Lorenzo Aitken (22 April 1927 – 17 July 2005), better known by the stage na… Read Full Bio ↴Lorenzo Aitken (22 April 1927 – 17 July 2005), better known by the stage name Laurel Aitken, was an influential Caribbean singer and one of the pioneers of Jamaican ska music. He is often referred to as the "Godfather of Ska".
Born in Cuba of mixed Cuban and Jamaican descent, Aitken and his family settled in Jamaica in 1938. After an early career working for the Jamaican Tourist Board singing mento songs for visitors arriving at Kingston Harbour, he became a popular nightclub entertainer. His first recordings in the late 1950s were mento tunes such as "Nebuchnezer", "Sweet Chariot" (aka the gospel classic "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot") and "Baba Kill Me Goat". Aitken's 1958 single "Boogie in My Bones"/"Little Sheila" was one of the first records produced by Chris Blackwell and the first Jamaican popular music record to be released in the United Kingdom. Other more Jamaican rhythm and blues orientated singles from this period include "Low Down Dirty Girl" and "More Whisky" both produced by Duke Reid.
Aitken moved to Brixton, London, in 1960 and recorded for the Blue Beat label, releasing fifteen singles before returning to Jamaica in 1963. He recorded for Duke Reid, with backing from the Skatalites on tracks such as "Zion" and "Weary Wanderer", before returning to the UK, where he began working with Pama Records. He recorded hits such as "Fire in Mi Wire" and "Landlord and Tenants", which led to a wider recognition outside of Jamaica and the UK. This cemented his position as one of ska's leading artists and earned him the nicknames The Godfather of Ska, and later Boss Skinhead. He gained a loyal following not only among the West Indian community, but also among mods, skinheads and other ska fans. He had hit records in the United Kingdom and other countries in the 1950s through to the 1970s on labels such as Blue Beat, Pama, Trojan, Rio, Dr. Bird, Nu-Beat, Ska-Beat,Hot Lead and Dice. Some of his singles featured B-sides credited to his brother, guitarist Bobby Aitken. Aitken also recorded a few talk-over/deejay tracks under the guise of 'King Horror', such as "Loch Ness Monster", "Dracula, Prince of Darkness", and "The Hole". Aitken settled in Leicester with his wife in 1970. His output slowed in the 1970s and during this period he worked as an entertainer in nightclubs and restaurants in the area including the popular 'Costa Brava Restaurant' in Leicester under his real name Lorenzo. In 1980, with ska enjoying a resurgence in the wake of the 2 Tone movement, Aitken had his only success in the UK Singles Chart with "Rudi Got Married" (#60) released on I-Spy Records (the label created and managed by Secret Affair. Aitken's career took in mento/calypso, R&B, ska, rock steady, and reggae, and in the 1990s he even turned his talents to dancehall. He performed occasional concerts almost until his death from a heart attack in 2005. After a long campaign, a blue plaque in his honour was put up at his Leicester home in 2007. Punk band Rancid cover's Aitken's Everybody Suffering on their 2014 LP Honor Is All We Know
Laurel Aitken (April 22, 1927 - July 17, 2005) became famous as one of the originators of Jamaican ska music in the late 1950s.
Aitken was born as Lorenzo Aitken in Cuba, and is the brother of singer Bobby Aitken. He moved to England in the 1960s, and had a loyal following among Skinheads and other ska fans. He had massive hits in the 1950s through 1970s, while recording for Blue Beat Records, Pama Records and Trojan Records. He recorded one of the earliest ska records, the double A-sided Boogie in My Bones / Little Sheila (1958). It was the first record on producer Chris Blackwell's Island Records label.
Aitken, who is known as "The Godfather of Ska", made his home in Leicester UK and performed live almost until his death. He suffered from a serious illness following a heart attack about a year before he died. He died from a heart attack in Leicester, UK on July 17, 2005.
Born in Cuba of mixed Cuban and Jamaican descent, Aitken and his family settled in Jamaica in 1938. After an early career working for the Jamaican Tourist Board singing mento songs for visitors arriving at Kingston Harbour, he became a popular nightclub entertainer. His first recordings in the late 1950s were mento tunes such as "Nebuchnezer", "Sweet Chariot" (aka the gospel classic "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot") and "Baba Kill Me Goat". Aitken's 1958 single "Boogie in My Bones"/"Little Sheila" was one of the first records produced by Chris Blackwell and the first Jamaican popular music record to be released in the United Kingdom. Other more Jamaican rhythm and blues orientated singles from this period include "Low Down Dirty Girl" and "More Whisky" both produced by Duke Reid.
Aitken moved to Brixton, London, in 1960 and recorded for the Blue Beat label, releasing fifteen singles before returning to Jamaica in 1963. He recorded for Duke Reid, with backing from the Skatalites on tracks such as "Zion" and "Weary Wanderer", before returning to the UK, where he began working with Pama Records. He recorded hits such as "Fire in Mi Wire" and "Landlord and Tenants", which led to a wider recognition outside of Jamaica and the UK. This cemented his position as one of ska's leading artists and earned him the nicknames The Godfather of Ska, and later Boss Skinhead. He gained a loyal following not only among the West Indian community, but also among mods, skinheads and other ska fans. He had hit records in the United Kingdom and other countries in the 1950s through to the 1970s on labels such as Blue Beat, Pama, Trojan, Rio, Dr. Bird, Nu-Beat, Ska-Beat,Hot Lead and Dice. Some of his singles featured B-sides credited to his brother, guitarist Bobby Aitken. Aitken also recorded a few talk-over/deejay tracks under the guise of 'King Horror', such as "Loch Ness Monster", "Dracula, Prince of Darkness", and "The Hole". Aitken settled in Leicester with his wife in 1970. His output slowed in the 1970s and during this period he worked as an entertainer in nightclubs and restaurants in the area including the popular 'Costa Brava Restaurant' in Leicester under his real name Lorenzo. In 1980, with ska enjoying a resurgence in the wake of the 2 Tone movement, Aitken had his only success in the UK Singles Chart with "Rudi Got Married" (#60) released on I-Spy Records (the label created and managed by Secret Affair. Aitken's career took in mento/calypso, R&B, ska, rock steady, and reggae, and in the 1990s he even turned his talents to dancehall. He performed occasional concerts almost until his death from a heart attack in 2005. After a long campaign, a blue plaque in his honour was put up at his Leicester home in 2007. Punk band Rancid cover's Aitken's Everybody Suffering on their 2014 LP Honor Is All We Know
Laurel Aitken (April 22, 1927 - July 17, 2005) became famous as one of the originators of Jamaican ska music in the late 1950s.
Aitken was born as Lorenzo Aitken in Cuba, and is the brother of singer Bobby Aitken. He moved to England in the 1960s, and had a loyal following among Skinheads and other ska fans. He had massive hits in the 1950s through 1970s, while recording for Blue Beat Records, Pama Records and Trojan Records. He recorded one of the earliest ska records, the double A-sided Boogie in My Bones / Little Sheila (1958). It was the first record on producer Chris Blackwell's Island Records label.
Aitken, who is known as "The Godfather of Ska", made his home in Leicester UK and performed live almost until his death. He suffered from a serious illness following a heart attack about a year before he died. He died from a heart attack in Leicester, UK on July 17, 2005.
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Laurel Aitken: Original Jamaican Reggae & Ska
Laurel Aitken Lyrics
Aitken's Boogie Got a letter from my baby said she is coming…
Baba Kill Me Goat Ey. Ey. Ey me chimey goat alime. Me hear me…
Baby I Need Your Loving Baby I Need Your Loving Baby i need your loving Baby i…
Baby Please Don't Go You know i love you, baby, please don't go, well,…
Bad Minded Woman Unknown Miscellaneous Truck Driving Woman Truck Driving W…
Bartender Tnder du baren Mister Bartender Tnder dess lyktor en i sn…
Boogie In My Bones Well I feel so good, I've got the boogie in…
Boogie Rock You last night, ya on the night before, No you turn…
Brother David Brother david, I want to be like you Show the enemies…
Coconut (Water) Coconut You cook it in a pot Coconut Makes you big and fat G…
Coconut Woman Coconut woman is calling out And everyday you can hear her…
Come Back Jeannie Jeannie is a girl I've been longing to see Eyes like…
Darling Hold me, squeeze me darling Tell me if you lo-ove me Then…
Don't Be Cruel You know I can be found, Sitting home all alone. If you…
Heile Heile (The Lion) Y tu me as echado al olvido, Y la suerte se…
I Love You More Everyday Everyday, I love you more and more Every night, I need…
If you need me If it's money you need, baby that's what I got If…
It's Too Late Stayed in bed all mornin' just to pass the time. There's…
Jenny Jenny JENNY JENNY Little Richard Jenny, Jenny, Jenny, won't yo…
Jericho You know yeah watagwan a Jericho. You know yeah watagwan a…
Jesse James J-A-M-E-S, James Jesse James Jesse James rides again Jesse J…
Judgement Day What ya gonna do on judgement day What ya gonna do…
Little Sheila When my baby has left me And gone away When my baby…
Lonesome Traveller I'm a lonesome traveller, seeking for a girl! I'm a lonesome…
Love Me Baby I love you baby and I need no one but…
Lucille Lucille, Lucille, Lucille, Can you hear me calling you Come …
Mabel Mabel, mabel Mabel, mabel Please come home Mabel, mabel Mabe…
Mad About You Baby I'm mad about you baby Oh Baby Baby baby…
Mary Oh Mary Lee, baby don't leave me May Lee, baby don't…
More Whisky Give them more whiskey, give them more whiskey now Give them…
Railroad Track I've lost my baby down by the railroad track I've lost…
Rege Dege Ding Rege dege ding when I get up Rege dege ding the…
Rudi Got Married Rudie, Rudie, Rudie, Rudie, Rudie... Have you heard the lat…
Sahara I knew a little girl And she was born in the…
Sally Brown Make me tell you about Sally Brown (Sally Brown) Make me tel…
Save The Last Dance You can dance-every dance with the guy, Who gives you the…
Skinhead when a skinhead walks down the street... every chick heart …
Swing Low Sweet Chariot I looked over Jordan and what did I see? Comin' for…
Tell Me Darling Hold me, squeeze me darling Tell me if you lo-ove me Then…
Woppi King They say, when you die, and after burial, you come…
Zion Roll jordan, roll Me say roll, jordan roll We want to go…