Ernest Ranglin

Ernest Ranglin was born June 19, 1934. He grew up in Robin’s Hall, a small community in Jamaica, in the Parish of Manchester. Ranglin was taught the basics of guitar playing by his uncles at an early age. Ranglin began playing by following the example of his uncles. But he soon discovered the influence of Charlie Christian, the American jazz guitarist. Although he moved to Kingston to finish his Bodmin College studies, his real lessons were from guitar books and late-night sessions with the Jamaican dance groups of that time. He joined the Val Bennett Orchestra in 1948, which played in local hotels. He was part of the Eric Deans Orchestra in Jamaica, which toured the Caribbean and the Bahamas by the time he reached his mid-fifties. Ranglin was able to learn to organize and orchestrate with the big bands. Ranglin gained a wider perspective through constant touring and the opportunity to meet musicians from other cultures. Ranglin’s performance in Nassau was heard once by Les Paul who gifted Ranglin a guitar to show his admiration. * Ranglin led his own quintet in 1958, performing at the top Kingston hotels and resorts to the north of the Island. Chris Blackwell, a young record producer, caught Ranglin’s show in Montego Bay. Blackwell was immediately impressed by Ranglin’s incredible talents and offered him the opportunity to record a record. Ernest Ranglin was joined by Lance Heywood, pianist. This was Island Records’ first album and marked the beginning of a long relationship between Ranglin Blackwell and Heywood. In 1959, Ranglin was joined by Cluett John as a bassist in a group called Clue J u0026 His Blues Blasters. This was a different style than the big bands. It was traditional Jamaican music that was superseded with a tough urban stance, influenced by American R.

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