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The Legendary Ken
Boothe, O.D. has
been through
thick and thin, through
Star-time and No-time, from
living in the shanties of Denham
Town and its environs to the
beautiful neighborhoods of
Kings House, St. Andrews in his
homeland of Jamaica. Ken Boothe,
O.D. has straddled the social
status-spheres, both locally and
internationally in California,
New York, Toronto and London. He
has conducted numerous tours of
Europe, North and South America,
Japan and the Caribbean. In
Jamaica he continues to reign
supreme and maintains his
popularity as one of the
nation’s top entertainers.
His musical
talents and love for humanity
have afforded him the
opportunity of touring in North
and South America, Europe,
Japan, Canada and the Caribbean.
With a unique combination of
talent, Boothe has emerged as a
“one of a kind” singer; an
accomplished musician,
songwriter, musical arranger and
an impressive dancer. His
artistic style embraces a rare
blend of musical genius.
Ken Boothe’s musical career
began in the early sixties.
Coming from a musically talented
family, Ken attributes his
musical interests and abilities
to his mother and older sister.
They have inspired him to use
his blessings. In addition, he
acknowledges being influenced by
the musical greats, Mahalia
Jackson, Wilson Pickett, Otis
Redding, The Temptations, and
The Drifters. When Ken Boothe
was only eight years old he won
his first singing contest and
has never looked back. He has
never lost his focus, even if it
may have appeared blurred at
times to the outside world. His
aim has always been to sing and
perform to the best of his
ability.
Boothe began his
recording career with Winston
'Stranger' Cole in the duo
Stranger And Ken, releasing
titles including 'World's Fair',
'Hush', 'Artibella' and 'All
Your Friends' during 1963-65.
Thereafter he released a series
of hits on Clement Dodd’s Studio
One Label. When the rocksteady
rhythm began to evolve during
1966 Boothe recorded 'Feel
Good'. In 1968 at the age of 17,
Ken Boothe released his first
album "Mr. Rock Steady", which
included numerous hits such as
“The Girl I Left Behind”, “When
I Fall In Love”, “I Don’t Want
to See You Cry”, “Home, Home,
Home”, and the title many regard
as one of Boothe's best
exponents of song, ‘Puppet On A
String’. Journalist Alphea
Saunders, in writing about
Boothe and this song said, "He
is one of the best of the very
best". During this period he was
often referred to as the Wilson
Pickett of Jamaican music. He
continued recording with Dodd
until 1970, releasing some of
his best and biggest local hits.
He also made records for other
producers at the same time,
including Sonia Pottinger's
Gayfeet label, for which he
recorded the local hit 'Say You”
and “Lady With the Starlight”.
in 1968. In 1971, he inspired
the world with his hit song
“Freedom Street” on Leslie
Kong’s Beverley’s label. This
classic was co-written with BB
Seaton, whom Ken had worked with
from their Studio One days.
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During the early seventies, he freelanced for various
producers including Bunny Lee, B.B. Seaton, Keith Hudson, Randy's,
George 'Phil' Pratt, Niney the Observer, and in 1974, he recorded
the hits, “Everything I Own”, followed by “Crying Over You” for
producer Lloyd Charmers. The legendary singer has to his credit an
illustrious string of hits that have dominated the Rocksteady and
Reggae music eras, successively.
He has released a total of twenty-one albums
including the classic gospel ‘D00R 2 DOOR’ and the traditional
‘ACCLAIMED’ and the collection, ‘CRYING OVER YOU’, a 23 track
retrospective of Ken Boothe's career from 1963~74 recordings from
various studios. Ken has always been recognized as the “Voice of
Choice” in the history of Jamaican popular music. In 1974 his
golden, ‘Every Thing I Owned’ topped the international charts with
an extended stay of four weeks at #1 on the British Top Of The Pops
Charts, followed by ‘Crying Over You’, which made it to #11 on the
same charts. Pop singer Boy George covered Charmers' and Boothe's
version of 'Everything I Own', topping the UK charts again with the
song in 1987. More recently, Ken re-recorded his first solo hit ‘The
Train Is Coming’ in combination with hot DJ Shaggy, which was
released on Shaggy's platinum, Grammy winning BOMBASTIC album. The
song was featured as the theme song of the sound track for the movie
Money Train, starring Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson. The video
for the song gave Ken his first heavy rotation on MTV.
Ken’s latest album, ‘LOVE IS THE ULTIMATE’, expresses
the concepts of social, philosophical and emotional love. A
legendary artist, Ken is a master of his craft, hailed as one of the
original banner-carrying Reggae singers. On this new album, love is
indeed the ultimate expression of the man. Ken Boothe waves the
banner across the spectrum of love songs, - from the emotional,
‘Never Leave’ to ‘Suddenly’, ‘Something On Your Mind’ and ‘Your
Feeling And Mine’. Then there are the social love songs, such as
‘Prosperity’, ‘Rainbow Love’ and ‘Injustice’, plus the philosophical
‘What Is Love’, ‘Black Gold And Green’, and the title track. Ken
blends his traditional style with modern sensibilities and has come
full circle, marrying his original vocal sound to the current
rhythms and a mixture of melodies. Produced by Danny Breakenridge
and Ken Boothe for Upstairs Music. Ken recently said, "I am well
pleased to complete this work. It's up-to-date with a variety of
songs to choose from.” For over three decades as a professional
singer, Ken Boothe still commands the power to unleash his soul on
an up-tempo song, a passion that soothes you on a ballad, while he
captivates your ear anywhere in between. Love is the Ultimate
combines all the above elements in the ultimate listening
experience.
The internationally recognized Reggae Musical Titan continues to
record new music with a sense of purpose for promoting peace, love,
and justice for all of humanity.
Ken Boothe Links:
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