Roland Alphonso (1931 - 1998)

Tenor Saxophone

Aubrey Adams & The Dew Droppers. In 1963, after few months spent in Nassau, Bahamas, he took part in the creation of The Studio One Orchestra, AKA The Skatalites, the first session band at Dodd's newly-opened recording studio.

When the Skatalites disbanded by August 1965, Alphonso formed the Soul Brothers (with Johnny 'Dizzy' Moore, and Jackie Mittoo) to become The Soul Vendors in 1967. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Alphonso led the Ruinaires, the resident band at the Ruins restaurant/nightclub, this coming to an end when he suffered a stroke at the age of 41. He recovered quickly from this setback, and relocated to the United States in late 1972, soon returning to performing and recording. He released the first album under his name in 1973 on the Studio One record label.

During the 1970's, 80's, and 90's, he kept on playing on numerous records coming out from Jamaican studios, especially for Bunny Lee, and he toured with many bands. In the late 1970's and early 1980's, he played with the band Jah Malla, performing regularly on the live circuit around New York.

He was awarded Officer of the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government in 1977, and started to tour more often in the U.S. He took part in the reformation of the Skatalites in 1983, with whom he toured and recorded constantly until he suffered a burst blood vessel in his head during a show at the Key Club in Hollywood on November 2, 1998. He died on 18 days