Laurel Aitken

Laurel Aitken (born April 22, 1927, Cuba - died July 17, 2005) was a Cuban-born Jamaican singer and one of the pioneers of Jamaican ska music. He moved to Jamaica with his family in 1938. In the 1950's, he became one of Jamaica's first recording artists, standing on the edge between r'n'b, boogie and ska. In 1960, Aitken moved to the UK, where he recorded a number of hit records for Blue Beat label before returning to Jamaica in 1963. Shortly after he returned to England permanently and continued to play with various ska bands until his death.