The Skatalites, circa 2002 . - Contributed

THE SKATALITES, arguably Jamaican popular music's most celebrated band, began a three-month tour on Friday with one of five dates in Japan. The final show in that country is scheduled for Friday at Club Quattro in Hiroshima.

In October, the band moves on to the United States for shows in Texas, New Mexico, Mexico, Arizona and California before closing off in Europe in November where they perform in The Netherlands, Belgium and France.

The band, which formed in 1964, has recorded seminal songs such as Freedom Sounds, Eastern Standard Time and Guns of Navarone. The current line-up includes three original members: saxophonist Lester Sterling, drummer Lloyd Knibbs and singer Doreen Shaffer.