Dr Alimantado

Dr Alimantado (born Winston James Thompson; 1952), also known as The Ital Surgeon, is a Jamaican reggae singer, deejay, and producer.

Life and career Thompson adopted the Rastafarian faith at an early age. He was mentioned in the 1979 song "Rudie Can't Fail" by The Clash in the line "Like the doctor who was born for a purpose". "Born for a Purpose" was originally released on his Vital Food label, and told of his Rastafarian faith supporting him after a bus hit him in Kingston on 26 December 1976, causing serious injuries. Bim Sherman provided backing vocals on the track. The musicians who played on the record did so without payment. The single, and its accompanying version "Still Alive" were released in the UK firstly as two 7" 45s, then as a 12", featuring the full extended mixes. By 1977, he had largely abandoned his toasting style, apart from occasional records such as "Go Deh Natty Go Deh" on a heavily dubbed mix of Delroy Wilson's "Trying to Conquer Me", preferring to release singing tunes, including "Mama (I Thank You)", "Jah Love Forever", and a cover of Billy Stewart's "Sitting in the Park".

Following the success of Best Dressed Chicken and its follow-up compilation Sons of Thunder he signed to Virgin Records as a singer. While not without vocal talent, his singing records never captured the public imagination to the extent that his "toasting" records did.

His last recording appears to be "Stop Your Fighting" for the Mad Professor's Ariwa label, on a Channel One Studios remake of Horace Andy's "Fever" rhythm.

The film Hancock used the song "Best Dressed Chicken in Town".

2009 marked the 30th anniversary of the issue of Best Dressed Chicken in Town. To mark the occasion, Alimantado re-released the album in its original sleeves with a bonus DVD on his own Keyman Records label.