for nearly an hour
while paramedics tended to the saxophonist.
After Alphonso was taken to Cedars-Sinai
hospital in Los Angeles,
the band resumed the show.
Agent Rick Bonde of the Tahoe Agency told
Pollstar that doctors
discovered a burst blood vessel in Alphonso's
neck.
Bonde said doctors expect a complete recovery.
However, the
band will continue its tour without him.
'I think if it were up to
him, he would have gotten back up and
performed that night,'
Bonde said. 'That's the thing about The
Skatalites. Those guys
are all getting old but...they're going
to play until they drop. It's
just amazing."
Bonde said Alphonso has suffered two strokes
and a massive
heart attack, but never let his conditions
stop him from going
back out on the road.
'Unfortunately, he's going to miss one
of their homecoming gigs
in Jamaica,' Bonde said. 'He's going to
be really missed there.'
Bonde said when Skatalites member Tommy
McCook passed
away a few months ago, the Prime Minister
of Jamaica flew his
body down to the island for a state funeral.
'They're state heroes
in Jamaica.' He also said in the ska world,
Alphonso is the
idol of all of the young players, adding
that witnessing Alphonso's
collapse on stage was one of the most
intense experiences in
his music industry career. 'It was very
scary,' he said. ~Compiled by Steve Shafer
Skatalites'
Roland Alphonso Dies at Age 67
Roland
Alphonso, who collapsed onstage at the Skatalites' Key
Club show in West Hollywood on Nov. 2 (allstar, Nov. 3), died
shortly after noonon Friday (Nov. 20) at Los Angeles' Cedars-
Sinai Medical Center of complications from brain aneurysms.
The 67-year-old tenor saxophonist is the
second founding member of the ska legends to
pass away this year. Fellow saxophonist Tommy
McCook, who had not toured with the band in
recent years, died on May 5 (allstar, May 7)
after a long illness.
Alphonso had apparently been making
progress after his collapse, but relapsed into a
coma on Tuesday (Nov. 17). His family flew
from New York on Wednesday to be with him.
Alphonso, born on Jan. 12, 1931, nearly died in
1971 from a similar incident.
In addition to his work with the Skatalites,
Alphonso is known for his session work with
Bob Marley and the Wailers and Studio One
producer Coxson Dodd, and solo work with the
Alley Cats, the Soul Vendors, and others. Prior
to helping pioneer ska's sound and rhythm in the
late 1950s, he enjoyed a career as a jazz
musician, playing with Eric Dean's Orchestra
among others.
He has also played with many American ska
bands, including Let's Go Bowling and Bim Skala
Bim. He is one of a select group of musicians
(which also includes Dodd, Marley, McCook,
and late Skatalite Don Drummond) to be named
into the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican
government -- an honor which he received in
1977.
Alphonso was nominated for two Grammys
with the Skatalites, for 1994's Hi Bop Ska and
1996's Greetings from Skamania. He was
inducted into the Reggae Hall of Fame in 1990,
and was given the Key to the City of Boston in
the early 1990s.
Arrangements are not yet complete, but a wake
will take place Friday (Nov. 27) in New York,
with a funeral the following day. Alphonso will
likely also be given a state funeral in Jamaica. The
Skatalites' other current sax player, Lester
Sterling, will play at the funeral on Saturday
(Nov. 28). Coxson Dodd will also be paying
tribute.
Ska fans can pay their respects by writing to
Alphonso's family at 103-31 135th St., Queens,
N.Y., 11419. A Roland Alphonso tribute Web
page has been set up. Fans can also view
excerpts of the transcript of Alphonso's oldest
son Barry's interview on Orange County ska
radio show The Ska Parade, recorded shortly
after Alphonso's death, on the show's Web site.
ALPHONSO
FAMILY OFFICIAL STATEMENT
RE:
THE SKATALITES’ ROLANDO ALPHONSO
November 20, 1998
-with loving tribute to
Chief Musician Rolando Alphonso, O.D.
of The Skatalites
(January 12, 1931 to November 20, 1998)
“Some years ago, Louis Armstrong thought
that you were the next Lester Young.
In fifty plus years of playin’, you have
come into your own. The world knows
that there is only one - Rolando Alphonso....”
AB 11-18-98
By request of the Alphonso family and with tears in my eyes, the time has
come
to inform all that Chief Musician Rolando
Alphonso, O.D. of The Skatalites has
died at the age of 67 of medical complications
due to brain aneurysms.
Roland died peacefully and significantly at the twelfth hour Pacific on
the
afternoon of November 20, 1998.
Roland, a devotedly religious man, was born on
the twelfth day of January, 1931 (*by
religious accords, twelve is a symbol of
completion). After decades of inspiring
generations of fans from around the
world (from his Jamaica to the U.K. bluebeat
and 2 Tone movements to today’s
world ska movement), Roland has lived
his life. His musical genius, passion,
and devout sense for musical standard
and integrity have contributed to and are
encompassed in the longevity and versatility
of such Jamaican based music as
ska, rocksteady, and reggae. His
children wish to remind all that Roland
nearly died at the age of forty;
and are blessed that god, his master, granted
him an additional twenty-seven years to
breathe his passion and gift,
his music. His life at this time
is complete.
Skatalite Tenor Saxman Rolando Alphonso, O.D. is one of Jamaica’s most
important and celebrated musicians with
a career spanning over fifty years -
from his early jazz works in Eric Dean’s
Orchestra and with Comedians Bim and
Bam; to his calypso and mento recordings
with sound system pioneer Stanley
Motta; to his contributions to the
developments of the ska rhythm (e.g. on the
first ska recording Theophilus Beckford’s
“Easy Snappin” in 1958; and in the
Blues Blasters); to the early developments
of Bob Marley’s The Wailing
Wailers; to his important works
with the champion Jamaican music pioneers, The
Skatalites, along with his incredible
solo endeavors in his The Alley Cats, The
Soul Vendors, and other projects.
Roland is one of Famed Studio One Producer
Coxson Dodd’s earliest session musicians
and chief arrangers; and is most
famous for his arrangements of the ska
standards,“Phoenix City” and “El Pussy
Cat.” Roland (a.k.a. “Mr. Versatile”)
played several instruments including
tenor, baritone, alto, and soprano saxophones
and flute.
Roland has received many important accolades: Roland was “knighted”
by the
Jamaican government with an “Order of
Distinction” in 1977 for his important
contributions to Jamaican music and culture;
inducted into the Reggae Hall of
Fame in 1990; given a “key” to the
city of Boston in the early 1990s; and
nominated for two “Grammy” awards for
his work on The Skatalites’ 1994 “Hi Bop
Ska” and 1996 “Greetings from Skamania”
albums.
On a personal note, years ago Roland performed the song “Marie Elena” live
on
“The Ska Parade” Radio Show (featured
on the “Step On It...” cd). Two days ago
at Roland’s bedside with his daughter
Michele and son Barry, I was informed of
the significance of this performance.
Roland rarely performed this song for
the public. This was his wife’s,
Hermine’s, favorite song. The family would
like his fans, family, and friends from
around the world to not mourn this
loss, but rather to celebrate Roland’s
gift, his music. There is no greater
tribute to Roland than to spin his records,
play his music, dance, and to
uphold the integrity and high standards
of the music. These were some of the
basic elements of Roland’s life.
These are the basic tenets of his legacy.
Roland’s family would like to thank the many doctors, nurses, social workers,
and assistants at the Cedars-Sinai Medical
Center
in Los Angeles (that including Doctors
Amor, Mullen, Tabibi, Yu, Chiu, and
Dang; Nurses *M.J., *Shirley, *Dana
Ueki, Helen, Pixie, and Janet;
Respiratory Therapist Collins; *Clinical
Partner Patrick Smith; and Social
Worker Cindy) who provided such outstanding
medical care
and treatment for Roland.
Roland’s family would like to thank Roland’s friends
Bradford Stein (a.k.a. Tazy Phyllipz;
along with his wife Maria)
and Albino Brown of “The Ska Parade” and
Joey Altruda of
Jump With Joey for coming to Roland’s
bedside with their love
and deep respect; and assisting
the family during this rough time.
On a personal note, I would like to recognize Roland’s children, Michele,
Barry, and Jr., for their bravery, strength,
and action at Roland’s bedside
(e.g. they coordinated calling Roland’s
wife, all his children, and
grandchildren from around the world so
that his entire family could say their
final words to Roland via the telephone).
Roland very much loved his wife:
Hermine (who he had known his whole life
and was married to her for 38 years),
his children:
Barry, Pauline, Dennis, Noel, Rolando
Jr., and Michele; his many grandchildren
and one great-grandchild; his bandmates;
his friends and fans; and most
certainly his music!!!
In kind tribute,
Albino Brown
|
Novem.
20, 1998