Don Drummond

Don Drummond (1934–1969) was a highly influential Jamaican ska trombonist and composer, best known as a founding member of The Skatalites, the band that defined the ska sound of the 1960s. Born in Kingston and educated at the Alpha Boys School, he developed exceptional musical talent early on and later mentored fellow trombonist Rico Rodriguez. Drummond began his career playing jazz in the 1950s with Eric Dean’s All-Stars and other big bands before transitioning into ska, where his compositions became central to Jamaica’s emerging popular music. In 1964, Drummond joined The Skatalites and quickly rose to fame in Jamaica due to his virtuosic playing and prolific songwriting. His growing involvement with the Rastafari movement also influenced fellow band members. Despite his musical success and reputation—he was reportedly regarded by jazz great George Shearing as one of the world’s top trombonists—Drummond struggled with severe mental health issues, which increasingly affected his personal life and career. Tragedy struck in 1965 when Drummond’s partner, Anita “Marguerita” Mahfood, was found stabbed to death. Although he claimed she took her own life, Drummond was convicted of murder in 1966, ruled criminally insane, and confined to Bellevue Asylum, where he died in 1969. Despite never performing internationally, Drummond is remembered as one of Jamaica’s greatest musicians. His legacy continues through biographies, academic studies, and the 2013 ballet Malungu, which dramatized his life and tragic fate.