Pioneering studio engineer Sid Bucknor dies in England

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The Jamaican music industry has lost another pioneer with the passing of veteran studio engineer Sid Bucknor, who died of cancer at the St Charles Hospital, Ladbroke Grove in London on Sunday.

Bucknor, who migrated to the UK in 1970, was one of the early innovators responsible for the evolution of Jamaican music from ska to reggae. The artistes on whose music the producer/songwriter has left his indelible mark include Bob Marley and the Wailers, Toots and the Maytals, Alton Ellis, John Holt, Ken Boothe and Bob Andy to mention a few.

Some of his finest recording projects were done at such studios as Studio One, Channel One, Dynamics, Federal, Treasure Isle, Harry J, Randy's King Tubbys, Joe Gibbs among otherrs.

A short tribute by close friend, guitarist Cecil Smith stated that Sid Bucknor was a musical giant whose contribution to Jamaican music cannot be overlooked.

"Sid (Bucknor) was a giant in the music business. He was instrumental in the development of the Jamaican music sound, ska, rock steady and reggae. He was a great studio engineer, producer and songwriter. He helped to shape the sound of the music alongside the musicians of the time and pioneered new ways and techniques of capturing the feel and spirit of the music. His contributions to Jamaican music cannot be overlooked," Smith noted.

According to Smith, much the industry success can be directly attributed to Bucknor's creative genius and pioneering style. Sid Bucknor was described as "a very patient teacher who was always happy to pass on his knowledge and skills to anyone wishing to learn".

Sid reportedly worked with all of the greats in the Jamaican music industry.

"He recorded and mixed Catch a Fire, Burning and Natty Dread for Bob Marley and the Wailers. He also recorded, mixed and produced songs with Toots and the Maytals, Desmond Dekker, Alton Ellis, BB seaton, Ken Boothe, John Holt, Bob Andy. Before migrating to England in 1970, where he contined to spread the sound of reggae, he worked at Dynamics, Federal, Studio One, Channel One, Treasure Isle, Harry J, Randy's King Tubbys and Joe Gibbs' studios," the release concluded.

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Pioneering studio engineer Sid Bucknor dies in England