Name: Memorial Album
Brand: Don Drummond

Tax rate EU

Default:19

Supplier EU

Warner Music Group Germany Holding GmbH

Total Cap

Format detail

Colour details

Discogs ID

Limited edition

Colour

Format Music EU

Extended format

Extended format: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Download code

Download code: No

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Release date

2009-03-25

Format multiplier

Catalogue number

541493981812

UPC / Barcode

5414939818127

Artist

Don Drummond

Label EU

Trojan

Genre EU

Reggae / Dub

Don Drummond was a Jamaican trombonist, born on March 12, 1932, in Kingston, Jamaica. He attended the famed Alpha Boys School in Kingston and went on to become one of the top trombonists in the world. In 1964, he co-founded the Skatalites and became their busiest composer, with over 200 tunes to his name by 1965. His composition "Man In The Street" reached the Top 10 in the UK that same year. Drummond's adaptation of "The Guns of Navarone" also became a top 10 hit in the UK in 1967.

Despite his musical genius, Drummond struggled with mental health issues throughout his life. In January 1965, he tragically killed his girlfriend Anita 'Marguerita' Mahfood and was subsequently convicted and sent to Bellevue Asylum. He passed away there on May 6, 1969 at the age of only 37.

Don Drummond's legacy lives on through his incredible contributions to Ska music. His peers and colleagues regarded him as one of the greatest trombonists ever. If you enjoy artists like Lord Tanamo, Baba Brooks, or Derrick Morgan, you'll definitely appreciate Don Drummond's unique sound.

The Beginning:
On July 28th, 1967, the label Trojan was launched by Island Records, one of the UK's leading independent record companies. Created as a sub-label to showcase the productions of Jamaican producer Arthur "Duke" Reid, Trojan quickly became synonymous with reggae music. The label took its name from Reid's powerful sound system and Jamaican label active at the same time. Despite being short-lived initially, Trojan highlighted some of the finest music from Jamaica during the Rocksteady era. After its demise, Trojan was resurrected and went on to dominate the Jamaican records market in the UK.
In the 60s and 70s, Trojan Records successfully spread Reggae throughout the UK and beyond by licensing Jamaican recordings and producing UK-based acts. The parent company was sold to Allied in the 1970s, who continued releasing records under Trojan Records. In 2001, Sanctuary Records Group Ltd acquired the full catalogue of Trojan Records. Subsequently, Universal Music Group purchased Sanctuary in 2007 and later sold it to BMG in 2013. Since then, BMG has distributed Trojan Records in Europe through PIAS. Reissues on Music On Vinyl since 2017 are handled by Townsend Music.
Trojan continues to be a legendary label that has played a significant role in promoting reggae music worldwide.

Newest Listed Items

Educated at Kingston's famed alpha boys school, Drummond later achieved pre-eminence as one of Jamaica's premier musicians, playing an integral role in the celebrated Skatalites band in the early sixties. But soon after, while at the height of his success, his career ended in tragic circumstances: found guilty of murdering his long-term girlfriend, dancer, Marguerita, the troubled hornsman was sentenced to spend the remainder of his days in custody, and on may 6th 1969, he was found dead in his cell, the official verdict given as death by natural causes. Following Drummond's death, producer Duke Reid paid tribute to the much-loved musician with a collection comprised of re-mastered reggae mixes of a dozen of his early ska works. Released by Trojan as 'Memorial Album', the set illustrated how the trombonist's talent could transcend genres and became an immediate best-seller for the company. Now, 40+ years on, this classic set is made available once more, bolstered by 37 bonus tracks from the Treasure Isle catalogue, including the original ska mixes of the tracks, as well as the entire contents of the 'Skatalite' LP from 1964. The result is not only a fitting tribute to one of Jamaica's most iconic figures, but also the most comprehensive compilation of Duke Reid's pre-1965 work yet to see issue.

Memorial Album

Music EU