From San Fernando to Kingston: The Man Who Shaped a Genre
Born Nerlynn âLynnâ Taitt in San Fernando, Trinidad, this musical innovator began his journey playing steelpan before transitioning to guitar at the age of 14. In a move that would forever change Caribbean music, Taittâs band was selected by Byron Lee to perform at Jamaica’s Independence celebrations in 1962, marking the beginning of a remarkable musical odyssey. Captivated by the pulse of Jamaicaâs music scene, Lynn decided to stay, settling in Kingston and immersing himself in a budding industry about to undergo a seismic shift.
In Kingston, Taitt became a staple in several influential bandsâThe Sheiks, The Cavaliers, The Comets, and later, The Jets, which he formed in 1966. This iconic group featured musical luminaries such as Hux Brown, Hopeton Lewis, Headley Bennett, and Winston Wright. Taittâs sharp, percussive guitar style and inventive arrangements marked a departure from skaâs upbeat bounce, introducing a more relaxed rhythmâthe foundation of what would become rocksteady. His work on “Take It Easy” by Hopeton Lewis, widely regarded as the first rocksteady track, demonstrated his vision. That song topped the Jamaican charts and reshaped the sound of the Caribbean.
Taitt’s contributions didn’t stop at guitar riffs. He served as a session leader and arranger for hundreds of recordings with Jamaicaâs most powerful producersâDuke Reid, Bunny Lee, Coxsone Dodd, Joe Gibbs, and Sonia Pottinger. He was the guiding force behind the instrumentation of seminal hits like âTougher Than Toughâ by Derrick Morgan and âGirl Iâve Got a Dateâ by Alton Ellis, solidifying his legacy as the architect of a genre. He was so prolific that some days saw him working up to five recording sessions.
Though Lynn Taitt left Jamaica in 1968 for Toronto, Canada, just before reggae fully exploded, his musical DNA lived on. His stylistic fingerprints are found all over reggaeâs early recordings. His influence deeply shaped the sound adopted by legends such as Bob Marley, Desmond Dekker, Ken Boothe, and session musicians like Hux Brown, who built upon Taittâs guitar methods to evolve the reggae and later dancehall rhythms. Even internationally, Taitt played with Johnny Nash, adding flavor to hits like âCupidâ and âHold Me Tight.â
Until his passing in 2010, Taitt remained active, recording with Canadian ska and reggae acts like The Kingpins and performing at global events such as the Montreal International Jazz Festival. He remained a humble guardian of a sound that continues to influence global music to this day. From the heart of San Fernando to the studios of Kingston and beyond, Lynn Taittâs legacy is a bridge between Trinidadâs roots and Jamaicaâs cultural revolutionâa true Caribbean icon whose rhythms continue to ripple across generations of reggae and dancehall.