RESPECT YOUR GODFATHER (Radio Blogcast #6)

We present this week's blogcast in memory of Laurel Aitken's death anniversary now on its third year; He died July 17, 2005. Widely acknowledged as the 'Godfather of Ska' and affectionately known as "Boss Skinhead", he died of a heart attack at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, England. Aitken was born in Cuba on April 22, 1927 and moved to his father's homeland of Jamaica in 1938. In 1957 he began his recording career with the single "Roll Jordan Roll." The double A-side "Little Sheila" / "Boogie in my Bones" was the first single released on Chris Blackwell's Island Records, one of the first ever ska records, and the first Jamaican recording ever released in England. Aitken relocated to the U.K. and recorded numerous hits throughout the 60s. He was later acknowledged as "an elder statesman to the Two Tone ska revival movement of the punk era".

The 2-Tone era saw Aitken performing with the English Beat, touring with mod band Secret Affair, and backed by punk/reggae act the Ruts. In the 80s, Aitken regularly toured the U.K. and recording with British act Potato 5. In 1986 appeared in mod film Absolute Beginners alongside David Bowie. Throughout the late 90s he performed with several third-wave ska acts, including the Toasters and the New York Ska Jazz Ensemble. In 2003, he was hospitalised with double pneumonia, but recovered better than expected and returned to performing. His last concert was in January 2005. 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.




RADIO BLOGCAST #6:
Jungle Beat - Undercover S.K.A.
Jamboree - Laurel Aitken with Court Jesters Crew
Family Planning - Dolphy & Panchito
Everything Crash - The Ethiopians
Thinking of You (featuring Doreen Schaefer) - The Slackers
The Skinheads Dem A Come - Mr. Symarip
Step Lightly - General Rudie
Skinhead Love Affair - Bad Manners
Skatalation - Rhyth-O-Matics
Shadow Of A Man - Bedouin Soundclash
Sally Brown - Laurel Aitken
Rudi Got Married - Laurel Aitken
Wreck A Pum Pum - Prince Buster & The Aggrolites
Wasted on You - Franceska
Brown eyed girl - Laurel Aitken with Court Jesters Crew
Boogie With The Bartender - Laurel Aitken
Boogie In My Bones - Laurel Aitken
Rescue Me - The Reggae Girls
Magulong Pamilya - Dolphy & Panchito
Mad About You - Laurel Aitken
keep on - Hepcat
Big 5 - Judge Dread

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