Style Scott is one of Jamaica’s finest every drummers. As a young man, Style worked briefly as a waiter. He had a trick where he could spin a tray full of drinks on his fingers to entertain the tourists. He later joined the Jamaican army where he played the military drums. Upon leaving the army he entered the music business.

With a god given talent, Style has played on hundreds and hundreds of songs. From late 1978 throughout the 80’s his band Roots Radics were responsible for hit after hit coming from Jamaica. The radices were the chosen band of both reggae superstars Gregory Isaacs and Bunny Wailer. Their recordings at Channel One with countless producers changed the beat in reggae.

With Style’s foot drum marching with the bass line and his distinctive hi hats Radics were the hottest band on the island and instantly recognisable. Yellow Man, Mikey Dread, Eek-a-Mouse, Sugar Minott on the Scientist Dub Series – on and on goes the list.

Luckily for me, I actually met Style pre-Roots Radics. We had a tour planned (1978) for Prince Fari and intended using Big Youths drummer Santa to augment Creation Rebel on the ‘bands’ first tour. Santa couldn’t come but Fari had heard about an amazing young drummer not long out of the Jamaican army – Style Scott.

The tour in ‘78 was a learning process for us all and we did two more tours the following year. Both a success, it was during this same period that Hitrun/Rebel recordings took place in London with Style that the Radics exploded worldwide.

Style had outgrown Hitrun but each time he came to London with Gregory Isaacs (who was by now a bona fide Reggae superstar) he would record with me, making my productions that bit special. I record with him under the names Creation Rebel, Dub Syndicate, Singers and Players and even on some New Age Steppers tracks.

Style Scott truly believed (as did all of us) that Gregory Isaacs would become a true world superstar. Unfortunately in the years that followed this collaboration ceased.