KINGSTON, Jamaica, May 15 (UPI) -- Lloyd Knibb, a founding member of the Skatalites, has died of liver cancer at his home in Kingston, Jamaica, his family said.
Knibb, 80, died Thursday in the company of his friends and family, the Jamaica Observer reported.
The newspaper said Knibb, after being told by doctors in Boston he had three days to live, asked to be flown home to Jamaica. He arrived on the island at midnight Wednesday and he died hours later.
Bassist Lloyd Brivette and alto saxophonist Lester Sterling are the only living original members of the musical group that started about 50 years ago.
Knibb was hailed as the greatest Jamaican drummer ever.
"Lloyd Knibb is a very, very important musician when it comes to the unfolding of Jamaican music because he was really into the whole tradition of the music," said Herbie Miller, director of the Jamaica Music Museum.
Bunny Goodison, a musicologist and broadcaster, echoed Miller's sentiments.
"From all accounts, he was the best at what he did," Goodison said. "He is the father of pop drumming in Jamaica. He claimed credit [and] paternity for creating the ska beat."
