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Ernest Ranglin

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Ernest Ranglin is a Jamaican guitarist and composer, born in Manchester, Jamaica, in 1932. His family moved to Kingston. He came to know the guitar through two uncles, and was largely self-taught. At fifteen he was already playing in the orchestra of Val Bennett, then in that of Eric Deans. That is how he met the jazz pianist Monty Alexander, with whom he formed a lifelong friendship and many collaborations.

Music and breakthrough

In the 1950s he played on calypso and mento recordings, partly for the tourist market. From 1958 to 1965 he was a guitarist with the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation. He recorded for Coxsone Dodd, including the hit Easy Snapping by Theophilus Beckford, which he arranged. As a studio guitarist and musical director he worked for labels such as Studio One and Island Records and played on many early ska recordings. He helped shape the rhythm guitar style that characterises ska. He worked with Jimmy Cliff, Prince Buster, the Skatalites and Bob Marley. Under his own name he released, among others, A Mod A Mod Ranglin in 1966, Boss Reggae in 1969, Below the Bassline in 1996 and Modern Answers to Old Problems in 2000.

Influence

His style combines jazz, mento and reggae, with chordal playing and rhythmic, percussive solos with influences from rhythm and blues and jazz. In this way he built a bridge between Jamaican folk music and jazz. In 2021 he received the Order of Jamaica.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to a ska or reggae track on which Ranglin plays and notice the short, sharp guitar chords on the offbeat, which form the heart of the ska sound.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists