Laurel Aitken
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Biography
Lorenzo Aitken, known as Laurel Aitken, was born on 22â¯Aprilâ¯1927 in Cuba to parents of Cuban and Jamaican descent; he later settled in Jamaica in 1938 and became a singer. Aitken first appeared on record in the late 1950s with mento tunes such as "Nebuchnezer" and "Sweet Chariot"; his 1958 single "Boogie in My Bones" was one of the first Jamaican popular records released in the United Kingdom. After moving to Brixton in 1960, he recorded for Blue Beat, producing fifteen singles before returning to Jamaica in 1963 where he worked with Duke Reid and the Skatalites on tracks like "Zion". He returned to the UK and signed with Pama Records, releasing hits including "Fire in Mi Wire" and "Landlord and Tenants", which broadened his international profile. In the 1980s he relocated to Leicester and continued to record, with "Rudi Got Married" reaching Number 60 on the UK Singles Chart in 1980. Aitken released a series of compilations and studio albums throughout the 1990s and 2000s, including The Story So Far⦠(1995) and The High Priest Of Reggae (2009). He died of a heart attack on 17â¯Julyâ¯2005; a blue plaque was unveiled at his Leicester home in 2007 to honor his contribution to ska and reggae.
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Albums
Laurel Aitken
The Long Hot Summer: The Legendary Godfather Of Ska, Vol. 2, 1963 (with The Skatalites)
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Top Tracks
- Track Popularity
- Sally Brown
- Skinhead
- Nursery Rythme Boogie
- Something Sweet
- Hitch Hike
- Boogie Rock
- Back to New Orleans
- If It's Moneytoy Need
- Brother David
- Don't Turn Your Back
- Madame Serase
- Nebuchadnezzar
- Reggae Mood
- Who's Taking You Home?
- Gimme Back Mi Dollar
- Going Back To The Frontline
- Shoo Be Doo
- West Indian Cricket Test
- Aitken's Boogie
- Rasta Man Power
- Voodoo Woman
- Come Back Jeannie
- Mary Lee
- It's Too Late
