Ken Lazarus

Lazarus launched his professional path at the very dawn of ska during the early 1960s, fronting Byron Lee And The Dragonaires on extensive tours across the West Indies and North America. Credited in 1965 with the Byron Lee Orchestra, he experienced his initial brush with global recognition when Island Records issued “Funny” in the UK. He also lent his voice to Tomorrow’s Children, an eccentric and largely overlooked Jamaican rock outfit. Although his recorded appearances remained infrequent, a handful of notable sides appeared; in 1971 he stayed visible with the single “Girl” and the striking “Tomorrow’s Children.” Between those scattered releases Lazarus maintained steady studio work as arranger, producer, and songwriter. As a solo performer he obtained a one-off deal with a major label in 1972 for “Hail The Man,” yet the track failed to meet the company’s commercial hopes. After moving to California, he reunited in the 1990s with Pluto and Ernie Smith for a modest island tour supporting his solo album Reflections, which showcased distinctive interpretations of reggae standards such as the Maytals’ “Peeping Tom,” Ken Boothe’s “Freedom Street,” and Jimmy Cliff’s “Wonderful World, Beautiful People.”