Prince Alla
Encyclopedia
Prince Alla aka Prince Allah or Ras Allah (b. Keith Blake, 10 May 1950, Denham Town
, Kingston, Jamaica
) is a roots reggae
singer whose career began in the 1960s, and has continued with a string of releases into the 2000s.
in the late 1960s. When The Leaders broke up, Blake continued to work with Gibbs, who issued his debut solo release, "Woo Oh Oh". Blake had been interested in the Rastafari movement
since he had a vision as a child, and in 1969, Blake's Rastafarian faith saw him get heavily involved in Jamaica's camp community, withdrawing from the music scene and living in Prince Emmanuel Edwards' camp at Bull Bay
. He re-entered the music scene in the mid-1970s, releasing a single "Born a Fighter" for producer Teddy Powell, before working with Bertram Brown's Freedom Sounds, with a series of recordings, now under the name Prince Alla, that are now regarded as roots reggae classics, such as "Sun Is Shining", "Bucket Bottom", "Lot's Wife", and "Stone". He also recorded for producer Tapper Zukie
, including the album Heaven Is My Roof. Continuing interest in his work saw the release of two albums of material from the 1970s on Blood & Fire records, "Only Love Can Conquer" and "I Can Hear The Children Singing", which brought his work to a new audience. Alla continued to release records occasionally through the 1980s and 1990s, including an album with Jah Shaka
. Alla has continued to be in demand with digital roots producers, and has released several albums with the likes of Jah Warrior
.
Denham Town
Denham Town is a predominantly residential neighbourhood in west-central Kingston, Jamaica. It has a reputation as one of Kingston's more violent areas.-External links:*.*Photos:...
, Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
) is a roots reggae
Roots reggae
Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of the artists concerned, including the spiritual side of Rastafari and with the honoring of God, called Jah by rastafarians. It also is identified with the life of the ghetto sufferer, and the rural poor...
singer whose career began in the 1960s, and has continued with a string of releases into the 2000s.
Biography
Blake's career began in the vocal group The Leaders with Milton Henry and Roy Palmer, who recorded three tracks for producer Joe GibbsJoe Gibbs (record producer)
Joe Gibbs born Joel A. Gibson was a Jamaican reggae producer.-Biography:Joe Gibbs worked as an electronics engineer in the United States before his career in music started. Gibbs eventually returned to Kingston, Jamaica and opened an electrical repair shop with television repairs and sales as its...
in the late 1960s. When The Leaders broke up, Blake continued to work with Gibbs, who issued his debut solo release, "Woo Oh Oh". Blake had been interested in the Rastafari movement
Rastafari movement
The Rastafari movement or Rasta is a new religious movement that arose in the 1930s in Jamaica, which at the time was a country with a predominantly Christian culture where 98% of the people were the black descendants of slaves. Its adherents worship Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia , as God...
since he had a vision as a child, and in 1969, Blake's Rastafarian faith saw him get heavily involved in Jamaica's camp community, withdrawing from the music scene and living in Prince Emmanuel Edwards' camp at Bull Bay
Bull Bay
Bull Bay is located on the south east coast of Jamaica 10 miles to the East of Kingston in the parish of St Andrew.-Floods:Bull Bay is located in the flood plain of a number of rivers: Salt Spring River, Chalky River, Bull Park River, Spring Gut River and Cane River, and consequently has been the...
. He re-entered the music scene in the mid-1970s, releasing a single "Born a Fighter" for producer Teddy Powell, before working with Bertram Brown's Freedom Sounds, with a series of recordings, now under the name Prince Alla, that are now regarded as roots reggae classics, such as "Sun Is Shining", "Bucket Bottom", "Lot's Wife", and "Stone". He also recorded for producer Tapper Zukie
Tapper Zukie
Tapper Zukie is a reggae deejay and producer.-Biography:Tapper was the nickname given to him by his grandmother in his youth, while Zukie was a name that came from his friends' association as a young boy - their gang was called 'The Zukies'.In 1973 his mother, concerned with Zukie's tendency to...
, including the album Heaven Is My Roof. Continuing interest in his work saw the release of two albums of material from the 1970s on Blood & Fire records, "Only Love Can Conquer" and "I Can Hear The Children Singing", which brought his work to a new audience. Alla continued to release records occasionally through the 1980s and 1990s, including an album with Jah Shaka
Jah Shaka
Jah Shaka has been operating a South East London-based, roots reggae Jamaican sound system since the early 1970s. His name is an amalgamation of the Rastafarian term for God and that of a Zulu warrior, Shaka Zulu.-Career:...
. Alla has continued to be in demand with digital roots producers, and has released several albums with the likes of Jah Warrior
Jah Warrior
Jah Warrior is a United Kingdom roots reggae/dub production team, record label, sound system, and musical group centred around Steve Mosco.- Overview :...
.
Albums
- Heaven Is My Roof (1979) Imp
- The Best of Prince Alla (1980)Redemption Sounds, reissued as Great Stone (1984) High Times
- King of the Road (1982) Ital International, reissued as Showcase (1984) Vista
- Jah Children Gather Round (1996) Jah Shaka
- Sweet Sensation Corner Stone
- Only Love Can Conquer (1997) Blood & Fire
- Lion a Go Bite Yu (1999) Headphone Music
- Glory (2000) Jah Warrior
- One Bright Day (2002) Back Yard
- More Love (2002) Jah Warrior
- I Can Hear The Children Singing (2002) Blood & Fire
- Archive Recordings Showcase Volume 1 (2009), Archive Recordings