Sister Mary Ignatius Davis
Encyclopedia
Sister Mary Ignatius Davis (18 November 1921−9 February 2003) was a Jamaica
n nun
and inspirational musician.
Born in Innswood, Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica
, Davis was baptised at the St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church
in Spanish Town
, and went to the St. Catherine Elementary School. After her family moved to Kingston
, she attended Alpha Boys School
. She joined the Sisters of Mercy
on 1 February 1939, aged 17, and lived at the school for the remainder of her life. She died at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica, in 2003, aged 81.
She inspired many musicians from the Alpha school to become professional musicians. In particular, Sister Ignatius nurtured the talents of tenor saxophonist Tommy McCook
, trombonist Don Drummond
and trumpeter Johnny "Dizzy" Moore
, who went on to form the Skatalites, as well as trombonist Rico Rodriguez
, who moved to Great Britain
, played with the Specials on their chart-topping Special A.K.A. EP of January 1980 and is currently a member of Jools Holland
's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. She contributed to Island Rock, a documentary series broadcast in 2002 on BBC Radio 2
to mark the 40th anniversary of Jamaican independence.
Sister Mary Ignatius had a large record
collection that was the envy of many pupils at the Academy. For many years she ran a disco
on Saturday nights at the Academy.
She died at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica, in 2003, aged 81.
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
and inspirational musician.
Born in Innswood, Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica
Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica
St Catherine is a parish located in the south east of Jamaica. It is located in the county of Middlesex, and is one of the island's largest and most economically valued parish because of its many resources. It includes the first capital of Jamaica, Spanish Town, originally known as San Jago de la...
, Davis was baptised at the St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church
St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church
St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church is an historic church at 86 Hope Street in Providence, Rhode Island.The church was built in 1851 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.-See also:...
in Spanish Town
Spanish Town
Spanish Town is the capital and the largest town in the parish of St. Catherine in the county of Middlesex, Jamaica. It was the former Spanish and English capital of Jamaica from the 16th to the 19th century...
, and went to the St. Catherine Elementary School. After her family moved to Kingston
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, she attended Alpha Boys School
Alpha Boys School
Alpha Cottage School is a school on South Camp Road in Kingston, Jamaica, run by Roman Catholic nuns...
. She joined the Sisters of Mercy
Sisters of Mercy
The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
on 1 February 1939, aged 17, and lived at the school for the remainder of her life. She died at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica, in 2003, aged 81.
She inspired many musicians from the Alpha school to become professional musicians. In particular, Sister Ignatius nurtured the talents of tenor saxophonist Tommy McCook
Tommy McCook
Tommy McCook was a Jamaican saxophonist. A founding member of The Skatalites, he also directed The Supersonics for Duke Reid, and backed many sessions for Bunny Lee or with The Revolutionaries at Channel One Studios in the 1970s.-Biography:McCook was born in Havana, Cuba, and moved to Jamaica in...
, trombonist Don Drummond
Don Drummond
Don Drummond was a Jamaican ska trombonist and composer. He was one of the original members of The Skatalites, and composed many of their tunes....
and trumpeter Johnny "Dizzy" Moore
Johnny Moore (trumpeter)
John Arlington "Dizzy" Moore OD was a Jamaican trumpet player and founding member of pioneering Jamaican ska and reggae act, The Skatalites.-Biography:...
, who went on to form the Skatalites, as well as trombonist Rico Rodriguez
Rico Rodriguez
Rico Rodriguez MBE , also known as Reco or El Reco, is a ska and reggae trombonist. He has recorded with many producers, including Karl Pitterson, Prince Buster, and Lloyd 'Matador' Daley...
, who moved to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, played with the Specials on their chart-topping Special A.K.A. EP of January 1980 and is currently a member of Jools Holland
Jools Holland
Julian Miles "Jools" Holland OBE, DL is an English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer, and television presenter. He was a founder of the band Squeeze and his work has involved him with many artists including Sting, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, The Who, David Gilmour and Bono.Holland is a...
's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. She contributed to Island Rock, a documentary series broadcast in 2002 on BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
to mark the 40th anniversary of Jamaican independence.
Sister Mary Ignatius had a large record
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
collection that was the envy of many pupils at the Academy. For many years she ran a disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
on Saturday nights at the Academy.
She died at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica, in 2003, aged 81.
External links
- Obituary of Sister Mary Ignatius, The Independent on Sunday, 3 March 2003
- Alpha Old Boys Association