Ska legends The Skatalites have announced a three-date tour of Ireland in July, with dates in Dublin, Cork and Limerick. The dates coincide with the band’s 55th anniversary.

The original members of The Skatalites had played on hundreds of recording sessions before the band was formed, in 1964. They backed most of the vocalists in Jamaica at that time, including Prince Buster, Bob Marley, Toots and The Maytals, Jimmy Cliff, Alton Ellis, Ken Boothe and many more.

While their initial burst was limited – they split in 1965 – individual members continued to play in various groups as the music evolved from ska to rocksteady to reggae. The iconic ska adaptation of the theme from the film ‘Guns of Navarone’ became as hit in the UK in 1967.

They reformed for the first time in 1974, releasing the African Roots album as Lloyd Brevets and The Skatalites. A 1979 album recorded for Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records was never released. However, in the late 70's a resurgence of interest in ska began in the U.K., leading to the formation of outfits like The Specials, The English Beat, Madness, The Selecter and Bad Manners.

In the early 80's the music started to spread to The U.S., leading in turn to the second reformation of The Skatalites in 1983. They reunited to play Reggae Sunsplash in Montego Bay and they subsequently played at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park, in what was the U.K version of the Sunsplash event.

Shortly afterwards, the band moved to the States, and began gigging again in 1986. In 1989 the band supported Bunny Wailer on The Liberation Tour and in 1990 they embarked on their first headline tour of The U.S.A. It’s been non-stop ever since. A number of the original members have died along the way, including Lloyd Brevett, Don Drummond, Tommy McCook, John “Dizzy” Moore, Lloyd Nibb, Jackie Mittoo and Jerome “Jah Jerry”Haynes.

2019 sees The Skatalites back in the studio recording a new album following 2016’s Platinum Ska and 2017’s The Best of The Skatalites and The Skatalites (Live).

The Skatalites play The Button Factory, Dublin 16 July; Cyprus Avenue, Cork 17 July; and Dolan’s, Limerick, 18 July.