Laurel Aitken

Laurel Aitken (1925 – 2005) was born in Cuba and moved with his family to Jamaica when he was 8 years old. At 12 he was singing Calypso and playing guitar for the tourists for tips.

Being a teenager he won several local contests and later came his very first recordings, it was the Jazz, Boogie, R&B and Calypso era. Laurel was the protagonist of the born of Ska music, that jamaican flavoured Rhythm & Blues, of wich was later acclaimed as pioneer. The first hits and number ones started to grow for himslf in the island.

Jamaican music was changing in the 60’s and the rhythm of Ska was becoming Rocksteady. Young followers and talents, like Bob Marley, were into his fans who waited after his shows for autographs. Laurel was always ruling and when he moved to London Reggae music was borned, it was 1969.

The rest of Laurel’s life took part in the UK earning more hits and being one of the jamaican artists who played live more oftenly all around the world.