Lincoln Valentine Scott

Style Scott, born 29th April 1956, was an influential drummer and a founding member of the Roots Radics, a key backing band in early reggae music. Born in 1965, he was raised by his grandparents on a farm. Initially, he experimented with the steel guitar, but he found his true passion in drumming. He fashioned makeshift drums from denim fabric stretched over clay pots to learn the rhythms. Eventually, he moved to Kingston, where he joined the Jamaica Defence Force and served in the Jamaica Military Band Drum Corps. In Kingston, Scott frequented recording studios, and was inspired by renowned drummer Sly Dunbar. Early recording sessions included playing on hits like David Isaacs's "Just Like a Sea" and Sugar Minott's "Hard Time Pressure." He then joined Prince Far I's backing band, the Arabs, and made connections with British producer Adrian Sherwood during their 1978 tour of Britain. Scott's drumming style was known for offbeat rim-shots and vibrant drum rolls, making him a highly innovative drummer in the reggae scene. Gregory Isaacs provided him with a drum kit to back him, leading to the formation of the Roots Radics, named for their distinctive sound. The Roots Radics' peak years were between 1979 to 1985, during which they backed various popular artists and worked with notable reggae producers. They played a crucial role in the shift from roots to dancehall reggae, supporting artists like Barrington Levy and Michael Prophet. The Roots Radics became the resident band at Channel One studios, filling the void left by Sly Dunbar's Revolutionaries. They also assisted Bunny Wailer in transitioning to dancehall and performed with him at Madison Square Garden in 1986. Alongside his work with the Roots Radics, Scott pursued a career in the UK, collaborating with Adrian Sherwood. He contributed to the first two albums of African Head Charge and officially joined Dub Syndicate in 1985 as the Jamaican music scene shifted to digital, reducing the demand for Roots Radics. Scott passed away on the night of October 9, 2014, when he was killed at his Jamaican home in the Williamsfield district. Police arrived at his residence after gunshots were reported around 10:10 pm and found the 58-year-old Scott deceased.