WOMAD

Ernest Ranglin

From Jamaica

Ernest Ranglin's first instrument was the ukulele and his musical hero was the American jazz guitarist Charlie Christian - but he went on to preside over the birth of ska and its mutation into reggae. Without him, Jamaican music from Prince Buster to Bob Marley might have sounded very different. Born in rural Jamaica in 1932, it's an entire half-century has elapsed since Ranglin began his recording career for Chris Blackwell's Island label in 1958. It's impossible to list all of the great records he's played on, ranging from Millie's My Boy Lollipop (the first Jamaican record ever to become an international hit in 1964) to The Melodians' Rivers Of Babylon, via records by The Wailers and Jimmy Cliff. In recent years he's made some fine records under his own name that have explored reggae's links with African music, including In Search Of The Lost Riddim, recorded in Senegal with Baaba Maal's band, and Alextown, a jazzy collaboration with South African township musicians.

Biog by Nigel Williamson