Ken Boothe, a renowned Jamaican singer, was born in Denham Town, Kingston. His journey into the world of music began during his time at Denham Primary Elementary School, where he discovered his passion for music with the support of his sister, Hyacinth Clover, an established vocalist. Influenced by singer Owen Gray, Boothe’s musical aspirations were further fueled when he heard Gray’s rendition of the blues classic, “Kansas City Blues.”
Boothe’s talent caught the attention of Stranger Cole, a fellow artist and neighbor, with whom he collaborated on the Sir Percy sound system and recorded two songs for independent producer Sir Mike. However, Boothe’s breakthrough moment came in 1963 when Cole arranged an audition at Duke Reid’s studio. Their performance of the song “Uno Dos Tres” was a success, leading to the formation of the duo ‘Stranger & Ken.’ They released their first track, “Hush Baby,” followed by popular singles like “Thick in Love,” “World’s Fair,” “Hush,” and “Artibella.”
In 1966, Boothe embarked on his solo career after signing with Clement “Coxsone” Dodd’s Studio One Label. He also recorded material for Phil Pratt and Sonia Pottinger. His solo tracks gained immediate success, including “The Train Is Coming,” featuring backing vocals from the Wailers, and the ska version of the reggae hit “You’re No Good” with Soulettes. Boothe was promoted as “Mr. Rock Steady” by Dodd during this period. One of his notable releases during this time was the rocksteady classic “Moving Away,” which remains popular and has been covered or sampled by various artists.
After his collaboration with Dodd, Boothe joined Leslie Kong’s Beverley’s Records in 1970, where he continued his success with hits like “Freedom Street” and “Why Baby Why.” Following Kong’s passing, Boothe worked with several top producers in Jamaica, including Keith Hudson, Herman Chin Loy, Vincent “Randy” Chin, and Phil Pratt. He also formed the group Conscious Minds with B. B. Seaton.
In 1974, under the direction of record producer Lloyd Charmers, Boothe released “Everything I Own” on Trojan Records, which topped the UK Singles Chart. This reggae rendition of the song by David Gates gained popularity in the West Indies and the UK. Boothe’s success continued with the hit single “Crying Over You.”
Throughout the 1980s and beyond, Boothe recorded with various producers and had several hits. His collaborations spanned Bunny Lee, King Jammy, Phil Pratt, and more. Notably, his reworked version of “The Train Is Coming” with Shaggy was featured in the soundtrack for the film “Money Train” in 1995.
Boothe’s contributions to Jamaican music were recognized by the Jamaican government, who awarded him the Order of Distinction in 2003. His extensive discography and influential career have solidified his status as a pioneer of Jamaican music.
For more information on Ken Boothe and other fascinating stories about Jamaican music, visit www.purejamaicamedia.com, your ultimate source for all things Jamaican music.
