Jackie Mittoo was a Jamaican-Canadian keyboardist and composer who played a crucial role in shaping ska, rocksteady, and reggae music. Born Donat Roy Mittoo on March 3, 1948, in Brown's Town, Jamaica, he was a child prodigy who started playing piano at the age of three.

He played with the group the Sheiks at 13 years old. Other early groups were the Rivals, the Vagabonds and the Vikings.

Mittoo became a founding member of The Skatalites in 1964, one of Jamaica’s most influential ska bands. Who's member's included Roland Alphonso (tenor sax), Tommy McCook (tenor sax and flute, and leader of the group), Don Drummond (trombone), Lester Sterling (alto-sax) Johnny "Dizzy" Moore (trumpet), Lloyd Knibb (drums), Lloyd Brevett (bass), Jackie Mittoo (piano and organ), and Jah Jerry Haines (guitar).

When the Skatalites band split in 1965, under the leadership of Roland Alphonso, which also included Jackie Mittoo on organ, Lloyd Brevett on bass and Johnny Moore on trumpet, they became the Soul Brothers studio house band at Studio 1. They put out 6 UK, 45's on Coxsone records using the name the Soul Vendors, later changing their name to the Soul Brothers and subsequently Sound Dimension. Looking for new oppertunities Tommy Mc Cook formed the group Supersonics  and joined Duke Reid at Treasure Isle as the session band.

Mittoo became songwriter and arranger with producer Clement Dodd at Studio 1. Their partnership was to be long lasting. Dodd moved his operation from Kingston, Jamica in the later seventies to Brooklyn USA. At the end of the seventies Mittoo moved to Toronto, Canada.

The Soul Vendors the group that gave us 'Rock Steady', this phrase originated by Coxone Dodd. This new sound was much slower than Ska, stronger base line and a persistent shuffling rhythm together with some very fine sax and trumpet solos, and the organ was used to greater effect. The vocal styles were very soulful, heavily influenced by the USA soul and R & B records of that period. "Rock Steady" by Alton Ellis issued in 1967 on the Treasure Isle label sums up the new style, using repeat upbeat guitar riff and the brass section answering the vocals, beautiful sax solo, even a  vocal backing group.

In 1967 Clemont Dodd took the Soul Vendors on a tour of the UK. The band was made up of Hector Williams (drums) Lloyd Brevett (double bass) Alton Ellis (vocalist) Roland Alphonso (Tenor sax & leader of the group) Jackie Mittoo (organ) Ernest Ranglin (rhythm guitar) Johnny Morris (trumpet) Errol Walters (bass guitar) Ken Boothe (vocalist). An LP Soul Vendors on Tour was issue on UK Coxsone CSL 8010 records.

Jackie Mittoo recorded the LP Jackie Mittoo in London on Coxsone CLS 8009, also while he was in the UK. Two venues they played at were Porchester Hall, Paddington, London, in October and the Ram Jam club in Brixton, London in November 67.

Tracks listing: Something Stupid; Whiter Shade Of Pale; Massachusetts; Ain't That Loving You; Kicksie; Darker Shade Of Black // Ram Jam (Fattie Fattie); Winchester Cathedral; Who Done It; Midnight Special (You Don't Care); How Soon (So Much Love); Soul Finger.

Alll were recorded in England except Pressure And Slide, You Trouble Me and Just A Bit O'Soul.

On their return to Jamaica the group became known as the Sound Dimension.

Mittoo recorded 7 albums at Studio 1 and issued approx two hundred 45's in Jamaica and the UK. He arranged hundreds of sessions at Studio 1, with and for Clement Dodd.

Jackie Mittoo came up with original rhythms which were used in hundreds of Jamaican songs. He regularly returned to Jamaica and Studio 1 in the 70's & 80's. He was the most important keyboard player in Jamaican music, of which there is no doubt.

Jackie Mittoo was taken into hospital in early December, he later died from cancer on 16th December 1990 he was only 42 years old. His funeral was held at the National Arena in Kingston, Jamaica.

The label scan used, shown above, are some of his rarest UK 45's, which in mint condition sell for many hundreds of pounds.