Winston Wright

b. 1944, d. 1993. Wright’s name is largely unknown outside of the committed reggae fraternity, but the sound of his organ-playing is familiar to anyone who has ever had more than a passing acquaintance with the music. Winston emerged on the Kingston music scene in the mid-60s and began playing sessions in the rocksteady era, initially for Duke Reid, but as his work became better known, he was in constant demand from many other top producers. His mastery of, and feel for, the Hammond organ earned him an integral role in Tommy McCook’s Supersonics - Duke Reid’s house band. He later hit the UK charts in 1969 as one of Harry J.’s All Stars with ‘Liquidator’, and also made some of his finest recordings that same year with Clancy Eccles’ Dynamites. Throughout the 70s he worked as part of the Dynamic Sounds nucleus of musicians, and from 1975 onwards was a member of Toots And The Maytals’ touring band. He still continued his session work for Kingston’s producers when he was at home ‘resting’, and his contributions to many classic 70s recordings were as uncredited and anonymous as his 60s output. More recently, he returned to Dynamic Sounds where he acted as arranger, mixer and keyboard player. His tragic and untimely death in 1993 robbed the reggae world of one of its greatest unsung talents.