Respected Jamaican drummer Desi Jones has died.

Observer Online understands that Jones passed away suddenly on Saturday. He was 65.

Jones started his professional work on the drum set as a teenager when he joined an aggregation under the baton of renowned Jamaican musician and band leader, Sonny Bradshaw. Those formative years laid the foundation for what became a monumental career.

He was a founding member of the band Chalice and, after parting company, went on to form his own band, Skool in 1988.

He played with many Jamaican music greats including Jimmy Cliff, Mutabaruka, Carlene Davis, Monty Alexander, Barrington Levy and Marcia Griffiths. He was also the acclaimed author of The Art Of Reggae Drumming, said to be the world’s first instructional book on reggae drumming, released in 1983.

In 2019, he was awarded the Order of Distinction in tIn 2019, he was awarded the Order of Dhe Rank of Officer (OD) for his contribution to the development of Jamaican music in the genres of jazz, show music and reggae.