https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/jun/28/bob-marley-jamaican-ska-pioneer-don-drummond-trombone-man?CMP=share_btn_url
#1 SKA’S FALLEN GENIUS
‘He was greater than Bob Marley’: the shocking tale of Jamaican ska pioneer Don Drummond
THE DON DRUMMOND STORY
TROMBONE MAN
SKA’S FALLEN GENIUS
AUTHOR: ADAM REEVES ILLUSTRATOR: CONSTANTINOS PISSOURIOS
THE STORY OF JAMAICAN SKA’S LEADING PIONEER AND HIS FATAL OBSESSION WITH THE QUEEN OF RHUMBA
LOVE HELD THEM TOGETHER: MADNESS TORE THEM APART
This brilliant musician forever shaped the course of ska, reggae, and popular music worldwide, only to take the life of his lover and in so doing, destroy his career at the age of 30.
DON DRUMMOND WAS A FOUNDER MEMBER OF THE SKATALITES, THEMSELVES PIONEERS OF JAMAICAN SKA MUSIC AND GLOBAL PERFORMERS OF THE MUSIC WRITTEN AND ARRANGED BY DON DRUMMOND. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE SKATALITES PERFORMING AT GLASTONBURY IN 2003, “THE GUNS OF NAVARONE” ARRANGED BY DON DRUMMOND IN 1965.
TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT WHICH HOPES TO KEEP THE NAME OF DON DRUMMOND AND HIS TRAGIC LIFE ALIVE IN THE HISTORY OF REGGAE, DRUM AND BASS, JAZZ AND JAMAICAN SKA MUSIC.
By Adam Reeves and Graphic Art by Constantinos Pissourios
Just published, Issue 1 “BAREFOOT BOY”
(of 7 part story of Don Drummond’s contribution to music)
Here’s Skatalites’ trombonist Don Drummond aged 10 on the streets of Kingston in the ’40s, from the front cover of issue #1 of Trombone Man: Ska’s Fallen Genius, a 7-part comic book series telling the life and times of one of the original pioneers of ska.
A free digital version of issue #1 will be available for you to download when its completed later this summer. You can pre-order your free copy now, along with a cool free gift: https://bit.ly/TromboneMan
This first print run is just 750 copies. It comes with a downloadable single by Swiss ska band the Skatanauts and features a full size print of the cover. Each copy is numbered and signed by writer Adam Reeves. There is a limited edition alternate cover (just 250), only available as an additional purchase to the standard cover.
Having successfully crowdfunded on Kickstarter in November 2022, issue #1 of Trombone Man, is now in print. Titled Barefoot Boy, it is currently available to purchase from our crowdfund page at Indiegogo, along with prints, stickers, badges, t-shirts etc. Or contact Adam at alkreeves@gmail.com to purchase directly. Storefront coming soon!
CLICK THIS LINK TO LEARN ALL ABOUT THIS NEW GRAPHIC ART BOOK
Don Drummond
The seats of the Carib Theatre were filled. The aisles, the walkways
behind the seats, even the balconies and the foyer by the ticket booth were
bursting with people. Outside the massive structure, in the parking lot,
crowds nearly rioted with excitement, pushing for a chance to get inside to
catch a glimpse of the exhibition. The iron fencing outside of the theater
was bent by the feral multitude. Inside, under the heat of the spotlights,
upon the wooden theater floor, Don Drummond strolled from the balcony
to the stage, sauntering in his leather shoes, sharp suit, and hat tilted slightly
to the back of his head. His trombone glistened, ripping from one note to
the next with a strange combination of upbeat melancholy. Drummond
wasn’t blowing a tune like “Lady in Red,” or “Full Moon and Empty Arms,”
or any other jazz standard as he had for seven years with other bands where
he earned the right to perform at Jazz ’57, a showcase of Jamaican
musicians. This was his own composition, “The Message,” and it drove the
overflowing audience mad. They screamed, they called his name, some even
wept. Don Drummond was a star.
Price £12.00 ($15.50) PLUS SHIPPING COSTS. AVAILABLE TO BE SHIPPED WORLDWIDE
Please come along to the launch night for Trombone Man: Ska’s Fallen Genius, my comic book series about the life and times of Jamaican trombonist Don Drummond at the Rose Hill, Brighton BN1 4JL
Thursday 25th April, 7.30pm -11.30. Free entry.
I will be sharing my story of my journey into the world of comics creation, with a live link-up with US ska historian Heather Augustyn and the comic’s illustrator Constantinos Pissourios from his eco house up in the mountatins of Cyprus.The first issue sees young Don running wild on the streets of Kingston in the 1940s and finding himself on the wrong side of the law. Placed by the courts into the strict care of Roman Catholic nuns at Alpha Boys School, an entire new life beckons as the head of music, Sister Ignatius, recognises a spark of genius in him.THE ROSE HIL, (https://www.therosehill.co.uk) Live music venue in Brighton and Hove, England
Address: Rose Hill Terrace, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 4JL
If you can’t make the event, you are welcome to join via Zoom. Just PM me and I’ll send you the details.
Posted by Adam Reeves on Tuesday 6 February 2024
Posted by Adam Reeves on Tuesday 6 February 2024
<div class="fb-video" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/adam.reeves.3139/videos/760331859351001/" data-width="800" data-show-text="true"><blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/adam.reeves.3139/videos/760331859351001/" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/adam.reeves.3139/videos/760331859351001/"></a><p></p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/adam.reeves.3139">Adam Reeves</a> on Tuesday 6 February 2024</blockquote></div>