Laurel Aitken

Laurel Aitken was a singer whose career helped carry Jamaican popular music into Britain. Born in Cuba in 1927, he grew up in Jamaica, where his influences included local music, American R&B and jazz. His early recordings included Little Sheila and Boogie in My Bones for Chris Blackwell's emerging Island label.

Aitken moved to London in 1960 and recorded for Blue Beat, Pama, Trojan and other companies. His repertoire developed through ska, rocksteady and reggae, finding audiences among successive generations of British listeners. The ska revival brought renewed attention and a UK hit with Rudie Got Married in 1980. He continued performing until late in his life and died in 2005.