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.
Heile Heile
Laurel Aitken Lyrics
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Y la suerte se me escapa en un suspiro,
Y tu te me vas de las manos,
Y la vida se me rompe en mil pedazos,
Y yoo lloro por ti,
Soñando que lo nuestro tiene algún remedio,
Lloro por ti,
Esque no hay forma de olvidarme de tus besos,
Porque no dejo de pensar cuanto te quiero,
Lloro por ti...
These lyrics are from the song "Heile Heile (The Lion)" by Laurel Aitken. The song is about the pain of being forgotten by someone you love deeply. The singer describes how he feels abandoned and rejected by his lover, and how his luck and life seem to be slipping away. He laments the fact that his lover is leaving him, and he feels like his life is falling apart into a million pieces. The singer cries for his lover, dreaming that their love could still be salvaged somehow. He cannot forget the feel of his lover's kisses, and he continues to love her deeply.
The lyrics describe a universal feeling of heartbreak and loss. The singer's words are simple, yet powerful, and resonate with anyone who has experienced the pain of being rejected by someone they love. The song's melody, combined with the singer's emotional delivery, makes it a powerful, emotional piece of music that can touch the heart of anyone who hears it.
Line by Line Meaning
Y tu me as echado al olvido,
And you have forgotten about me,
Y la suerte se me escapa en un suspiro,
And luck slips away from me in a sigh,
Y tu te me vas de las manos,
And you slip away from my hands,
Y la vida se me rompe en mil pedazos,
And life breaks into a thousand pieces for me,
Y yoo lloro por ti,
And I cry for you,
Soñando que lo nuestro tiene algún remedio,
Dreaming that there is some kind of remedy for our situation,
Lloro por ti,
I cry for you,
Esque no hay forma de olvidarme de tus besos,
Because there is no way I can forget your kisses,
Lloro por ti,
I cry for you,
Porque no dejo de pensar cuanto te quiero,
Because I cannot stop thinking about how much I love you,
Lloro por ti...
I cry for you...
Writer(s): Laurel Aitken
Contributed by Emily M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Boss chune