Prince Alla

Prince Alla aka Prince Allah or Ras Allah (b. Keith Blake, 10 May 1950, Denham Town, Kingston, Jamaica) is a roots reggae singer whose career began in the 1960s, and has continued with a string of releases into the 2000s.

Biography

Blake's career began in the vocal group The Leaders with Milton Henry and Roy Palmer, who recorded three tracks for producer Joe Gibbs in the late 1960s.cite web |url=http://www.reggae-vibes.com/concert/princealla/palla1.htm |title=The Man From Greenwich Farm - Interview With Prince Alla (part 2)|accessdaymonth=09 February |accessyear=2008 |author=Peter I |year=2003 |month=November |work=ReggaeVibes |publisher= |quote= ] cite book |last=Larkin |first=Colin |title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae |year= 1998 |publisher=Virgin Books |isbn=0-7535-0242-9 ] When The Leaders broke up, Blake continued to work with Gibbs, who issued his debut solo release, "Woo Oh Oh". Blake had been interested in Rastafarianism since, he claims, he had a vision as a child,cite web |url=http://www.reggae-vibes.com/concert/princealla/palla.htm |title=The Man From Greenwich Farm - Interview With Prince Alla |accessdaymonth=09 February |accessyear=2008 |author=Peter I |year=2003 |month=November |work=ReggaeVibes |publisher= |quote=I remember that. I had a vision one night that I see a likkle rastaman, a likkle short rastaman. And the rastaman wave his hand in front of him and there was water come up to his knee. Clear, pretty water. And then he look at me and wave his hand again an´ there was pure fishes swimming in the water. So, when I wake next morning I went to some rastaman an´ aks them seh "you know, I see a likkle short man and he wave his hand and there was water an´ he waves the hand again and there was fishes in the sea.. in the water, and I think I see a likkle short rastaman"? "A Selassie I you see, yunno! Like him short, is Selassie I you see". And they carry an´ show me a picture of His Majesty. And from when I look at the picture of His Majesty it's like a vibe between the vision and the picture is just. ] and in 1969, Blake's Rastafarian faith saw him get heavily involved in Jamaica's camp community, withdrawing from the music scene and living in Prince Emmanuel Edwards' camp at Bull Bay.cite book |last=Barrow |first=Steve |coauthors= Dalton, Peter |title=Reggae: The Rough Guide |year= 1997 |publisher=Rough Guides |isbn=1-85828-247-0 ] He re-entered the music scene in the mid-1970s, releasing a single "Born a Fighter" for producer Teddy Powell,cite web |url=http://www.reggae-vibes.com/concert/princealla/palla2.htm |title=The Man From Greenwich Farm - Interview With Prince Alla (part 3)|accessdaymonth=09 February |accessyear=2008 |author=Peter I |year=2003 |month=November |work=ReggaeVibes |publisher= |quote= ] before working with Bertram Brown's "Freedom Sounds", with a series of recordings, now under the name Prince Alla, that are now regarded as roots reggae classics, such as "Sun Is Shining", "Bucket Bottom", "Lot's Wife", and "Stone". He also recorded for producer Tapper Zukie, including the album "Heaven Is My Roof". Continuing interest in his work saw the release of two albums of material from the 1970s on Blood & Fire records, "Only Love Can Conquer" and "I Can Hear The Children Singing", which brought his work to a new audience. Alla continued to release records occasionally through the 1980s and 1990s, including an album with Jah Shaka. Alla has continued to be in demand with digital roots producers, and has released several albums with the likes of Jah Warrior.

Albums

*"Heaven Is My Roof" (1979) Imp
*"The Best of Prince Alla" (1980)Redemption Sounds, reissued as "Great Stone" (1984) High Times
*"King of the Road" (1982) Ital International, reissued as "Showcase" (1984) Vista
*"Jah Children Gather Round" (1996) Jah Shaka
*"Sweet Sensation" Corner Stone
*"Only Love Can Conquer" (1997) Blood & Fire
*"Lion a Go Bite Yu" (1999) Headphone Music
*"Glory" (2000) Jah Warrior
*"One Bright Day" (2002) Back Yard
*"More Love" (2002) Jah Warrior
*"I Can Hear The Children Singing" (2002) Blood & Fire

References

External links

* [http://rootsdub.free.fr/PrinceAllah.htm Prince Alla album discography from Rootsdub]
* [http://www.roots-archives.com/artist/26 Prince Alla at Roots Archives]