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.
La Paloma
Laurel Aitken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
nadie me ha visto salir, si no fui yo.
Y una linda guachinanga, allá voy yo,
que se vino tras de mí, que sí señor.
Si a tu ventana llega una paloma,
trátala con cariño que es mi persona.
Cuéntale tus amores, bien de mi vida,
corónala de flores, que es cosa mía.
ay que vente conmigo, chinita,
a donde vivo yo .
Cuando salí de la Habana, válgame Dios,
nadie me ha visto salir, si no fui yo.
Y una linda guachinanga, allá voy yo,
que se vino tras de mí, que sí señor.
Si a tu ventana llega una paloma,
trátala con cariño que es mi persona.
Cuéntale de tus amores, bien de mi vida,
corónala de flores, que es cosa mía.
Ay chinita que sí, ay que dame tu amor,
ay que vente conmigo, chinita,
a donde vivo yo.
The first verse of Laurel Aitken's La Paloma talks about leaving Havana, and how nobody saw him leave except himself. He then mentions a "linda guachinanga," which can be interpreted as a beautiful woman who followed him. The chorus is a plea to treat a dove (paloma) with kindness if it comes to your window, as it represents Aitken himself. He asks the listener to tell the dove about their love life and to crown it with flowers, which is his wish. The second verse repeats the same themes and ends with an invitation to the "chinita," which means little Chinese girl, to come with him to where he lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Cuando salí de la Habana, válgame Dios,
When I left Havana, oh my God,
nadie me ha visto salir, si no fui yo.
No one saw me leave, except for myself.
Y una linda guachinanga, allá voy yo,
And a beautiful young woman, I'm on my way there
que se vino tras de mí, que sí señor.
Who followed me, yes sir.
Si a tu ventana llega una paloma,
If a dove arrives at your window
trátala con cariño que es mi persona.
Treat her kindly, for she is representing me.
Cuéntale tus amores, bien de mi vida,
Tell her about your loves, and about my life.
corónala de flores, que es cosa mía.
Crown her with flowers, that's my thing.
Ay chinita que sí, ay que dame tu amor,
Oh little Chinese girl, yes, give me your love
ay que vente conmigo, chinita,
Oh come with me, little Chinese girl
a donde vivo yo .
To where I live.
Cuando salí de la Habana, válgame Dios,
When I left Havana, oh my God
nadie me ha visto salir, si no fui yo.
No one saw me leave, except for myself.
Y una linda guachinanga, allá voy yo,
And a beautiful young woman, I'm on my way there.
que se vino tras de mí, que sí señor.
Who followed me, yes sir.
Si a tu ventana llega una paloma,
If a dove arrives at your window
trátala con cariño que es mi persona.
Treat her kindly, for she is representing me.
Cuéntale de tus amores, bien de mi vida,
Tell her about your loves, and about my life.
corónala de flores, que es cosa mía.
Crown her with flowers, that's my thing.
Ay chinita que sí, ay que dame tu amor,
Oh little Chinese girl, yes, give me your love.
ay que vente conmigo, chinita,
Oh come with me, little Chinese girl.
a donde vivo yo.
To where I live.
Contributed by Caleb M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@wendyveronicapereztorres6153
Está canción me encanta y me recuerda a mi papá , el me enseñó este artista !
@cmo110188
Cómo puede ser que no conocía a este tremendo artista 😔😔😢
@gabiornelas5792
Mi papá ama esta canción y con este cantante 😍
@tragediadelpunkrock
esta canción es del siglo xix, ha tenido muchos covers y este es el que más me gusta. love laurel aitken <3
@TheJorgesaw
Recién me adentro al ska. La primera vez que escuché hablar de este ritmo fue cuando empece a escuchar a No doubt. Ya sé nada que ver, pero resulta increible cómo ciertas cosas te inducen a buscar y a buscar y te permiten encontarte con estas maravillas. Todo sirve si uno tiene curiosidad y ganas de descubrir cosas nuevas. Este muchacho me flasheo!!!
@kokseguaremon7410
jorge adrian Gonzalez scucha a bad maner ,,skatalites,,skalariak ,,panico latino en vivo tiene kovers de laurel muy buenas ,,nana pancha los victorios etc etc
@TheAgustinRiquelme
Prince buster, gran dueño de studio one en kingston jamaica. Escucha a don drummond. Drumbago, roland alphonso, a the specials, madness, the uppsetters y bueno ya te si demasiada info jajajajaja. Segui tu camino vos ahora ! Y unos temaa geniales que tiene laurel con los potato 5. Exitos cumpa !
@luisuribedeleon
La primera vez que la escuche fue con el pachuco de oro, pense que nunca mas escucharia otra version que me gustara igual o mas que la de Tin-Tan, pero esta version se lleva las palmas
@reyes8546
mi vida el ska lo mejor que me a pasado es escuchandolo neta recuerdos hermosos
@youlighth
uaaaaaaaauuu es un genio,ese ritmo