One month before he celebrates his 90th birthday, guitar legend Ernie Ranglin and saxophonist Dean Fraser team on “Two Colors”, an album to be released by Tad’s International Record.
The 12-song set contains mainly instrumentals, all produced by Fraser. Its lead single is “De Ranglin”, featuring veteran deejay Big Youth.
Ranglin, who turns 90 on June 19, started his career with the Val Bennett and Eric Deans orchestras in Kingston, Jamaica during the late 1940s. He began recording in the 1950s and was among the first employees of Island Records when it was launched by Chris Blackwell in Kingston in 1959.
Ranglin’s role in the development of Jamaican music is pivotal. He played guitar on, and arranged “My Boy Lollipop”, an international ska hit for Mille Small in 1964.
He played the memorable guitar solo on “It Hurts to be Alone”, a jazzy ballad done that year by The Wailers. Ranglin has collaborated with The Skatalites and pianist Monty Alexander, toured for several years as Jimmy Cliff’s musical director and has recorded over 30 solo albums.
Fraser and Ranglin worked with a strong cast of musicians including bass guitarists Mikey Fletcher and Dale Haslam, keyboardists Bowie McLaughlin and Andre Marsh, drummer Desi Jones and guitarist Lamont “Monty” Savory.
Ernie Ranglin is the recipient of the Order of Jamaica, Jamaica’s fifth highest honour.
Written By Howard Campbell