25 Facts About Ernest Ranglin

Ernest Ranglin was born on 19 June 1932 and is a Jamaican guitarist and composer who established his career while working as a session guitarist and music director for various Jamaican record labels, including Studio One and Island Records.

Ernest Ranglin has worked with Theophilus Beckford, Jimmy Cliff, Monty Alexander, Prince Buster, the Skatalites, Bob Marley and the Eric Deans Orchestra.

Ernest Ranglin is noted for a chordal and rhythmic approach that blends jazz, mento and reggae with percussive guitar solos incorporating rhythm 'n' blues and jazz inflections.

Ernest Ranglin's family moved to Kingston, where he attended the Providence Primary School, Kingston Senior School and Bodin College.

At the age of 15, Ernest Ranglin joined the Val Bennett Orchestra, which was followed by a period of employment with the Eric Deans Orchestra.

Ernest Ranglin was employed as a guitarist by the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation between the years 1958 and 1965, with public radio broadcasting commencing in 1959 and television broadcasting commencing in 1963.

Ernest Ranglin played with Cluett Johnson's studio band Clue J and the Blues Blasters; recording several tracks for Coxsone Dodd at Federal Studios, including the Theophilus Beckford hit "Easy Snapping", which he arranged and played guitar on.

Ernest Ranglin played on the Beckford tracks "Jack and Jill Shuffle" and "Shuffling Jug".

In 1962, the James Bond film Dr No was being shot in Jamaica and Ernest Ranglin was hired by Carlos Malcolm, music director for JBC, to compose music for some of the scenes set in Jamaica.

Ernest Ranglin was the bassist on many early Prince Buster hits, including the 1963 ska release "Wash Wash" - a situation that arose from his contractual obligations to Federal Records, which barred him from appearing as a named guitarist on recordings not made or licensed by them.

In 1963, Ernest Ranglin played guitar on and arranged "My Boy Lollipop", which was sung by Millie Small, who had recently been signed to Blackwell's Island label.

Ernest Ranglin was involved with Merritone, a subsidiary record label started by Federal.

In 1964, Ernest Ranglin was in London with Blackwell, who was enquiring if it would be possible for Ernest Ranglin to play at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club.

Ernest Ranglin stayed for nine months, backing numerous guest artists as well as appearing onstage with the Ronnie Scott Quartet and Quintet.

Ernest Ranglin was involved in the recording of the Wailers' track "It Hurts to Be Alone" released on the Coxsone label in Jamaica and subsequently released in the UK by Island records.

Ernest Ranglin was music director for the recording of The Melodians' song "Rivers of Babylon".

The closing years of the sixties found Ernest Ranglin working with the Jamaican producers Lee "Scratch" Perry and Clancy Eccles; both of whom were instrumental in developing and establishing the new genre of reggae.

Ernest Ranglin played on the Eccles-produced "Say What You're Saying" by Eric "Monty" Morris, which he cites as one of the earliest records to feature reggae drumming.

In 1973, Ernest Ranglin was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government for his contribution to music.

Ernest Ranglin was the lead guitarist on the Lee "Scratch" Perry recording sessions at Black Ark Studios for the Heart of the Congos album by the Congos.

In 2002 Ernest Ranglin was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the University of the West Indies for his outstanding contribution to the development of music in Jamaica.

In 2006 he was the subject of a documentary Roots Of Reggae: The Ernest Ranglin Story produced and written by Arthur Gorson.

In 2008, Ernest Ranglin was inducted into the Jamaican Music Hall of Fame by the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates.

In November 2015, Ernest Ranglin announced that he would be retiring from the music business with a farewell tour in the summer of 2016.

Ernest Ranglin was honoured with the Order of Jamaica in the 2021 National Honours and Awards on Jamaica's 59th Anniversary of Independence.