LAUREL AITKEN - JAMAICA'S FIRST RECORDING STAR
Born Cuba - 22 April, 1927
Died Leicester, England - 17 July, 2005
Ska and Reggae pioneer Laurel Aitken has died at the age of 78 in Leicester, England.
Aitken was dubbed the "Godfather of Ska" in recognition of his contribution to Jamaican music over half a century as a recording artist and performer.
Born in Cuba in 1927, he was 11 when his family settled in Jamaica. Like many entertainers of his generation, Laurel Aitken began his career on the Kingston docks playing calypso for disembarking tourists. In the early 1950s, he often won the famed "Vere John's Opportunity Hour" talent contest.
Aitken had a number of 78s released on the Caribou label in 1957. These represent some of the earliest recordings made on the island and comprising mentos, spirituals and, most importantly, blues. "Aitken's Boogie" may be the first Jamaican R&B record and, as such, is a landmark in the evolution of reggae.
Laurel Aitken was one of the premier entertainers of the pre-ska era, finding favour with a rollicking boogie style reminiscent of American artists Floyd Dixon and Rosco Gordon. Aitken's "Little Sheila" / "Boogie in my Bones" was the first single on Island Records. The musicians on this and other early hits, were The Caribs, an Australian jazz quartet resident at Kingston's Glass Bucket Club.
Aitkens fame reached the other side of the Atlantic courtesy of Emile Shallit, who re-pressed Jamaican sounds on his London-based Blue Beat imprint. Aitkens popularity amongst the burgeoning West Indian community in England prompted him to emigrate there in 1960. Though he would never again be a major musical figure in Jamaica, Aitken has been credited with the propagation of ska and reggae in the U.K.
Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. Aitken released a steady stream of ska, rock steady and reggae for companies including Columbia Blue Beat, Doctor Bird, Pama and EMI. Classics included "Fire in Me Wire", "Landlord and Tenant", "Woppi King" and "Skinhead Train".
In the late 1970s, Aitken was both an icon and mentor to ska revival bands like Madness and The Specials. His black trilby hat and wrap sunglasses became the unofficial uniform of the Two Tone movement. He even managed a chart hit of his own in 1981 with "Rudy Got Married". Aitken appeared alongside David Bowie in the 1986 film Absolute Beginners. Laurel Aitken continued to tour Europe throughout the 1980s and 1990s on the back of the third wave of ska.
From Graeme Goodall (Ska engineer)
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Co-founder of Island Records with Chris Blackwell;
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The only qualified recording engineer in Jamaica at the time and in that capacity ran the desk on virtually every important session between 1958-1964 including all the Laurel Aitken Jamaican recordings;
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He then left for England and set up the Doctor Bird label (for whom Laurel had some of his biggest hits)
So....my very,very special friend Larry has gone to join that group of ska men "up there". I should try to say something humorous about him, (like if they recovered all the gold from his teeth they could pay off Jamaicas' national debt) his sense of humor was wonderful, I know he would like that....but I am too torn up right now. He not only was a phenomenal artist, but he also produced all his records .Promoter & writer, he had his finger on the pulse of what was happening in the social and economic world of the Jamaican immigrant population in the U.K. in the late 60's/early 70's. On Doctor Bird I released an Album "Fire ina mi Wire" , with Larry in an antique London Fireman's Helmet on the cover (even took the , B&W , cover photo @ the Dennis factory on a vintage Dennis Fire engine) got Leandro to draw a cartoon for the liner notes. I was involved in several concerts that he promoted (in London & Birmingham) "for gate" and even had to pull him back through the mens' lavatory window by his feet one night as he was " goin outa de back way to proteck de money from some bad men who woulda rob me!!!". The WHOLE WORLD has lost a one off character who touched everyone who met him in a wonderful way.
Laurel Aitken, Larry to many friends, was the consumate artist who worked in his favorite media, music.....the total Larry....gold & jewelled teeth, three piece suit, tight trouser legs, Brixton Brimless hat, who could not remember him? He was a living, reachable reminder of home to the hundreds of thousands of Jamaicans who immigrated to England in the 60's. While Bob Marley wrote & sang about the oppression & difficulties of the Kingston ghettos, Larry knew the hardships of weather, overcrowding, prejudices and separation that the "migrants" had to endure and told them out loud. We will never know how the lives of many of these people would have differed if he were not there....because he was there.
Thank you Laurel, because you also helped me. Goody.
Mr. Goody.
From Dennis Sindrey (member of The Caribs)
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Guitarist with The Caribs
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Played on most of Laurels boogie sessions including "Little Sheila", "Boogie in my Bones", "Drinkin Whiskey", "Honey Girl".
My main remembrance is that if I am correct,Laurel's Little Sheila was the first record that Chris Blackwell made as Island records, and it was recorded after hours at Radio Jamaica studios. Graeme can verify if this is correct. It was the first time that Ernie Ranglin and I played together in a recording session, and I think we were all pleasantly surprised at the result, including Laurel's professionalism. I beleive that I had only met Laurel one time before the session, and had gone into the studio with rather low expectations. As I say, happily, the results were much better than I had expected.
Dennis
From Carlos Malcolm (Ska band-leader)
Hi
Sorry to hear. I knew Laurel well. He was born in Santiago, Cuba. He used to work at the Rainbow Club in Halfway Tree. He sang most Jamaican mento music the before he met Chris Blackwell.. His recordings such as "Baba Kill Mi Goat" and "Little Sheila" jump-started Chris Blackwell's career as a music producer. Emile Shallit bankrolled Laurel and Prince Buster as producers of Jamaican Ska music in London. May Laurel r.i.p.
Carlos
