It was with Eric Dean's band where he gained the technical skills to play many styles. Dean's set list included the big band music of Glenn Miller as well as the popular dances of the day: rhumba, cha-cha-cha and bolero, and his tenure in the band coincided with future major figures in ska such as Tommy McCook, Baba Brooks, and Lloyd Brevett. Knibb's technical proficiency and wide knowledge of styles soon led to him being featured on the recordings of Coxsone Dodd, Prince Buster, Sonia Pottinger and Duke Reid, playing an instrumental part in the development of ska.
Eric Dean's band provided a platform for Knibb to develop his musical skills across various genres, including big band music by Glenn Miller and popular dances like the rhumba, cha-cha-cha, and bolero. His time with the band coincided with the rise of future ska legends such as Tommy McCook, Baba Brooks, and Lloyd Brevett.  Knibb's technical expertise and knowledge of diverse musical styles led to him being featured on recordings by prominent Jamaican artists like Coxsone Dodd, Prince Buster, Sonia Pottinger, and Duke Reid, contributing significantly to the development of ska music.