Heather headshot 1

Once again, author Heather Augustyn hits hard and deep, this time with her study of a forgotten musical legend – Jamaican trombonist Don Drummond.  Acknowledged by many but heard of by few, Drummond is seen as a pioneer of ska, having been the leader of the (now-legendary) Skatalites and rating by jazz pianist George Shearing as one of the top five trombonists in the world.

Ms. Augustyn’s painstaking work had her digging for facts and information, where there is so little to be had and/or found – much of this book is through recollections of people who knew or worked with Drummond or by trying to piece together (at best) sktechy details.  Ms. Augustyn is to be commended for making this as thorough and complete as she was able to do.

The most notoriety that surrounds Drummond is his killing of his girlfriend, singer Anita “Margarita” Mahfood in 1965, his conviction and subsequent and imprisonment in the mental ward of Kingston’s Bell Vue Asylum, where he died in 1969.  This is a fascinating read on all levels; I look forward to exploring Mr. Drummond’s music a little deeper and the next offerings Heather Augustyn publishes.

Solid, intriguing, powerful – high marks all around.

9780786475476

About the Author

Rob Ross

Rob Ross has been, for good, bad or indifferent, involved in the music industry for over 30 years - first as guitarist/singer/songwriter with The Punch Line, then as freelance journalist, producer and manager to working for independent and major record labels. He resides in Staten Island, New York with his wife and cats; he works out a lot, reads voraciously, loves Big Star and his orange Gretsch. Doesn't that make him neat?

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