Jamaican trumpeter’s ska band influential

Johnny Moore, 70, a trumpeter and founding member of the pioneering Jamaican ska and reggae band The Skatalites, died Saturday of cancer in Kingston, Jamaica, according to music promoter Herbie Miller.

Moore helped form the band in 1964 along with saxophonists Tommy McCook and Roland Alphonso and trombonist Don Drummond.

“He was the most creative of the trumpeters from the ska period,” Miller said. “He was always willing to try different things.”

During the 14 months the band was together, it transformed jazz, movie themes and other genres of music with ska style. Over the years, the group’s music continued to influence bands such as 311, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and No Doubt.