Jah Jerry (born Jerome Hines) was one of the first members of the Skatalites at their formation (actually, the third member to join, after Roland Alphonso and Dizzy Johnny Moore). He learned the guitar from Ernest Ranglin in the late '40s and began playing with bands by the '50s. He then went on to play with every producer he possibly could (money was scarce) -- Count Boysie, Prince Buster, Sir Coxsone, Duke Reid -- everyone. Eventually the Skatalites came together and he joined up with them. His style of guitar was part of what defined the ska style of reggae, with chord changes unlike anything else heard at the time. Jah Jerry added jazz chords to the music and shifted chords repeatedly. Unfortunately, by the '90s, he was left uninvited at Reggae Sunsplash events, even for vintage acts, and is only heard in recordings, both as a backing man for the best -- Bob Marley, Desmond Dekker, Jimmy Cliff -- and, of course, as an essential part of the Skatalites. ~ Adam Greenberg, Rovi