Roots Archives Forum

Was Santa Davis the first drummer for Roots Radics? When was he replaced with Style Scott? And why? I know he was replaced, but I never founf any info why... Or did he leave? I, personally, preffer Santa, Style Scott is also great, but I think Santa fits better with Bingy Bunny and Flabba Holt...

The switch from Santa to Style Scott must have happened somewhere in 1979/1980. Someone on this forum once posted this. On Barrington Levy's 1979 Englishman and Shaolin Temple LPs it's still Santa (and someone spoke of an uncredited Sly on a couple of tracks). The Robin Hood Album came out one year later in 1980 and there it was Style Scott already.

But why did they change? I personally think that Style fits better with Flabba, that's just me though. But maybe Flabba thought so too.

Santa was the original Radics drummer, and he left in 1981 to tour with Peter Tosh's band, where he remained until Tosh's passing. Style Scott, who was playing in a touring band for Prince Far-I, joined The Radics as his replacement. Style had filled in for Santa on some 1980 sessions, but joined full time in 1981.

Stylee fits better his drum snare goes perfect with flabba.