Roland Alphonso facts for kids

Roland Alphonso was a very important Jamaican musician. He was also known as Rolando Alphonso or "The Chief Musician." He was born on January 12, 1931, and passed away on November 20, 1998. Roland Alphonso played the tenor saxophone and was one of the first members of the famous band The Skatalites. He also received the Order of Distinction, which is a special award from the Jamaican government.

Early Life and Music

Roland Alphonso was born in Havana, Cuba. When he was just two years old, he moved to Jamaica with his mother. He started learning to play the saxophone at the Stony Hill Industrial School.

In 1948, after leaving school, he joined an orchestra led by Eric Deans. He then played with many other bands in hotels. He made his first recordings in 1952 with Stanley Motta's group. He often worked as a session musician, which means he was hired to play on recordings for different artists.

Becoming a Music Star

In 1956, Roland Alphonso began recording for Clement "Coxsone" Dodd, a very important music producer. By 1958, he was performing on stage with comedians Bim and Bam. His energetic version of "Robin Hood" by Louis Prima was a big hit in their show.

Soon, Clement Dodd and Duke Reid made him a regular musician in their recording studios. In 1959, he joined a band called Clue J & His Blues Blasters. They played a style of music called Jamaican R&B. Roland also helped arrange the music for many recording sessions. This meant he helped decide how the different instruments would play together.

The Skatalites and Beyond

By 1960, Roland Alphonso was playing for many different music producers. He played alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, and also the flute. He was part of many bands like The Alley Cats and The City Slickers.

In 1963, he helped create The Studio One Orchestra. This was the main band that played for recordings at Dodd's new studio. This band soon became known as The Skatalites. The Skatalites became famous for creating Ska music.

When The Skatalites broke up in 1965, Roland Alphonso formed a new band called the Soul Brothers. Later, they became The Soul Vendors. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, he led another band called the Ruinaires.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1972, Roland Alphonso moved to the United States. He continued to perform and record music. In 1973, he released his first album under his own name.

Throughout the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, he played on many records from Jamaican studios. He also toured with many different bands. In 1977, the Jamaican government honored him with the Order of Distinction award.

In 1983, The Skatalites got back together. Roland Alphonso toured and recorded with them constantly. Sadly, he became ill during a show in 1998. He passed away on November 20, 1998, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Roland Alphonso is remembered as a true pioneer of Jamaican music.

Discography

• I Cover The Waterfront, 1962 – Port O Jam Hi-Fi
• ABC Rock Steady (with The Originals Orchestra), 1968 – Gayfeet/High Note
• The Best of Rolando Alphonso, 1973 – Studio One (collection of songs)
• King of Sax, 1975 – Studio One (collection of songs)
• Brighter Shade of Roots, 1982 – Imperial
• Roll On, 1984 – Wackies
• Something Special: Ska Hot Shots, 2000 – Heartbeat (collection of songs)
• Max's Skansas City (Lost Recordings from the N.Y.C. Club) - Jungle Records (collection of songs)