Rico Rodriquez, who belonged to the golden age of Jamaican ‘hornsmen’, died in London Friday at age 80. Britain’s Guardian newspaper reported that the influential trombonist died in hospital but did not give a cause of death.

Like saxophonists Tommy McCook and Lester Sterling and fellow trombonist Don Drummond, all members of the Skatalites, the Cuba-born Rodriquez learned music at the Alpha Boys School in Kingston.

Strongly influenced by the enigmatic Drummond and master drummer Count Ossie (of the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari), Rodriquez is best known for the 1977 album, Man From Wareika, a jazz/roots-reggae fusion piece that is rated among Jamaican music’s seminal works.

Distributed by venerable jazz label Blue Note, it is Rodriquez’ signature. Man From Wareika includes the songs Africa and Lumumba; the latter is a moving tribute to Patrice Lumumba, slain president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Rodriquez moved to the United Kingdom in the early 1960s. Over the years, he developed a cult following among white youth in the Skinhead and Mod movements who appreciated his mastery of ska and jazz.

In the 1970s, he was befriended by The Specials, a British 2 Tone band with whom he recorded several songs including A Message to you, Rudy, a big hit for them in 1979.

For his impact on the British music scene, Rodriquez was awarded an MBE for services to music in 2007.

In 2012, the Institute of Jamaica awarded him a Silver Musgrave Medal for his contribution to the development of Jamaican music. He was unable to attend the ceremony at the organisation’s East Street headquarters in Kingston, due to ill health.