With his alma mater Kingston College (KC) celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, music producer Mikey Bennett has ‘assembled’ a dream team of Fortis artistes and musicians to record an album saluting Jamaican music.

Bennett, who attended KC between 1964-69, told the Jamaica Observer that he was schoolmates at different stages with most of them, including Wailers keyboardist Tyrone Downie, keyboardist Harold Butler, and bassist Frankie Campbell.

“My choice for a recording session would depend on the nature of the recording. From rocksteady to dancehall…celebrating each decade (of Jamaican music),” he said.

Bennett, who has written and produced songs by Maxi Priest, Shabba Ranks, Frankie Paul, and Mykal Rose, was also a member of Home T, a successful vocal group. Winston “Diego” Tucker, one of Home T’s lead singers, is also a KC old boy.

The Mikey Bennett Fortis Band is: Keyboards: Tyrone Downie, Carol “Bowie” McLaughlin, Jackie Mitoo, Harold Butler, and Mallory Williams; guitars: Steve Golding (rhythm), Billy Johnson (lead); drums: Trevor “Sparrow” Thompson; bass: Frankie Campbell; vocals: Dobby Dobson, Winston “Diego” Tucker, Paul Blake (of The Bloodfire Posse), Peter Scarlett (of The Fabulous Five Band) and Tony Tuff.

A number of other noted artistes and musicians attended KC, including singers Junior Tucker, Peter Lloyd and Robert Ffrench; keyboardist/melodica maestro Augustus Pablo, keyboardists Leslie Butler and Alden “Trapper John” Stewart of The Bloodfire Posse.

Several of the musicians, including Mittoo (died in 1990), Pablo (died in 1999), Downie (died in 2022), and the Butlers, developed their skills in the KC St Augustine’s Chapel at North Street, home to the school’s famous choir.